Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1865-11-23
AN HOUR WITH ANDREW JOHNSON

E'dor;a' Correspondence Of the Eo,ll,p RcrostoJyl
! WASHINGTON, Oct 81. 1865
] was Of those, in an humble way, who
! fashioned Andrew Johnson into Vice
| President at Misunderstanding publicly
supported his nomination before the meet
ing of the Convention and voted for him III
that body. | have since then had occasion
to complain Of my own work. and have
never after the Inauguration, been free from
/ grave apprchcnsous as to the wisdom ot
that choice. Differing with most men who
besiege the Executive department III this
very important particular that the admin
istration has no hOnors | aspire to, | may
differ with most OF them also alike in the
( trankness with which | counsel, when in
vltcd to do so, and III the convictions which
result from contact with rulers.
found myself here on Friday for the
first time since February last, and during
the afternoon Of the same day, called at
the White House to see President Johnson
| found the halls, antc-chamber and all 9th
er available spaces around the Executive
room, crowded with motley set OF men,
with an axious female face here and there
giving variety to the scene--all waiting,
and some from day to day, to gain an inter
view with the President and plead for res
toration Of citizenship and property. Soon
the door opened and genteel lady emerg-
ed from the Presidents room with a large
official envelope Cutched ncrvously i'll her
hand, and a benignity Of countenance that
told more plainly than words that another
citizen had been born again to the Republic
Soon after another and then another came
with like trophies Of success, and as each
one passed out the mass would sway tow
ard the door to catch the name Of the next
one called. In a little time gained admis-
sion and had my first interview with Andrew
johnson ds President.
There are few men who could make 1t
moro favorable impression upon Il stranger
on first acquaintance, then the President
He differs from Mr. Lincoln in most exter-
nal characteristics, and in many contrasts
tavorably. He lacks Mr.. Lincoln's Jolly
humor improves upon lis ungainly ways;
is vastly more diplomatic, and wears un-
form and quiet dignity that would have
been shocklngly out Of place in his lament
ed predecessor, but which we'll becomes the
Chief Executive Of great Nation. He is
about five feet ten il height, rather stoutly
and symmetrically built, has long hair well
silvered by the frosts of time, rather a cold
grey eye that looks as if in its calmest.
glances there slumbers behind it quite
enough to quicken it a chiseled Roman
face, usually sad in expression. at times re-
lieved by genial smile, and ill manner
and dress scfencly plain and Unaffected
Such is, in brict,a portrait of Andrew John
son, but two years ago the despised, the
reviled Of traitors the man upon whose
head fell their fiercest denunciations and
against whom were hurled their keenest
and deadliest shafts, and now the President
of the United States with his foes at his
feet supplicating his pardon, and charged
with the highest duties and responsibilities
ever imposed on mortal man.
lie meets the visitor cordially, and speaks
in the sOftest tone and in well measured
sentences. There was little formality-the
usual greetings and thence was passed to
questions of graver moment However
reticent he may be on some issues, he seems
to have no reserve as to the policy he con-
ceives to be the true one to bring back the
nsurgent States He discussed the posit-
ion Of those States and their people with
great interest and occasional warmth and
with a frankness that left no doubt as to
his purpose. He holds that they were new
er out of the Union; that secession, how
ever accomplished as fact, cannot be ac
complished in law that the supreme au-
thority Of the government in those States
was not overthrown by rebellion, but sim
ply in allegiance, and Of course it logically
follows his premises that, since rebellion
has ceased, the states resume their proper
place in the Union and restoration is ac-
complshed This, III brief was the stand
point fron, which the President discussed