Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1865-03-16
RUTLAND HERALD.
MONDAY, MARCH l3, 1865.

been reluctant to believe the report that
Vice President Johnson was so intOXica-
ted on the day of Inauguration as to be
untitled for the proper discharge OF his
duties on that occasion. We have wait
e ed for a denial but that there was too
much truth in the report seems now es-
tablished. The dishonor thus done to
the nation it is not necessary to enlarge
upon. Every one feels it and mourns it,
except such of his political opponents
as are glad to seize a preteXt for pOliti-
cal capital even at the expense Of the
nations good name. Such will eXult in
it and gloat over it.
Few persons had won a higher place
in the affections of loyal people than
Andy Johnson. He had won that place
by sturdy and uncOmpromising devo-
tion to the Union from the outbreak Of
the rebellion; by an unyielding patriot
ism and loyalty which no efforts Of rebel
leaders could diminish, no promises
could corrupt, no threats could swerye;
by his Efforts to free his own State from
the curse of slavery and bring it back
to its place in the Union an.15 bv those
qualities which hadd. raised him, faithful
among tn Ilaithless, to the foremost rank
among the defenders of the nations in
tegrity in the time of its great peril.
That he should by single act so tarnish
his whole record made with years of la
i.n L,,t b, Of f,t 3.
and modification to all his admirers as
well as to himself, and is indeed fearful
warning against indulgence on any Oc-
casion in Intoxicating drinks.
The facts in the case seem to be cor
rectly stated in the following extract
from the Boston Journal:
At first we were inclined to disbe-
lieve the reports about Mr.. Johnson, be-
cause he has always had the reputation
of being temperate man. During his
Senatorial career he never disgraced
himself as many Senators have done, by
drunken eXcesses We are assured by
one who knows Mr.. Johnson well that
his intOxication on the late occasion
was entirely exceptional, and probably
did not result from what would ordina-
rily be considered excessive drinking.
He was quite i'll before he left Tennessee
and his weakness and anxiety to reach
Washington and take part in the inaug
.uration ceremonies prompted him to
resort to stimulants. During the fore
noon prior to the Inauguration he was
visited by several delegations, one OF
which actually aw0ke him at daylight
in the morning In his weak and eX-
hausted condition it required but very
little to affect his intellect. To no one,
we-are assured will this unfortunate af-
fair be a source of keener regret than to
Mr. Johnson himself, and If it leads him,
as Gen. Grant was led by the sense of
solemn personal responsibility which
rested upon him, to abandon the intoxi-
eating cup henceforth and forever out
of the evil will come good and his ex-
ample and influence will be powerful in
prom ting the cause of temperance in
the whole country. Thus may false
step be retraced, and the confidence of
the community be regained.'
That the affair has already had an eff
feet is evident from the fact that one of
the first things done by the Senate at its
extra session on the Monday following
the day of inauguration, was to pass
without adissenting voice the following
resolution introduced by Senator Will
son -
Resolved, That the sergeant-at-arms be,
and he is hereby directed, to remove
forthwith from so much of the capitol
as is under his care, all intoxicating liq-
uors and hereafter to exclude liquors in
every form from the Senate portion of
the capitol"
In the Encouragement, also, ofthe Sem
ate standing committees last week. the
only tive Senators who have been noto-
rious for intemperance, (Saulsbury and
McDougal, democrats were omitted en-
tirely from all the committees.
AS to the miserable attempts of GER
tain opposition newspapers to manufac-
ture political capital on the occasion,
they are too hypocritical to be worthy |
of much attention. Their hypocrisy is
sufficiently indicated by the following
from the Tribune
Throughout the late session of Con- |
gress, two Senators, and two only, have !
temperate. Both of them are OF the |
opposition. One of them has frequently |
Interrupted and disturbed the Senate by |
his drunken ebulitions. Neither of them
has eyer been publicly re5uked By any Journal
of his party. On the contrary, one has Just
been reelected for a full term of SIR years 6y |
The whole strength Of that party an his State,
sVithom a sohisper Of Democratic dissent from |
any quarter. And now the very journal |
that is most noisily assailing the friends |
OF the Administration because of Mr..
Johnson's lapse is simultaneously de- |
nouncing as proscriptive and outrage
ous the omission by the majority of the |
Senate of the names of those two
drunken Senators from each and all of
the Standing Committees.
NEW ENGLAND AGRICULTURAL SooIEFy.
The Concord noa,so. COW, Al NJ,