Year: 1866

In reply to the crowd of soldiers and


sailors assembled at the White House


this evening to pay their respects to the


President, President Johnscn said II


confess that in the peculiar posture of
public affairs, your presence and address
| gives encouragement and confidence to


me in my efforts to discharge the duties
| incumbent on me, as Chef Magistrate of
the Republic: and in what have to say,
1 shall address you in the character of
| citizens sailors and soldiers (Applause }
We are to-day involved in one of the
most critical and trying situations that
has occurred since this Government
came into existence, The nation has an
other test still to undergo, and that is to
give evidence to the nations of the earth,
and to its own CT, zens, thut it has power
to overcome internal foes-that is has
strength enough to put down treachery
and treason within its own borders.
(Cheers. We have commenced the or
deal. and l trust in God we will pass
through it successfully lCheers


l feel complimented by the allusion of
your Representative to the fact that in
the Senate in 1860 and 1861 when the
nation was entering on this ordeal, I
raised my voice and hand against treason,
treachery and traitors at home, (Cheers,
and cries of ..Good.") I stand here to-
day holding and maintaining the same
position which | then enunciated
(Cheers } l stand here to day opposing
traitors and treason, wherever they be,
in the South or in the North loud
Cheers. l stand here to day. as l then
stood, using all my powers, mental and
physical, to preserve this nation in pass
ing through the third phase of its exist
ence. The organized forces and com


bined powers that recently stood arrayed
against us are disbanded and driven
from the field; but it does not follow that
there are still no enemies against our
present form of government and our free
institutions. (Applause }


l then stood in the Senate of the
United States denying the doctrine of
separation and secession Idenied then.
as do now, that any State has the right
of its own will to separate itself from
other States. and the right to destroy the
Union and break up the Government;
and L think have given some evidence
that l have been sincere and in earnest;
and now l want to know why it is that
the whole train of slanderers and cal
umniators have been barking and snap
ping at my heels CHEERS } Why is
it that they have arrayed themselves
against me? Is it because l stand on
the side of the people, and when 1 say
the people, include sailors and soldiers?
(Cheers-) Why is it that thev are ar
rayed in traducing and villifying and
columniating me? Where were they
during the rebellion aver at home in
bed (Laughter)


In the Senate, 1 raised nv voice
against it, and when it was believed that
1t would be to the interest of the nation,
and would assist in putting down the
rebellion. did l not leave my place in the
Senate. place of emoIument. ease and
distinction, and take my position where
the enemy could be reached, and where
mems lives were in danger Cheers and
cries Of That's So" While l was thus
exposed. personally and publicly. some
of my present traducers and calumnia-
tors were far removed from the foe, and
were enjoying ease and comfort lCheers
and laughter. But care not for them.
l care not that slander. the foul whelp
Of sin. has been turned loose against me.
care not for all that, and let me tell
you here today that. although pretty
well advanced in life, I feel that shall
live long enough to live down the whole
pack of traducers and slandeYers.
lApplause- They have turned the whole
pack loose to lower me in your estimA-
ton Verify. they can't do IL Tray.
Blanche and Sweetheart, little dogs and
all. come along swapping and snarling af
my heels, but heed them not fCheers-
The American people-citizens, soldiers
and sailors-know that from my advent