Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1865-04-26
THE NEW PRESIDENT.

We publish elsewhere tho account OF
the installation Of Vice President J0hn>
sou a, President, embracing a few brief
remarks made by him en- that occasion,
and also copy of an address dsliv-
cred to delegation OF citizens of Illinois
a Jay or two subsequent.
As all minds are snxiously inquiriug
what the policy OF the new President is
likely 10 be, every syllable that escapes
his lips has q special importance, and is
weighed with the utmost exactness. The
more conservative portion Of the adhereu.s
of tho late President, backed by the whole
Democratic party, desire that the lenienl !
and humane policy towards the conteder-
ates, and their leaders, adopted oy Mr.
b bbiTGs TpaGlssusd E By d6E Ell: successor success or While The
more radical porlion of them dosire him
to adopt moro stringent and viSor Gus
policy. Thus fas President johnson has
succeeded most admirably in giving hopes
10 both parties, without committing HIM
self in favor Of either. In his address to
tho Illinoisans he stated very distinctly
that he would make Ro professions and
give no pledges, and quite as distinctly
Awioe referred to his past political life as
ahesures. indication Of what may be ex-
peStsd Of him in the future, assuring his
audience that his principles bad under
gone no change. saying-"Ay opinions
a. to The natsrs Of popular government
have long been cherished, aud, constitu
ted 60 1 am, il il now too late in life fol
me TO change them" He also three sew
eral times seters 10 the crime Of treason
and to the puni,h meet due to traitors
10 The yiudication of justice--remarkinl
the. "what may oe mercy to the individ
ual is cruelty to the State"
Now, what has been the past public lifC
of Andrew yohrsonI He wa, born in
the city of Raleigh, NC, in 1903, ans
removed 10 Tennessee in early life, where
he was first elected to the Slate Legisla
ture in 1885. Since then he has occu
Ried many public positions, and wss
member Of the United States Senate wher
Tennessee joined the Southern Confedera
cy. Up to this period his record as con
4isteut States Rights Democrat is ,ecoEc
TO that of no other man. So prominen
did he stand that be was favorably spokei
Of in many influential quarters for HI
presented to the Charleston Convention
by the Tennessee delegation. From tn,
beginning Of the Administration of Presi
dent Jackson, up to the breaking out o
the rebellion, every measure sdyocate'
by the Democratic party found in Andrew
johnson warm and earnest supporter
He stood by Jackson in the war agsins
the old National Bank, and in favor os {
specie currency; he WAS always opposed
to q tariff for protection, and likewise tc
internal improvements by the genera
government; he was member Of Con
gress dnring the administration Of Preii
dent Polk, whose leading measures, in
cluding tho acquisition Of Texas, and th'
war with Mexico, found in him 5ealoa'
supporter. He advocated the Comprom
ise measures OF 1850; the Kansas-N ebras
ka bill aud finally, stood shoulder tc
shoulder with Bigler, Crittenden, Doug
las, Pugh, and other conservative Sena
tors, in their efforts to "save the Union
in l860-'6l by measures OF Cancellation
and compromise. Upon all questions af'
feeling the reserved powers, rights and
sovereignty of the States, none of oar
public men stood higher as JefIersonian
Democrat: and few Southern men were
more decided in their opposition to en-
croachments on the part Of the general
government. Excepting upon the single
question Of the right Of secession, we search
in vain 10 find wherein he ever differed
with the great mass OF the representative
men Of the South.
Such is brief, but we believe, perfect
ly truthful, glance at President John sons
past political life, by which, he tells US.
his future is TO be judged. Should he,
then, determine 10 administer the affairs
Of the government in accordance with his
political sntecedents, he will have no diff
fculsy in adopting what was believed 10
be the lenient policy inauguratcd by Mr..
Lincoln in dealing with the insurgents
and insprgent States, out he is most likely
to go further, and permit no attempt to
be made by the general government TO
influence the action of those STATS, but
permit them 10 resume their functions
as members OF the Union with or without
slavery.
President Johnson is man In whom
the country ought TO have great conf
dsnce. We see no reason why his patri-
otism should be doubted. Being South
.. 1rn., annsa af thu word bU