Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1869-04-23

| redu ny OoHu Aoaguo, Esq EreStuenI
the Association $3.50 vsn .as
- ~ ADDRESS.
| HoNoRED SIR We, the Presiden
i and members of the Irish Literary Asso,
citation, come, through your kind permis
sion, to express to you, in however I
feeble manner, our sentiments Of rsspec
and gratitude; and we rejoice that thi:
| opportunity is given us Of expressing
with our lips feelings that have long
filled our hearts.
| We do not come here as representing
any political clique or party, but we
come as Irishmen and American citizens
to show, as far as we are able, our appre>
citation Of your rare worth and spotless
| integrity. We come to render homage to
a long life of honorable and successful
| public service--a life ever devoted to the
purest patriotism, and the PRONUNCIATION
and establishment of the soundest politi-
cal principles. r. 2 ..,5 l...
We come, in our humble, unpretending
way, to say to you how much we admire
you, and how sincerely we thank you for
your generous efforts in the cause of
freedom and justice. --o % u
We do not forget the noble stand you
took in our behalf during the memorable
years Of 1866, when the enemies of
civil and religious liberty attempted to
disfranchise and prescribe US on account
of creed and nationality. You, sir, met
those proscriptionists and anti republican
fanatics, and after many hard fought
battle you finally conquered the enemy,
maintained the principles of the constitu>
ton, and the rights Of yonr fellow citia
zens, both native and adopted-for which
you are and ever will be entitled to our
gratitude. ..........
Sir, we do not forget, but on the cons
trary, the remembrance of that manly
and generous act is still fresh in our
minds, and it shall live glowing and
fresh as now in the hearts of our chill
drens' children to the remotsst genera
ton. Ell. ....
Would that another Andrew johnson
would now appear and be alike success
ful in removing the political disabilities
under which millions of our native born
fellow,citizens labor.
Yes, we desire that they shall enjoy
that liberty for the sake Of which we
abandoned the homes of our fathers, and
in search of which We eagerly sought
these hospitsble shores.
But it is as American citizens, how
ever, that we would testify to you our
esteem and affection. This is now our
country, and we necessarily take deep
interest in its preservation and pros
perity, hence we could not but regard
with anxiety the course of events during
the last four years.
The constitution, the agis Of civil and
religious liberty, that nOblest charter of
rational freedom ever yet devised by
man, was threatened and in too many
cases ignored by reckless majority.
The friends of law and order through
out the country were apprehensive that
the fabric Of this great republic, reared
by the wisdom of sages, and cemented
by the blood of heroes, was in imminent
peril. and they took counsel together
with grave concern to see if there was
one voice still powerful enough to be
heard throughout the length and breadth
of the land, raised in its defense-they
looked around to sea if our times could
bring forth another Patrick Henry, who
would stem the torrent of usurpation,
and who would at any sacrifice vindicate
the liberties of the people. 10 you they
iOyfully behold worthy successor of that
noble patriot, and your voice and your
words cheered them with the hope that
the days of the Republic would be many
and glorious.
Your intrepid and fearless conduct as
Chief Magistrate of this great country
has met with our hearty approval, and it
is more especially to signify this tnat we
come into your presence.
Partisan hate and jealousy may en-
deayor to obscure the luster Of your &C
tons, but they might as well try to hide
the splendor of the MONDAY sun; for the
record of your life will form one Of the
brightest pages of history, and posterity,
we are convinced, will pronounce the
name of Andrew johnson with the same
emotion that the Venerated names OF
Washington, Jefferson and Lafayette
are now spoken.
Accept then, honored sir, the hum BILE
tribute of our admiration, respect and
gratitude, and may Heaven preserve to
US and to the land of our adoption and
love, life so useful and honorable as
yours.
Mr.. JOHNsoN's SPEECH.
AS Mr.. League ceased Mr.. johnson
remarked that not being aware of the
contents or nature of the address before
hand..he was not prepared to give suita-
BILE and heightened reply, except to offer
his sincere thanks, and to express his
Il L.. Al e.. 4 L..