UNITED STATES. 



725 



TABLE OK POPULATION OF SOME OF TI1E PRINCIPAL CITIES IN TOT UNITED STATES. 



"Washington. The President, on making his 

 appearance, was addressed by John W. For- 

 ney, late Secretary of the Senate, as follows : 

 Mr. President : On the part of the Republicans of 

 the District of Columbia I am here to-night to return 

 to you, in their name, the expression of their pro- 

 found gratitude for the second proclamation which 

 seals the great work of the war, in the overthrow of 

 which you were the chief instrument. The first proc- 

 lamation of your illustrious predecessor, which de- 

 clared the downfall of slavery, was essential to that 

 great moral victory which succeeded the triumph of 

 arms. Mr. President, it is impossible to speak the 

 feelings of the race liberated, first, by Mr. JLincoln, 

 and second, enfranchised by yourselr, on this inter- 

 esting occasion. Those of us who have enjoyed 

 the rights of citizenship for so long a time cannot 

 express the emotions which swell their hearts this 

 evening ; and you, sir, may well conceive how they 

 appreciate the great work which has been so splen- 

 didly consummated by yourself the words of coun- 

 sel, the words of cheer, the words of encouragement 

 you have bestowed upon them and, therefore, on 

 this inclement night, they have come to tender you 

 their heart-felt thanks for again proving yourself 

 their liberator and their friend. 



* Second enumeration. 



To which President Grant replied as follows; 



Sir: I can assure those present that there has 

 been no event since the close of the war in which I 

 have felt so deep an interest as that of the ratification 

 of the fifteenth amendment to the Constitution by 

 three-fourths of the States of the Union. I have felt 

 the greatest anxiety ever since I' have been in this 

 house to know that that was to be secured. It looked 

 to me as the realization of the Declaration of Inde- 

 pendence. I cannot say near so much on this subject 

 as I would like to, not being accustomed to public 

 speaking, but I thank you very much for your pres- 

 ence this evening. 



The crowd loudly cheered the President as 

 lie retired, and the band struck up "John 

 Brown's body lies mouldering in the grave." 

 Vice-President Colfax, in response to calls, 

 then came forward and said : 



Ftllow-citiMnt : My heart rejoices with youre in 

 that proclamation which declares to the people of 

 this republic and to the people of the world the rati- 

 fication of the fifteenth amendment to the Constitu- 

 tion. It is, indeed, a fortunate coincidence that the 

 same voice that proclaimed.the downfall of the re- 

 bellion and the salvation intact of this imperilled 

 Union proclaimed afterward, as the Chief Magistrate 

 of the land which by his valor and that of his fellow* 



