Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1872-08-14
Ex.PRESIDRNT JOHNSON.
He is Serenaded at the Residence of
John p. White, in Edgefleld.
A Large Impromptu Gathering.
His Speech on the Occasion.

/ White was the scene of one of the most
enthusiastic gatherings that have taken
place in Edgefield for some time. The oc-
casion was serenade given to ex-Presi-
| dent Andrew Johnson, who was the guest of
| MIR. White. The Rock City band discoursed
| many martial airs In q most eredibable
manner in front of the residence, and after
playing "Hail to the Cbief,n Mr. johnson
came upon the verandah and was intro
duced to the large assemblage by w. G..
Brien, Esq, of Edgefeld. In making the
introduction, Mr.. Brien said 0 .
Friends aud fellow citizens: have the
great pleasure of introducing to you this
evening former representative of this ma.
ton, who will now address you. l am
pleased tointroduee him because he Is one
who aided greatly in bringing the late war
| to speedy close. BE is a hero
though not in the military sense of the
word. He was not soldier on the battle
fields, but he was valiant guardian of the
couDtry's honor in the hour of her great dis
tress. His course has not been over the
bloody paths of war, bit in his own gcol-
way he has travelled on in the paths Of
peace achieving laurels which when war re-
cords have ceased to be, will still exist in all
low citizens that take pleasure in present
ing, to you Andrew johnson, who will now
address tou
SPEECH OF ANDREW JOHNSON.
Fellow Citizens: | did not think to
make any speech this evening, and would
much rather that the ELOQUENT gentleman
who preceded me should have continued
his address. Nevertheless, on such an oc.
casion as this / feel bound TO express to
you my deepest thanks for this ovation from
you, and to try and entertain You as much
as possibly can for few nioments at leasti
| shall chiefly devote my remarks to tie
little man who now presidea over this great
nation. In speaking of him, however, not
to be disrespectful, shall call him by his
proper title, Gen. Grant. The fundamental
principles of this great government and of
the constitution, regret to say, are not
what they were ten years ago
far from it. When Gen. George
Washington occupied the Presidential
chair he was too just too conscientious and
too good and true to the Constitution and
to his country to accept present from any
foreign or local power. Among other things
which the Constitution of the United
States provides for, it specifically states that
the President shall receive no gift or pre-
sent from any foreign power or potentate,
and | hold that this implies in spirit if not
in substance to the receiving of presents
from his own countTymen. Let us go back
to the inaugural address of President
Washington. In assuming the responsible
lily of the offics which had been bestowed
upon him by the voice of the people he said
that he did so with great fear and trembling
lest he might make some mistake which
would injure his countrymen and his country.
But placing his trust in God for His divine
guidance he assumed the awful RESPONSE
bility with awe, fear, and trembling.
Where will you find public man IS sensi
bic of the responsibility of his position as
was Washington? Instead of saying this,
the President we have lately had, have
merely taken the oath of off &c in q merely
formal manner, and we would infer from
the perusal of their letters of acceptance
that they were aware that the responsible
tiles were great, but they thought they were
equal to them. But how many of them
keep that high and holy pledge to stand BY
the Constitution Of their country. | Will
venture to say that our present President
has not done so. Hence we must have
Government of limitation. | am satisfied,
fellow-citiZans, that unless We have
a Government of Limitation, the nation
will ere long cease to exist according to the
prescribed rules of the Constitution. The
powers of Congress should be made more
in harmony with the powers Of the Ffesi-
dent, so that the latter should not be held
in allegiance by the former. As Congress
at present exists, any Government officer
can be removed By vote of two thirds Of
It's members.
In England bribery is considered an act of
high treason. A great many years ago, air.
Trevor, who was a member of Parliament
in England, was the recipient OF fl.OOO
from a private citizen of London. The
present was made from purely friendly and
unsel6sh motive, but it should not have
been accepted. Shortly after this occurred
Parliament met, a S res Of resolutions CON
demuing Mr.. Trevor, were drawn up which
be was compelled to read. The Iesolu-
tons were of very severe character and
eliminated him. When he was done read
ing them he vas ANONYMOUSLY expelled
from Parliament. Now as an instance Of
Grants present taking prOciviJies we find
that when he was nominated for the Pres
idency, after the war was over he accepted
cheque Of $4,000 from A. T. Stewart,
who is probably the richest man in
America. As soon as he was
elected President, Grant set to
work and appointed Stewart Secretary of
the Treasury, an appointment which Con-
gress refused to accede to. Then another
instance is given, when Mr.. BOFie gave
Grant house in Washington, and to show
his gratitude he appointed Borie Secretary
M fba NaVu lNa G,,l hat ho ri,
deals literally with cur President is liberal |
ly dealt with in return, and generally re-
ceives some high Office under the govern
ment. II is said that the morals of the ruler |
are the morals Ofthe nation. Well then, what |
can be the morals Of the ntaion with such
an example before them, (Lsughter.) The |
people should rise up in their might and |
overthrow the uSurper of public morals, in |
the same way that Mr.. Trevor was over
thrown from the English Parliament.
Much has been said ia this country about |
my impeachment trial and it made many /
OF my former friends, past, but trust not |
future enemies. To be sure We might have !
differed on many points as TO what my |
duties were; but | acted for the people and |
the constitution in everything undertook. /
Many people and politicians did not like me |
because vetoed their pei bills, but never |
vetoed bill in my life that l did not think |
while doing so that was acting for the good |
of the people. When Doaelson was taken |
and Nashville was evacuated, / was ap- |
pointed Military Governor of Tennessee.
BY my course, whilst acting ia this capac
ity, have no doubt that | was many times
severely cansured, but always did as near
ly right as l knew how. When the
citizens were under the necessity OF
being enrolled in the militia, the rich
men staid at home whenever they could,
and the poor men went into the
field. The rich men said that if tie poor
men would go to the war why, they would
stay at home and guard their property and
families. How well that promise of protec
ton was kept, some of you eau probably
say to your sorrow, (cTies Of hear, heaI0
While in Washington l came across n doc
ument which on examination found to be
list signed by a large number
of wealthy Southern gentlemen, whc had
severally agreed to subscribe to sums set op-
poste to their names for the support of fam
H. u