The mountain Democrat., 1865-04-15


AZ johnson DiSgraced Himself and
the Nation.
The New York Herald, describing the
Inauguration ceremonies at the National
Capitol, on the 4th of March, thus al!udes
to the d;sgraceful part which Andrew
johnson, of Tennessee, the recently elect
ed Vice President, played in the pageant:
During all this time Andrew johnson
for such he simply was then, not hav-
ing taken the oath of Office (would to
heaven that it could be said IN behalf OF
the country that he is still only Andrew
.SphasoNN -ncMtiH1sN HE, aNoeGk GrrA :
speech. It might have been appropriate
at some hustings in Tennessee; but il GER.
tainly was far Irop being appropriate on
this occasion. 1t was not only a ninety
ninth rate stump speech, but was dis
graceful 10 the extreme. lie had not pro-
ceeded far when Senators on the Republi.
can side began to hang their heads, sink
down in their seats, look at each other
with significance, as much as to say, us
he crazy, or what is the matter? ?" They
exhibited in every feature great uneasi.
ness. There was no installing the fact
that the Senators were mortified in the
extreme. The Democratic Senators leaned
forward and appeared to be chuckling
with each other over the figure made by
the Republican party through their Vice
President elect The foreign ministers
showed unmistakable signs OF amazement
as the incoherent sentences came from
Mr.. Johnson's lips. Republican Senators
moved around in their seats, unable to sit
still under the exhibition before them
Some Of the Senators sat sidewise, others
turned their backs, as if anxious to hide
themselves.
Luckily for the members Of the House
OF Representatives they did not reach the
Senate till several minutes after twelve,
and they " ere not subjected to but small
portion Of this scene.
The speech vas disconnected, the sem
fences so incoherent that it is impossible
TO give an accurate report Of his speech.
As his sentences came up in the reporters
gallery, the statements that your PreSi-
dent is plebian-I am a plebian, glory
in it-Tennessce has never gone out Of
the Union-I am going to talk two min
utes and half on that point-I want you
TO hear me. Tennessee always was loyal
we all derive our power from the PEG.
pie. Chief Justice Chase is but the crea-
ture Of the people, want you to hear
me two minutes on that point-you, Mr..
Stanton, Secretary of War, derive your
power and authority from the people
C'Who is Secretary Of the Navy - was
then heard in voice of less volume
Some one responded "Mr WeIlcs)." You,
Mr.. Wellcs, Secretary OF the Navy, get
your power from the people. This was
the strain and tone Of the whole speech,
mixed with lecture to the Senate on the
rebelliouS States
1t was impossible to give full report,
sitting in the gallery. The constant clat-
ter Of voices in the rear declaring, What
a shame ~ Has he no friends - lis
there no person who will have mercy up
on him?" TELL hi n TO stop ana save tue
country further disgrace, were 50 numrr-
Gus that it catirc,y prevented full report
being made. The only fu.l report was
that Of the official reporters Of the Globe.
The Senators, however, were 50 chagrincd
at the speech that they notified the Globe
reporter TO suppress his copy aud wait
until Mr.. Johnson could write out a
speech, that this affair might not 60 be.
fore the world in that form. 1t is char.
table TO say that his condition was such
that he was unfit to make a speech. lie
evidently did not shun Bourbon county,
Kentucky, on his way here.
Mr., johnson finally concluded his
speech, whercupon Eice.Presidrnt l!amlin
administered to him the oath Of Office. -
Mr.. lIaDlin read the oath by sentences,
and Mr.. johnson repeated it after him.
The effort Of the Vice. President elect to
60 through with the form Of repeating
the sentences as read hy Mr.. lIamhn was
painful in the extreme. lie stumbled,
s:ammered, repeated portions Of it several
times over. The moment that he conc!u-
ded his task, Mr.. johnson turned to the
audience and commenced another speech,
giving to those assembled his idea Of the
oath which he had taken. lie had utter
ed but two or three sentences when some
Of the officials standing near him had the
good sense to stop him, he having already
occupied some nineteen minutes in his
former speech, and delayed the proceed
ings beyond all usages. They were un-
willing that they should be any longer
delayed by the incohcrent remarks Of this
new official It has heretofore been the
custom to close all speeches the moment
that the Judges Of the Supreme Court
and the diplomatic corps reach the Senate
Chamber. Mr.. IIamin, in accordance
with this usage, closed his speech in time
TO give Mr.. johnson some seven minutes
TO make his remarks before the arrival of
those dignitarics. Bnt Mr.. johnson did
not appear to understand the usage on
such occasions, or else was not inclined
to follow them, for the diplomatic gentle
men heard the bulk Of his speech, and,
unfortunately, the worst part Of it. The
moment that the new Vice President had
been silenced, Mr.. EIamlin declared the
old Senate adjourned. Thus expired the
Senate of the Thirty eight Congress, at
fifteen minutes past twelve o'clock.
The New York World thus animadverts
on the conduct Of this drunken beast OF a
Eiee.President:
The drunken and beastly Caligula, the
most prohigate OF all the Roman Empe.
rOrs, raised his horse to the dignity Of con-
sul-an Office that, in former times, had
been filled by the greatest warriors and
statesmen Of the Republic, the Scipios, the
Catos, by Cicero, and by the mighty Ju-
Illus himself. The consulship was scarce
ly more disgraccd by that scandalous
transaction than is our Vice Presidency
by the late election. This office has been
adorned in better days by the talents and
accomplishment Of Adams and Jefferson,
Clinton and Gerry, Calhoun and Van
Buren,; and now to see it filled by this
insolent, drunken brute, in comparison
with whom even Caligula's horse was re-
,,nookoh1a l-cor fba Cr.o o,;.~oI All MI