Evansville daily journal. (Evansville, Ind.) 1863-1866, 1865-04-21
President Johnson's Policy.

1NEHAWLMh MVMM8UMb
Now that the funeral obsequies Of our
lamented late Chief Magistrate are over
the people will turn with anxiety to the,
newly inangurated President, and scruti-
nize every word that he utters, that they
may ascertain, IL possible, the policy he
proposes adopting in further suppression
Of the rebellion Nor does Mr.. johnson
manifest any disposition to keep them
ignorant as to his views or opinions. He
has been free to express himself to alt
who have called upon him to tender their
aid aud pledge support to his admins
tration. His speeches are well calcula-
ted to make rebel leaders and the foment-
ers Of sedition and civil war tremble.
The Vice President regards treason as a
great crime, and not mere difference
Of political opinions. AS great crime
he seems TO think il merits and should
receive condign punishment. To Gov
Stone, ofIowa,h he frankly avowed his opin-
ion OF the enormity of the crime COM
mitted by the rebel leaders, and of the
necessity Of enforcing the claims Of JUS
tice.
On the 18th inst. q large delegation Of
Illinoisans, with their Governor at its
head, waited upon the newly inaugurated
President. Governor oglesby, in intro
ducing the delegation, spoke in high
terms of Mr., Lincoln, ard expressed, in
behalf Of the delegation, the fullest con-
fidence in Mr.. Johnson's abilities TO con-
duct the affairs Of the nation, and
pledged him the earnest support Of his
State and the country fs4
President johnson replied;
have listened with profound emotion
to the kind words you have addressed
me The visit of this large delegation
to speak to me, through you, these words
of encouragement, had not anticipated.
In the midst of the saddening circum-
stances which surround US, and the inn
mense responsibility thrown upon me.
the expression Of confidence of individ-
uaIs, and still more Of an influential
body like that before me, representing q
great commonwealth, strengthens and
cheers my heavily burdaned mind in an
| hour like this, Of deepest sorrow. We're
it possible TO embody in words the feel
ings OF my bosom, could not command
my feelings to utter them. Perhaps the
best reply could make, and the ona
nost readily appropriate to yonr kind
/ assurances of confidence, would be to
receive their assurance The throbbings
| OF my heart since the sad catastrophe
which has appalled, us cannot be reduced
to words, and oppressed as am with
| the new and great responsibilities which
/ have devolved upon me, and saddened
with grief, can with difficulty respond
to you at all, but cannot permit such
an expression of the confidence reposed
in me by the people to pass without ac-
acknowledgement a
To an individual like myself, who has
never claimed much, but who has, it is
true, received from q generous people
many marks Of trust aud honor for a
long time, an occasion like this, and the
manifestation of public feeling SO we'll
timed, are peculiarly acceptable. Spring
ing from the people myself, every pulsa-
ton Of the popular heart finds an imme-
diate answer in my own. BY many men
| in public life such occasions are often
considered merely formal To me they
are real. Your words of countenance
and encouragement sink deep into my
heart, and were | ever coward, | could
but gather from them strength to carry
, out nv convictions of right.
Thus feeling, shall enter upon the
discharge Of my great duty, firmly AND
steadfastly, If not with the signal ability
exhibited BY my predecessor, which il
still fresh in our sorrowing minds. Neet
| repeat that no heart feels more seusi
, bly, than mine in this great affiiction. Ia
what | say on this occasion, l shall in
} dulge IN no petty spirit Of anger, NJ
feeling of. revenge; but we have behel'
n notable event in the history Of man
kind, in the midst Of the American peo
ple. where every citizen is taught to obe
: the law and observe the rules OF Chris
!. tian conduct. Our Chief Magistrate
beloved OF all hearts, has been assassin
ated, and when we trace this crime t
~ It's cause, when we remember the sourc
whence the assassin drew his inspiration
and then look ut the result, we stand u
more astonished at this most barbaror
most diabolical assassination,
. Such a crime-the murder OF gre
and good mau, honcred and revered, b
loved and the hope Of the people,
springs not alone from 9 solitary indi
idual of ever so desperate wickednes
We can trace rs cause through succe
- silva staus-without enumeratiug the
here-back to that source which IS q
snrinr Of all our woes. Noone can 81
= that IF the perpetrator of this hendl
5aea hp arrested, he should not under
,er the extreme penalty the law knows !
: crime. -,
terpose; but is he alone guilty. HeI
. gentlemen, You perhaps expect me
iay, present some indication OF my ietu
'eN policy. One thing | will say; Eve
era teaches its lesson. The times
4. live in are not without instruction.
and The American people must be tang
! i"s a. if they do not already feel, that treas
at is crime and must be punished Il
the Government will not always bt
with its enemies; that it is strong |
70 only to protect, but to punish. WI
we turn to the criminal code and exa
!. inc the catalogue of crimes, we tn
sson 6ud arson laid down as a crime, with
0e'' appropriate penalty; We 6nd there Il
and robbery and murder given as GRIN
ct there, too, we fnd-last and highes
crimes-treasou.,
for With other and inferior offences
people are familiar. but IN our peae'
ct. history, treason has been almost
al, known. The people must underst
that IL is the hlackest of crimes, and