The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1869-03-26
HIS SPEECH.
Remarks of Andrew Johnson at HIS Re-
ception il Greenville.

day last, after being introduced by Hon. 7.
A. R. Nelson, the Ex-President responded
as follows !:
FELLOW CIrIzENs-In appearing before
you after so long an absence the rece ption
and cordial welcome have received inca
pacitates me for giving proper expression
to my emotion. There is no place like
home. The poet we'll exelaims:
''Breathes there a man with soul so dead.
Who to himself hath never said,
This is my Own, my native land.''
He spoke of the time, now far back in
the personal past, when yet young, he had
come to Greeneville. Spoke of his early
tolls and early associations with many of
| those present, though many more were not
thers. He said that he had always relied
upon the people of Greenvile, and had
never been disappointed. Step by step he
had gone the official round. Greeneville
had given him the first office he ever filled,
in 1885, as Alderman and next Mayor He
then mentioned all the successive offices
through which had passed up to the Presi-
dency, in all of which he had received
bLOAi OPpOA6' AAS POh0 VI ulo career DIS
President. He had tried to discharge his
duty regardless of the consequences TO
himself, and he must here be permitted to
say, after going all the round of official
trust, unparalleled in history, that he vas
proud to be able confidently 20 ask {: cat
whose hands have ever received bride,
Throughout this whole routine I chal-
lenge any and all calumniators of mine to
place their finger upon a single stain upon
my official character. With the conscious
ness of having done my duty, I can look
this audience in the face and ask, whom have
1 betrayed Whom hsVe I defrauded ?"
He said he had no intention to make a
speech. On returning to their midst, into
the ranks of American citizenship, he de-
sired to show his willingness to bear the
bonds now resting upon them. He felt
more honor in his present position than be
would feel o-morroW in a re inauguration.
He had no purpose to talk politics. No
time for that now. He warned the people
that danger approaches, the existence Of the
Constitution, already denied, or thrust in
the background by a dominant party and
an arbitrary Congress, which assumes its.
discretion as the limit Of power No long
or do old party differences divide us, but
it is now a question of Government, of
Constitution and law on one hand, or a
despotic power on the other. The people
had better have prince or a King ruling
over them than an arbitrary body enacting
laws and measures so unwarranted and ter
rible in character.
a great deal has been said about slavery
and its abolition. He declared that for the
last four years he had been the greatest
slave on earth. The fourth of March was
emancipation day to him. If the CoGsti-
tuition was not wrested, within the next
two years, from the hands of the usurpers
it is gone and our government is gone, and
despotism rules supreme. He alluded to
the interesting and trying times of eight
years ago and INDUCED in many pleasant
"reminiscences Of the land of his youth
He was now at home again. his public ca
reer had ended. He will labor to relieve
his fellow citizens of the bonds now upon
them. He will adopt Cato's advice to his
son, and if nothing can be done. he will
repair to the Sabine Cave and pray for his
country.
He concluded with a renewal of his
thanks for their very cordial welcome and
withdrew amidst the immense cheerings of
the people.
After the conclusion of the address, Mr..
johnson spent sometime in receiving the
many ardent friends who clustered around
him.
In private conversation on the train Mr.
johnson is reported to have said, ''There
is good deal of life in me yet. If the
people Of Tennessee should require my SER
vices, would not feel justified in refusing
them in behalf of the public good"
GRANT IN BAD ODoR.-Republican poll
tioiaus are getting excited over the politi
cal situation at Washington. They de-
nounee Grants position on the tenure-of-
Office law as factious and diotatorial, as
well as disrespectful, to the Senate. Seve-
raj who are in favor of repeating the act