Year: 1865

"
of Illinois, In introducing the Illinois del
egation, spoke in high praise of Mr.. Lin
coin, and expressed in behalf of the dele
cation the fullest confidence in Mr.. john
sons abilities to conduct the affairs of the
nation, and pledged him the earnest sup
port of his State and the country.


President johnson replied: ..,
l have listened with profound emotion to
the words you have addressed me. I had not
anticipated in the midst of the eaddenirg cir
eumstances which surrounded, and the i'm
rnense responsibilities that crowd upon me, the
expression of the confidence Of individuals,
and still more of an influential body like that
before me representing great Commonwealth.
1t strengthens my heavily burdened mind in an
hour like this of fdeepest sorrow. Were it pos
sible to embody In words the feeling of my
bosom, could not command my lips to utter
them. Perhaps the best reply I could make
the one most appropriate to your kind assur-
ances of con6dence-would be to receive them
in silence ...


The throbbings of my heart since the sad ca
tastrophe which has APPALLED, US, cannot be re-
duced to words, and oppressed as I am with
the new and great responsibilities which have
devolved upon me, and saddened with grief
can with difficulty respond to you at all, but
cannot permit such expressions of confidence





acknowledgment. To an individual like my
self who has never claimed much, but who has,
1t Is true, received from generous people
many marks of trust and honor for long
time, an occasion like this and manifestation
of public feeling 80 we'll timed, are peculiarly
acceptable. springing from the people myself
every pulsation of the popular heart finds an
immediate answer in my own. By many men
in public life such occasions are often consid-
cred merely formal. To me they are real
Your words of countenance apd encourage
ment sink deep in my heart, and were even
coward, could but gather from them
strength toatAry out my convictions of right.
of my great duty firmly and steadfastly, if not
with the signal ability exhibited by my prede-
cessor, which is still fresh in our sorrowing
minds. And repeat that no heart feels more
sensibly than mine, this great aff1iction. In
what say on this occason, shall indulge in
no petty spirit ofanger, no feeling of revenge.
But we have beheld notable event in the his.
tory of mankind: in the midst of the Ameri-
can people, where every citizen is taught to
obey law and observe the rules of Christian
conduct, our Chief Magistrate, beloved of all
hearts, has been assassinated and when we
trace the crime to Its cause-when we remem-
Der the source whence the assassin drew his
inspiration, and then look at the result, we
stand yet more astonished at this most barba-





crime as the murder of great and good man,
honored and revered, beloved, and the hope of
the people, springs not from q solitary indiv-
dual of even so desperate wickedness. We
can trace its cause through successive steps,
without enumerating them here, back to that
source which is the spring OF all our woes
No one can say that, IL the perpetrator Of this
fiendish deed should be arrested, he should
not undergo the extreme penalty which the
law provides for crime.


While we strain our minds to comprehend
the enormity of the assassination, shall we
allow the nation to be assassinated? Ispeak
In no spirit of unkindne-.. II. wa II
of the future to be disFt
regarding mysell as tbs i, 49, ..u
the American people. aItli:no..
justice and judgment shall bcNetermrned by
them. I do not harbor bitter or revengeful
feelings toward any. In general terms, l
would say that public morals and public opin-
! ion should be established upon sure and infiex.
| ible principles of justice. When the question
of exercising mercy comes before me, it will
be considered calmly, jud;ciousIy-remember
| ing that am the Executive of the nation.
| know men love to have their names spoken in
connection with acts of mercy, and how easy
it Is to yield to this impulse, but We must not
forget that what may be mercy to individuala
is cruelty to the State. In the exercise Of
mercy there should be no doubt left that this
high prerogative ia not used to relieve the few
at the expense of the many.


Be assured shall never forget that am moi
to consult my own feelings al. ne, but to give
an account to the whole people In regard tc
| my future course. I will new make nc
pledges. have been connected somewhat
actively with public Affairs, and to the history
| of my public acts which is familiar to You,
refer to those principles which have governed
me heretofore. and will guide me hereafter.


In general will say have long labored fol
the elevation Of the great mass of mankind
Ny opinions as to the nature of popular gov
ernment have long been cherished, and, con
stitued as am, it is now too late in life for %,
to change them. believe that goyernmen


was made for man, not man for government
This struggle of the people against the mos


gigantic rebellion the world ever saw has de


monstrated tia. the attachment of the peopl


to their government is the strongest ratura


defence human wisdom can devise So Ion,
\ as the rich Easn feels that the interests OF Tn


government are his interests go long az IN


public heart turns In the right direction. an
the people understand and appreciate tn


theory of our government and love ibert;


our constitution will be Transmitted unimDaireS


II the time ever comes when the people sba
fail. tie government viii fail and we cease
, be one of the nltionsof the earth. It NAV t
that it was necessary for Us to pass the Ia
ordeal Of strife TO prove that the goyernmel
will not perish from internal veskness b
will stand sbse to defend isealf aoainak I
, foes and punish treason