Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1869-04-10
Reception by the People OF
Nashville.
Judge Gant's Address-Mr. john
sons Reply.
Speech by Ex-Governor Neil S.
Brown.

From the Nashville papers Of Thursday
Telegrams had already announced thsI
ex- -Prasident Johnson would leave Chat
tsnOogs for THE city ct 5 2. 10. yesterday.
The day was beautiful and everything
copspired to make the journey agreeable.
The people Of this city having previously
designated q Committee Of Reception,
embracing many prominent business and
professional men, and the liberal man
sgement Of the Nashville and Chatta-
nooea Railroad having placed at the dis
possl Of the Committee special train OF
elegant cars tn meet and receive Mr..
J JJhnson at MUrfrsesbOTo, the Delegation
assent bled at the Chattanooga depot at
10 o'clock. A number Of other citizens,
suxious to testify their admiration OF the
defender Of 8 constitutional Union, were
present, desiring to accompany the COM
mittee. There was also at the depot
deputstiOn OF patriotic and honest ne
Rroes, v no were appointed by the colored
DeoDle 10 assure Mr.. Johnson Cf their re-
spect and confidence. To accommodate
ali a train was made up Of five cars, and
at the hour of departure sH were com
fortahIy filled. Superintendent Thomas
did the occasion the honor to accompany
the delegation, while Msj Lsrdis acted
as conductor, and Mr.. John E Elstmsn,
the master mechanic in the workshops
took charge OF the engine. Everything
in place, the sound Of the whistle notified
the departure OF the train, Which, after
pleasant run, reached MurfreesbOro
few minutes in advance OF the incoming
train.
BEYOND MURFREESBORO.
At every STATEN from Chattanooga the
rfaFvr fo o. a
Mr. Johnson. At Decberd, the band
from Winchester and q large crowd
greeted hi;n and forced him to make q
few remarks. At Tulishoma, there was
also O lsTga crowd, snd st Normandy,
where the MurfreesbOro committee met
him, the esgeTness Was uuaOated. The
same wss the case at WaTtrece and
Cbristisna. Indeed, his progress from
Chsttanoogs was a continued OvstiOn, Of
which any man might be unsftectedly
proud.
AT MURFREEsBORo.
At this point g very large crowd was
Assem- bIed, embracing, We are hsppy to
say, people Of all parties and many Ia
dies Nearly everybody from the town
and many from The surrounding country
were present. A meeting had been held
the day previous, and COMMITTEES ap-
pointed 10 meet the distinguished pass
euger. consisting Of the following citi-
zans: Jas. NJ. Avent, Chsirmani + l..
Jordan. MzyOr of the town Jos. BDenms,
John a. Baugb, Richard Baird, W. A.
Rspp, John Chiidress, Jr., B. l.. Ridley,
Jr.. DR.. Geo. CrCssthwsit, J. G. Mosley,
M. L. Jordan, b. KimbTOUgh, W. A.
Ransom. John Leiper, Col. w. r Eut-
Ter, ]. b. Collier, T. B Darragh, E Ro-
sentield and Henry Hicks, besides nine
colored men who were selected by their
peoule to receive and tender TO Mr. john
son their respects. = On the arrival Of the
down train, Mr.. Avsnt, on the part OF
the Committee, introduced Mr.. 0hnson
to the assembled multitude, reierrlng to
his career SIS President in terms or high
commeDdation, which was responded TO
by the crGwd in bursts Of enthusiastic
applsuse, and TO which Mr.. johnson re-
sDnnded as follows:
F.slLO1U- Cstizsns: I am not here for the
nurpose Of making an address, but on my
Wsy to the center OF the State. An apOi-
ogy for not speaking is, perhaps, due. i
hope ere long to be permitted to mlDgte
amongst my fsilOW-citiZens, and to eX-
change ideas with them on the various
subiects which now engage the pubic
mind ! must say, however, that II Is
peculiarly gratifying TO me, returning to
nv own S ate, under the circumstances,
To witness at the hands OF nay fellow
eitizsns such cordial manifestations OF
regard. For many years l have occu-
pied q most trying position, full OF aFdu-
Ous duties. and / have thrCu ghOut tried
to represent the Interests OF the whole
country. have endeavOred to stand by
the Constitution, <sDp-eciating if that
were lost, then slI1s lost.
I feel confident that # l have done To-
thing else, have st ie2st stood as break
and arrested the velocity Of the train o.
Government in its downward rush to-
ward destruction. ] feel that 1 have
dose this much, and although some
tiuesStiscOursged at the apathy and
seeming indifference Of the people, / be-
fieye al will yet come Gus Tlghti the
Constitution yet be sustained and the
people be restored 10 their rights. Il Is
better for Us to bs patient and foTbeaTlngi
hut We must stand by the Constitution,
or ali is gone. OI the people must We
velv for defense Of the Constitution. j.
IA the chief ark Of our satety-ths pslis-
dinu, Of our liberties. We must hold q
e. AZ tie mariner holds 10 the last plank
betwixt him and utter destruction.
The tims had been when We had two
great psrties-fhe Wing aud the Demo
cratic perty-yet it had neVer been con
ceded by boih grest parties, no matter
how differing SIS TO rs rigid or lieera
construction, that upon the preservation
~ the Constitution depended the Gov
ernunent itself Within it's prescribed
limits both those parties moved. Bu
now we have q fsr different state o
things. 1, IL not now Whs;Gsr we shal
have strict or libersl cOnstrustiGp o
the constitution, but whether there shal
be 8 constitution 81 all, or no constltu
ton, for in the language OF Jehersoni th'
Congress Of the UniJed 5tsteH is the pre-
clse definition OF despotie power. ]
Congress by two-thists vote may aooi
ian Inc Executive aud Lsgislstge De
usrtnents, then you have deepotisin
I have placed my feet upon the battle
rneuts Of the Constitution, regarding j
the great Msgua Cbsrts OF our liberties
IN America In the face Of dominant
uDprinoipled, corrupt Congress, ther'
have stood end vetoed and returne,
their bills, and ! would DO SO again l
he might ehSose TO be Posueai, 10 Con
clusion, well might be have eASislpl su
despite the great odds:
.. Thrice armed Is ne that hath his quarrel JUS
And he but naked, ihOugb locked up IN steei
Wnere Dscience with injustice ls corrupted
Stepping from the most exalted station
down 20 the rank OF private cltiZeni
feel mole proud than | would be TO be 10
augursted President over the ruins of I
vjolated constitution. Some Will say
Derhaus. "Oh, yes! you talk SO now thA
You are out Of power" But ] say 4
fhcse that I talked the same up to tn
An OF March, when / went out OF office
we have heard much talk about slavery
hut / have bsen the greatest slave in tn
limited States. But AZ length, emanei
pated, 1 stand before you to-day, to quot
the slang expression OF the times, freed
man. am seeking no place. No ONO
could be conferred on ms that nave no
filied, from the humblest TO the highest
The measure Of nay all bition is fulli ye
returning among this people, could It b
expected that should bs indifferent