Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1869-04-08
A Deserved aud Magnificent ovation
Speeches aAd accidents of the Coca
sion.

tanoOSa LOT tnls CITY NJ . n rs yesteIuhvs
The day was beautiful and everything
conspired 10 make the journey agreeable.
The people of This city having previously
designated committee Of reception, en-
brscing, many prominent business and
professional men, and the liberal manage
ment Of the Nashville aud Chattanooga
Railroad having placed at the disposal OF
the Committee a special train of elegant
cars 10 meet and receive Mr.. johnson at
MuFfreesboro, the delegation assembled at
the Chattanooga depot, at 10 o'clock. A
number Of other citizens, anxious to testify
their admiration of the defender OF
constitutional Union were present, desiring
to accompany the Committee. There was
also at the depot deputaiion Of patriotic
an honest negroes, who were appointed BY
the cOlored people to assure Mr.. johnson
of their respect and confidence. To ac-
commodate all train was made up Of FIVE
cara, and at the hour of departure all were
comfortably filled. Superintendent Thomas
did the occasion the honor TO accompany
the delegation, while Msj. Lands acted
as conductor, and Mr.. John Eastman, 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.
TMURFREEsBoRo.
At this point very large crowd was
assembled, embracing, we are happy TO
say, people Of all parties and many ladies
Nearly everybody from the town and many
from the surrounding country were pre-
sent. A meeting had been held the day
previous, and a committee appointed to
meet the distinguished passenger, consist
ing of the following citizens: Jas. NJ.
Avent, chairman Z. L. Jordan, Mayor Of
the town Joseph Boehms, Jno. A. Baugh,
Rich'd Baird, w. A. Rapp, JnO. Childress,
Jr, B. L. Ridley, Jr., DR.. Geo. Crossth.
wait, ]. c. Mosley, NJ. L Jordan, Z. Kim
brough. w. A. Ransom, John Leiper, Col.
w. r. Butler, J. B. Collier, T. B, Darragh
E. Resented and Henry Hicks, besides
nine colored men who were selected by
their people to receive and tender to Mr.
johnson their respects. On the arrival o
the down train, Mr.. Avent, on the part o
committee, introduced Mr.. johnson 10 thu
assembled multitude, referring to his ca
reer as President in terms Of high CON
mendation. which was responded to by th
crowd 10 bursts of enthusiastic applause
In response, Mr.. johnson, in q very taste
ful apology for not making q speech
thanked the people of Murfreesboro il
warm terms for this manifestation of thei
respect. He referred briefly to his caIeel
and showed the difference betwtel
the party issues of the past al,
the present while the fol
mer concerned questions of exptd
ency, he said, and of strict or liberia
j construction of the constitution, but al
agreeing in its support; the issue nov
presented was, whether the government
g should continue a constitutional one, o
3 by the usurpstions of the Legislative owe
all other departments of government, reaI
b ize the definition given by Thoma
Jefferson of complete despotic power,
lodged in the hands of the law-makerl
He advised that the time had come Whe
the people should study the first principle
/. of government, and watch more narrowl
than ever the acts of their public servant
= aud hold them to a strict account. In a
- age Of venality and corruption, when III
,. departures from fundamental principles
n the public administration are threatenin
=, ruin, and when, as upon a descendin
o grade every revolution Of the wheels il
A crease the velocity of the descent,
, was time for the people to come
y the rescue and apply the remedie
"a For himself he claimed, that, if he coul
not, against odds so fearful as to be al
palling, reverse the motion and bring baC
the government to the constitutional OF
y bit, he had at least acted as brake, an
3 delayed the movement till the peopl
could apply their sovereign power aud r
store the constitution to its proper actio
y and vigor. He still felt, as he always ha
felt, that the Intelligence and virtue Of Il
Ii people were all powerful to save, and
again entering the ranks, with all his pc
sonal ambition grstiGed, lie intended
80 spend the remnant of his life in aiding Il
q. people of his adopted State to rid ther
,e selves Of their burdens, and in Vindicatil
al himself from the ioul aspersions that hi
been wantonly and cruelty cast upon h
character:
r At the close of his speech Mr.. Johns
~ was invited TO a sumptuous collatic
which had been served for him at the [
Io pot Hotel.
BEYOND MURFREEsBoRo.
At every station from Chattanooga {
people manifested great anxiety TO see n
nj johnson. At Decherd, the band fro
Ief Winchester and a large crowd greet
'ds him. and forced him to make a few
marks. At Tullahoms, there was also
large crowd, and at Normandy, Wht
air the MuIfreesboro committee met him, I
en- esgerness was unabated. The same v
nd the case at Wartrace and Christians.
deed, his progress from Chattanooga v
a continued ovation, Of which any m
,r might be unahectedly proud.
FROM MURFREEsBoRo TO NASHVILLE
At Murfreesboro the regular train
liyered the ex-President into the hand,
the Nashville committee and passed
'es The special train remained for half
Tue three, quarters of an hour. In the me
time the people we're afforded an OPP
tunity of seeing and shaking hands "
and Mr.. Johnson, and expressing their perso
regards. The large assemblage was q
RECALLED with music by the post band Fl
this city, which accompanied the CT
meg mittee TO Murfreesboro, by the PROF
STE consent of Col. Woodward, the post c.
the mandsnt, and 10 which the comm
see mite in rendering sincere thanks fcE