Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1865-03-13
Id InaueuraI Disrraee.

Our readers viii ind in another column
3 graphic, and, we regret to add, truthful
description of the national disgrace to
which the Vice President of the United
States, subjected the country by presenting
himself drunk, before the Senate Of the
United States, over which he is to preside,
the House Of Representatives, the eo-oedi.
nate branch Of the national Legislature the
Supreme Court, the President snd Cabi-
net, official representatives Of other nations,
and the assembled wisdom, genius courage
and beauty of the land, and on an oc-
cssion on which the eyes, net merely Of the
country, but Of the world were fixed upon
him-an occasion on which he was to re-
ceivs the second Office in the gift of the
American people. We have hitherto re-
trained from alluding to this shameful
spectacle partly from natural reluctance
10 dwell upon the national dizgrsce and
calamity, and partly with the faint hope
that the facts which VIC give elsewhere
might be denied or modified. We have
waited in vain. No single word of denial
or exculpation has bsen uttered in behalf
of the Vice President. On the contrary, it
is stated that he made similar exhibition
of himself when in Cincinnati, on his way
to Washington.
This scsnnot be covered up IS q private
inArmity. Bad as it is that the Vice Presi-
dent Of the nation should lower himself snd
his high Office by drunken revels, this is 8
matter infinitely worse. The majesty of the
nation has been insulted. Its second office
hiss been publicly, and, IS it were officially
debased. Its proudest ceremony has been
degraded. Its assembled legislative, exec
utive, and Judicial authorities have been
treated with indignity. And this has been
done with the whole world, represented by
the ENJOYS of every civilized nation, look
ing on with sstonishment and disgust. II
cannot be hidden-its shameful details viii
be spread upon the four winds Of heaven.
Senator Sumner was right when he re-
marked that we could better afford to lose
a hs.ttle than to have that scene occur.
The country has been profoundly stirred,
As It well might be, by this national calsm-
ity aAd disgrace. The press the pulpit,
and the public, without party distinction,
have been unanimous in reprobating it.
We have already adverted to the action
of the Senate on the subject of drunken
ness in its chamber. We have no doubt
that it will, on its re-sssembing, take the
proper steps to vindicste its own dignity.
But meantime il is the duty of the Vice
President either to apologize and pledge
himself to radical reformation, or to resign
his Office. This the insultsd msjesty Of
the nation demands. The matter cannot
be condoned by silence and in justice to
the country and to himself, this is the only
alternative left open to Mr.. johnson.
We hope that by proper apology and bs
thorough reformation, Mr.. johnson may
vet succeed in retrieving his reputation
He is not, as those who are acquainted with
him know, an habitual drunkArd. We
have the authority of distinguished Sen
ator who for years occupied the seat ad-
Joining his in the Senate chamber, for
stating that before Mr.. johnson went to
Nashville as Military Governor, he was q
temperate mAn-that indeed he was never
known to be intoxicated. The habit Of
drinking to excess, which, springing up in
the army, and has, within the past three
ysarr, spread like an epidemic over the
whole country, has been especially PreVa-
lent in Nashville, and it has been by this
that Mr.. johnson has been led astrsy. Il
has been st least one good result of our ma
tionsl humiliation that the Senate and the
people have been awakened to the dis
grace and danger which this hAbit is
bringing upon US. We trust that the
country and the Vice President may learn
3 lasting lesson from it.