St. Cloud Democrat. [volume] (Saint Cloud, Stearns County, Minn.) 1858-1866, 1865-03-30
VICE-PRESIDENT JOHNSON.

elapSeu since the vice. frcSluenC elect
appeared in the Senate Chamber to
take the oath of Office in State Of in
toxication, the press all over the coun-
try have given expression to the uni
versal sentiment Of the people, that
some reparation must be made for the
disgrace brought upon the Office and
the nation. Some atoncment is dc.
handed that shall wipe out the vfense.
The only difference of opinion is as to
what this shall be; some journals in
sisting that nothing short Of the resig-
nation of the Vice President will suffice,
while others are Of the opinion that an
apology, added to the burden Of
shame already resting upon the offender,
would be punishment enough. The
New York Independent is of the latter
class. The Chicago Tribune says that
if he will not resign, che can do no less
than to make public apology to the
Senate and people of the United States,
coupled with a solemn pledge to resign
h office if he shall ever again 50 far
forget the decencies Of his official sta
ton"
The St. Paul Press deems it "his
duty to resign, lest his foot may again
slip even though his reformation may
have the appearance of permanency."
1t is stated in extenuation of his ac-
ton, that he had not fully recovered
from the fleets Of the severe illness Of
of few months since which will be
remembered by all--and that he had
been accustomed using stimulants, as
prescription of his physicians. Un-
der the excitement Of the hour, and the
persuasion of friends, he drank too free
ly, and the disgraceful exhibition at the
inauguration was the consequence
The heart of the nation is, moreover,
inclined toward Vice-President John
son for his noble and uudinching pa
triotism. His record from the begin
ming Ct the war up to the hour spoken
of, was glorious. He had proved true
when others proved false. In the
midst of treason, he remained loyal
and struggled with his full might
against the powers of the rebellion.
In consideration Of these facts, ard
of the other, that repAration is not de-
manded for the disgrace to the nation
in the spirit of. the "code O. honor
which would require his political
life-but as mark Of disapprobation
OF the American people upon drunken
ness among those who have received
their trust and con6dence---in .consid-
Grafton Of all these, we think that an
apology, with the promise 81 oxen of by
the Tribune, would be sufficient. In
case OF the death Of President Lincoln,
when the Vice President would be
Chief Magistrate, it would then as
we'll as now be in the power Of the Senate
to impcach him, should he violate lis
promise. 20.
While disposed to be lenient, we can
not unite with the New York Evenimg
Post in the feeling that it would be
better to pass the unfortunate affair
over in silence. This terrible, blastin:
curse Of intemperance has been rapidly
gaining power; it has made many Of
our public men its slaves; it has Aaunt.
ed itself again and again in the most
sacred places of the nation, and it is
MIR Johnson's misfortune that over
his shoulders must be struc% the blow
at all. 1t would be well if the Senate,
while accepting the reparation that may
be made by the Vice President, or i'm.
peaching him tor refusal, would, with