Year: 1877

| Cu at tuC Cusb pOfttCo vi tilC Sapitti
by


GOVERNOR PORTER


who said;


Mr.. President: l bid you welcome
to the State of Tennessee, to State
whose citizens have always been
prompt to render honor and homage
to tminent services by whomsoeyer
performed, and whose respect for
those in authority is coeval with the
existence of their State government.


This occasion is the result of a senti-
ment as respectful as it is unselfish.
1t is voluntary tribute that comes
from the approving judgement of the
people, and proceeds from their graft
itude to you, sir, for bringing peace
to the country They bclive that you
have desired TO make the military
subordinate to the ivil authority,
that you are laboring to enforce an
absolute and unconditional civil-ser-
vice reform; that you have been in
strumental in securing a home rule
for the South, that you do not pursue
the devious paths of policy, and that
you are animated by the same spirit
that controlled President Polk when
he declared in his inaugural, that the
Constitution, itself plainly written, is
the safeguard of our Federal compact
the offspring of concession and COM
promise, binding together in the
bond of peace and union this great
and increasing family of free and in
dependent States. II will be the
chart by which ! shall be directed.
The people of Tennessee are not un-
mindful of the fact that you have call
ed to your assistance in the conduct of
the affairs Of the Federal Government
one of their honored fellow citizens,
one whose pure and stainless life is
the warrant of faithful administra-
ton of the department over which be
presides. | give expression to the
hope that your visit to Tennessee will
be an agreeable one personally, that
its influence will suspend the animos-
tiles of the factions and contribute
something toward the restoration of
fellowship among all sections of the
country. | again bid you welcome.
PRESIDENT HAYES RESPONDED AS FoT.-


LOWS:


at is a very great qualification, fell
low citizens, to meet this large assem-
bly, of people of Tennessee The
terms in which l have been welcomed
by your Governor seem to require of
me preparation greater than my cir
cumstances have allowed me to make.
and | regret that am compelled TO
be content with talking in O plain
conversational way in regard to the
few topics which it seems to me may
be appropriately discussed ON this oc-
casion. understand that | am in
the presence of men of all political
parties, of both parties, of both races, |
and of brave men OF both armies
[ Applause. am very glad so to
meet the people of Tennessee, as what
| have to say would prefer to say to
both races, to both parties, and to men
of both armies. Loud applause. l.
1t has been my fortune during the
last ten days to mingle largely with
veterans of the Union army. l Judge
from what | know and from what
have seen aud heard that am now in
the presence Of more men of the Con
federate than of the Union army
We at least understand each other.
Between us there is no shadow
| Prolonged applause. Members of
the Cabinet and myself have Travelled
to different parts OF the country inn
PEELED by variety of motives. Wei
are glad to see this ilourishiDg city
and beautiful country, and it is not
disagreeable TO be relieved for atimc
from our duties at Washington, but
by friends, we hope that something
may be done also by our mingling
with the people to promote the cause
which has brought this great assem-
blagc together, the cause ofthc Union,
the cause of the Constitution, the
cause of harmony, the cause of friend
ship, the cause of peace. We trust
that our visiting the different States
will perhaps in some degree increase
the socia! intercourse between them,
perhaps will tend also to increase bus
mess intercourse between them, will
tend somewhat by the report of the.
proceedings to increase knowledge Of
the people of all the States. To know
each other is, | am sure, TO increase
our friendship for each other. 1t is
because soldiers of the two armies
know each other better than other
people, that they are more ready to
clasp hands with each other. APP
plause. | said at Louisville, speak
ing of this subject, one thing that the
reporters, who labored under more
difficulties than those who are now
before me, did not get quite fully. |
undertook to explain my views of
how it happened that the war be-
tween us turned out. 1t was mat
ter that we understood pretty well,
yet l will give you my view OF it. 1
said then that when the war began
our Southern adversaries were lit
tie better prepared for it than we
were. We had good marksmen, we
had good horscmen, but in proper
ton to numbers you had great
many more good marksmen and a
great many more good horscmen than
we had. You were educated as sol
diers. We had to learn to ride, to
shoot, but gradually you know we
got to learn to shoot and how to ride
Then the struggle came between
Greek and Greek, and here comes in


what my friend, the reporter at Lou
isville, overlooked. Everybody
knows that when the issue comes to
| that Greek against Greek, that army
will conquer that has the most Greeks.
Laughter and applause.


Well we fought it out, and the


thing is ended, and now you and 1


believe that there's no real cause OF
| quarrcling in this country left re-


naming. Applaus.el We believe
in the maxim that l saw over gate
| down there: Peace OH earth and
good will to men, We have seen


enough of war. heard from dis
ltinguishcd Unon general that in the


beginning the most eminent states


men perhaps at Washington, had very


confident ideas as to the breyity OF


the war. Ninety days was the first


period. Said he TO General Scott:


The very memcnt that we have q


victory that is complete and general


there will be peace. That will be