The national Republican. [volume] (Washington City [D.C.]) 1866-1870, 1869-03-20
Es.rre-Iden, johnson n, Lyucnsurr

Ex.PresidentJ Johnson at Lynchburg
EN-Presideut johnson arrived at Lynch.
burg on Thursday evening, on his way TO his
home in Tennessee. In accordance with /
previous arrangements the citizens there
made demonstration In his honor. At 0 |
O'Clock In tho evening between $50 to 200 |
persons partook Of banquet at the Norvcll |
house: Hon. Thomas s. Bocock presided, !
and after the dinner had been discussed the |
first toast was announced as follows:
"Hls Excellcncy, Andrew johnson, Ex- !
President Of the United States: The cham.
plon of the Constitution, whose name will
ever be held dear, and whose great fame
will ever be cherished by every American
patriot. At the close Of bloody and exas.
pcrated war Of sections, when bad men were
striving to prolong the evil passions growing
out of 1t, and to advance through these their
own aspiring and selfish schemes, II was his
noble effort and ambition to allay these dis.
orders, to bury in oblivion the contests and
troubles of the past, to inspire national con-
fldencc and harmony, and to establish In all
sections q real and honorable peace. Every
tribute Of gratitude and every badge of honor
Is justly due one who thus sacrificed per-
sonal ambition and disdained unlawfully
conferred powers In behalf Of principle, duty
and country. May future crowded with
blessings succeed a past crowded with hon
ors, fitting reward for lnbors exertcd In
defence of the rights and the liberties Of the
people,"
To this President johnson, amid great
cheering, replied in substance, as follows:
| GENTLEMEN; 1t is not my purpose to ad-
dress you, but to return my sincere thanks
for the compliment you bcstow upon inc in
this cordial reception.
come among you as private citizen UNI
incumbercd by Office, with right to enjoy
the Civiltics and Inequalities of citizen
anywhere In the United States. And as
sure you that enjoy them nowhere more
pleasantly than In this place and on this oc-
caslon. In allusion to our recent unhappy
struggle have little or nothing to say. As
! private citizen there can be no objection to
my expressing my feelings of gratitude and
pride with which have enjoyed freedom for
the last two weeks. You have heard n great
deal about the abolition Of slavery, cmanci-
patton and the freedmen. | can call your
attention to the greatest case of slavery that
has ever existed in the United States. For
the last four years | have been the COM
plctcst slave throughout the length and
breadth of the United States. And stand
ing here as a free man | thank God that
am free man, aud have the privilege of
speaking rs free man and private citi-
zen. ! must be permitted to remark, cman-
cipatcd as am from the labOrs and pcrils Of
highest office in their gin into the ranks, to
aid them In bearing the burdens that have
not been able to remove, that 1t affords me
more pleasure and pride to be cmancipatcd
and come among them to help bear those
burdens, than to preside over the United
States and lis violated Constitution.
Your attention has been called to the Con-
stitutiom here tonight. When came into
power aud position, looked to the source
of our distress and dinicultics-to these shat
tered and torn States. My greatest anxiety
was to heal the breaches, and to bind up the
wounds. commenced to work at that point
at which you accepted terms at the conclu-
sion of the disaster. and by aiding and help
| ing in a kind and liberal manner to restore
to position and union and harmony and good
feeling. But need not say that my efforts
in that direction were futile.
CptO the time of the meeting of the Thirty
| Ninth Congress your members were knocking
At the door ready to be admitted and enjoy q
| participation in the privileges of GovCrnmCnt.
But from the assembling Of that body dis
| fractions and brOls have been rife. II Is
familiar to you all.
!, tonight, rs your lcllOw-citiZcn. propose
To take that position rs citizen which con-
| duCCs most to bring about a contamination
of the wishes have expressed rs to the pros
pcrity. peace, and happiness of our country.
Familiar ~ | am with matters, am, per-
haps, not rs hopeful as some. Yet have
great hope for redemption. ! have q great
and unialtCring confidence in the people.
The recent results may indicate that that
confidence has been Improperly rCpOsCd. That
confidence still have, and my hope and trust
Is unfaltcring that when tyranniCal power
shall have had its day our Constitution and
laws will resume sway. hope that the pcO-
pies apathy and Indifference and submission
without alarm. will give way, and the crust
of prejudice will he dssipatcd.
| repeat that have enjoyed more real and
, unfcigncd pleasure and satisfaction during
the two weeks, since my retirement from
office, than during the preceding four years.
When look at the contrast 1t Is alarming
One department Of the Government has
been resolved into an absolute dcspotism by
the two Houses of Congress for the last four
years. They have exercised powers aud
usurpcl prcrOgatlycs at which kings aud
princes would have shuddcrcd In their sepn-
rate individual capacity. Acting together In
a body, one has encouraged another In per-
pctration of cnOrmitics. We have seen the
Constitution set aside, and seen Congress
exercise all the powers of government, and
have a perfect parallel of what Mr.. JcfIcr-
son described when speaking of State
Legislature, he said that "whcn unlimited
authority Is conferred on numbers II was an
exact definition of dcspOtic power" Many
will do what an Individual would shrink
from. I trust these evil appearances will
soon give way to a better state of affairs.
There is one other thing 10 which | would
invite your attention. We have witnessed
an Increase Of expenditures and taxation.
, Corruption has pcrmcated into every depart
mont of the Governments; and In retiring
from public office where corruption has per.
vaded every department of the Government,
] might almost cXClaim,
when vice prevails aud Wei rus men have sway,
The post Of honor 10 the private statiOni'
aud if do no more when | return to my
rustic country home, | may adopt Cato's
advice to his son, to "rctiTc to his Sabine
field and pray for his country" Yet in re.
+ firing from power | feel proudcr and fee
more honorcd than would if ] were again
about to he President for the next four
g years.
In conclusion, he pleased to accept my
sincere thanks for this cordial reception and
distinguished manifestations of your kind
ness and regard. 1t is peculiarly acceptable
D to me. will carry it with me, and so lOng
c a. live, will this occasion be remembered
, thank you. gentlemen, for this kind
manifestation Of respect.
), The toast to the President of the Unitet
i states was responded to by james W. Nor
gan, est. Other tOasts were offered and re
q spOndcd to, and the banquet closed at lat
hour.
The uN-Prcsidunt left yesterday uUruini