The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1865-04-21
Andrew Johnson, Oar President

|nOw at the head OF our IlttloH, duucu HOIl
la little to the poignancy of the grief that
all felt on hearing of the death of our
GOOD President We confess we do not
share very considerably in this feeling.
Who is Andrew johnson, and what is
his record? Born in humble circumstan-
ces, of poor parents, he has risen by his
own efforts and indomitablc will to the
first place in our nation. He is emphati-
|cally self-made mana man OF the peo-
pie. So far, we'll
When the Rebellion was c0ncOcted in
the halls of Congress, Andrew johnson
was a senator from Tennessee. In the
| last days of Buchanan's administration,
when treason was talked openly and def
|antly on both floors Of Congress, and some
| of the states had already been taken out
of the Union by the arts of Jeff: Davis
and other demagogues, Andrew johnson,
though from Southern state, stood like
a rock for the Union The rebels knew
his power and feared him.
In lengthy speech on the I'd of March,,
1861, 1.-TWO days before the inauguration
I of President Lincoln) Mr.. johnson was
personally attacked by that fit tool Of Sc
cession, Jim Lane of Oregon. 1t was
our privilege to hear portion of Mr..
Johnson's reply. Never will the scene OF
the occasion be forgotten by the crowds
that filled every sitting and standing place
in the Senate galleries. 1t was the begin
ing Of a new era in the history Of this
country. Some of the states had already
declared themselves as seeded; Others
were being forced into it; the naughty
Southrons, like Breckenridge, Davis, Hum
ter, ETC., scowled threateningly upon every
lover of the Union, the "mudslls" being
held in especial contempt There wer,
threats that Mr.. Lincoln should never be
inaugurated. The very air seemed
: freighted with ill omens. 1t was at such
time as this that Mr.. Johnson silpncad
his opponents and made the traitors quail
I by his bold eloquencc. We have only
room to quote short extract:
- But there are men who talk about
towards, courage, and all that description
: OF thing and in this connection, want
to say, not boastingly, with no anger in
: my bosom, that these two eyes of mine
never looked upon anything in the shape
i ot mortal man that Ibis heart feared.
Sir, have we reached Il point at which
we cannot talk about treason? Our fore
fathers talked about il they spoke of it
in the constitution of the country: the,
have defined what treason was; is it an
lotfense, is it a crime, is it an insult to re-
: cite the constitution made bv Washington
: and his compatriots? What does the
constitution say:
Treason against the United States
shall consist only in levying war against
them, or in adhering to their enemies, Civ
inc them aid and comfort
There il Is defined clearly that Treason.
shall consist only in levying war against
the United States, and adhering to and
giving aid and comfort to their enemies.
Who is it that has been engaged in con-
, spiracies? Who is it that has been ell
gagged in making war upon the United
Estates? Who is it that has fired upon
! our flag? Who is it that has given in
Structions to take our arsenalS, to take our
forts, to take our dock-yarls, to take the
public property! In the language of the
constitution of the United States, have
not those who have been engaged in ii
been guilty of treason! We make Il fair
issue. Show me who has been engaged
! in these consplracieS, who has fired upon
/ our flag, has given instructions to take
our forts and our clstom-houScs, our ar
|senalS and our dock-yards, and | will show
you a traitor" ~ Applause in the CALLER
les
Let us then have have faith in Presi-
dent Johnson. Let us trust that the ex-
5hibition of the last inauguration was an
exception to Mr.. John>on's usual conduct.
The government is with the people. Let
such Il sentiment 90 up to Washington
from this entire nation as shall not only
educate the central power there, but that
will convince the world that the motto
upon our new coins is no lie: '.In God
we trust
Since the above was in type We have
IA later record from Mr.. johnson. After
the death of President Lincoln the cabi-
net held a meeting. and President John
son retired for an interview with the COM
|mittec on the conduct of the war. off
which he was an original member. Mem
bers Of this committee say that President
johnson referred in an appropriate man
ner to the recent sad event, and to the
responsibilities which have devolved upon
him. He spoke very decidedly upon the
state of the country, declaring that trea-
son is crime that should be punished.
moi pardOnel This is In accnulance with