[KNOXVILLE, TENNESSEE, APRIL 14.]
On the evening of the first day of the journey Knoxville was reached. The distinguished travellers were welcomed by a citizens' committee, composed of William Rule, Chairman; Col. E. J. Sanford, Hon. J. C. J. Williams, Hon. L. C. Houk, Col. J. Vandeventer, M. L. Ross, John T. Hearn, Alex. Summers, Wm. M. Baxter, F. A. Moses, John W. Conner, B. R. Strong, Hon. Peter Kern, Capt. W. P. Chamberlain, Col. J. B. Minnis, W. H. Simmonds, John L. Hudiburg, Capt. A. J. Albers, Hon. J. W. Caldwell, and W. P. Smith. After visiting Fort Sanders and viewing the battle-field by twilight the party returned to the city, where a vast audience was assembled.
Col. William A. Henderson introduced the President, who spoke as follows:
My Fellow-citizens—It gives me pleasure to visit this historical city—a city that has given to the country many men who have been eminent in its councils and brought to the Nation they served and to the people who called them into the public service great honor. I am glad to visit East Tennessee, the scene of that early immigration and of those early struggles of men who, for vigor of intellect, strength of heart, and devotion to republican principles, were among the most conspicuous of the early pioneers of the West and Southwest.
I am glad to know that that deep devotion to the cause of the Union which manifested itself in the early contributions of Tennessee to the armies that went to the defence of the homes of the Northwest abides still in these valleys and crowns with its glory and lustre every hill-top of the Alleghanies. You are feeling now a material development that is interesting and pleasing to all your fellow-citizens of the States.
I beg to say to you that whoever supposes that there is anywhere in the Northern States any jealousy of this great material progress which the South is making wholly misconceives the friendly heart of the people of the North. It is my wish, as I am sure it is the wish of all with whom I associate in political life, that the streams of prosperity in the South may run bank-full; that in everything that promotes the prosperity of the State, the security and comfort of the community, and the happiness of the individual home, your blessings may be full and unstinted.
We live in a Government of law. The compact of our organization is that a majority of our people, taking those methods which are prescribed by the Constitution and law, shall determine our public policies and choose our rulers. It is our solemn compact; it cannot safely be broken. We may safely differ about policies; we may safely divide upon the question as to what shall be the law; but when the law is once enacted no community can safely divide on the question of implicit obedience to the law.
It is the one rule of conduct for us all. I may not choose as President what laws I will enforce, and the citizen may not choose what laws he will obey. Upon this broad principle our institutions rest. If we save it, all the agitations and tumults of our campaigns, exciting though they may be, will be harmless to move our Government from its safe and abiding foundation.
If we abandon it, all is gone. Therefore, my appeal everywhere is to hold the law in veneration and reverence. We have no other king; public officers are your servants; but in the august and majestic presence of the law we all uncover and bow the knee.