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Story
August 25, 1864
Weekly National Intelligencer
Washington, District Of Columbia
What is this article about?
On August 18, President Lincoln addresses the departing 164th Ohio Regiment outside the Executive Mansion, thanking them for their service and urging them to stay focused on preserving the Union's free government amid the Civil War struggle.
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OCR Quality
98%
Excellent
Full Text
A SPEECH BY THE PRESIDENT.
From the Republican of August 18th.
About half-past two o'clock this afternoon the 164th Ohio regiment of one hundred days' men, whose term of service has expired, paid their respects to the President in front of the Executive Mansion. The regiment was drawn up in a solid body by their commander, Col. J. C. Lee, when the President mounted the stone parapet and stood behind the iron balustrade, with the Colonel upon his left. The regiment presented arms, and, after a flourish by the band, Col. Lee said, "The President of the United States, fellow-soldiers!" The band played a strain of "Hail to the Chief," the soldiers grounded arms, and the Commander-in-Chief addressed them in a short but earnest and appropriate speech. He said:
Soldiers: You are about to return to your homes and your friends, after having, as I learn, performed in camp a comparatively short term of duty in this great contest. I am greatly obliged to you and to all who have come forward at the call of the country.
I wish it might be more generally and universally understood what the country is now engaged in. We have, as all will agree, a free Government, where every man has a right to be equal with every other man. In this great struggle this form of government and every form of human rights is endangered if our enemies succeed. There is more involved in this contest than is realized by every one. There is involved in this struggle the question whether your children and my children shall enjoy the privileges we have enjoyed.
I say this in order to impress upon you, if you are not already so impressed, that no small matter should divert us from our great purpose. There may be some inequalities in the practical application of our system. It is fair that each man shall pay taxes in exact proportion to the value of his property; but if we should wait, before collecting a tax, to adjust the taxes upon each man in exact proportion with every other man, we should never collect any tax at all. There may be mistakes made sometimes; things may be done wrong, while the officers of the Government do all they can to prevent mistakes; but I beg of you, as citizens of this great Republic, not to let your minds be carried off from the great work we have before us.
This struggle is too large for you to be diverted from it by any small matter. When you return to your homes, rise up to the height of a generation of men worthy of a free Government, and we will carry out the great work we have commenced. I return to you my sincere thanks, soldiers, for the honor you have done me this afternoon.
Three cheers were given for the President, and he was saluted by the regiment, after which the march was taken up for the railroad depot.
From the Republican of August 18th.
About half-past two o'clock this afternoon the 164th Ohio regiment of one hundred days' men, whose term of service has expired, paid their respects to the President in front of the Executive Mansion. The regiment was drawn up in a solid body by their commander, Col. J. C. Lee, when the President mounted the stone parapet and stood behind the iron balustrade, with the Colonel upon his left. The regiment presented arms, and, after a flourish by the band, Col. Lee said, "The President of the United States, fellow-soldiers!" The band played a strain of "Hail to the Chief," the soldiers grounded arms, and the Commander-in-Chief addressed them in a short but earnest and appropriate speech. He said:
Soldiers: You are about to return to your homes and your friends, after having, as I learn, performed in camp a comparatively short term of duty in this great contest. I am greatly obliged to you and to all who have come forward at the call of the country.
I wish it might be more generally and universally understood what the country is now engaged in. We have, as all will agree, a free Government, where every man has a right to be equal with every other man. In this great struggle this form of government and every form of human rights is endangered if our enemies succeed. There is more involved in this contest than is realized by every one. There is involved in this struggle the question whether your children and my children shall enjoy the privileges we have enjoyed.
I say this in order to impress upon you, if you are not already so impressed, that no small matter should divert us from our great purpose. There may be some inequalities in the practical application of our system. It is fair that each man shall pay taxes in exact proportion to the value of his property; but if we should wait, before collecting a tax, to adjust the taxes upon each man in exact proportion with every other man, we should never collect any tax at all. There may be mistakes made sometimes; things may be done wrong, while the officers of the Government do all they can to prevent mistakes; but I beg of you, as citizens of this great Republic, not to let your minds be carried off from the great work we have before us.
This struggle is too large for you to be diverted from it by any small matter. When you return to your homes, rise up to the height of a generation of men worthy of a free Government, and we will carry out the great work we have commenced. I return to you my sincere thanks, soldiers, for the honor you have done me this afternoon.
Three cheers were given for the President, and he was saluted by the regiment, after which the march was taken up for the railroad depot.
What sub-type of article is it?
Historical Event
What themes does it cover?
Moral Virtue
Justice
What keywords are associated?
Presidential Speech
Civil War
Union Soldiers
Free Government
Patriotic Duty
What entities or persons were involved?
President
Col. J. C. Lee
164th Ohio Regiment
Where did it happen?
In Front Of The Executive Mansion
Story Details
Key Persons
President
Col. J. C. Lee
164th Ohio Regiment
Location
In Front Of The Executive Mansion
Event Date
August 18th
Story Details
The President thanks the 164th Ohio Regiment for their service as they depart, emphasizes the stakes of the Civil War in preserving free government and human rights, and urges them not to be diverted by minor issues from the great purpose.