The Iowa transcript. (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1858-1866, 1865-05-04
From the davenport Gazette.
PreHident JOhnsOn--Ilis Per.
sOn0l Character and Public
scrvlCcS..u11s Probable
Politics.

We are indebted to highly re
spccted citizen Of Davenport, a trie,
and earnest f,iend Of the Union, for III,
following extract from letter writer
to him by . gentleman at Washington
who has enjoyed long and intimate &C
guaintancc with Preei.lent johnson
woo is fully acquainted with his per
sonal character and habits, and whose
testimony, rs that Of fully competen
and wholly trustworthy witness, would
be implicitly received were we permit
ted to publish his nanc. His letter was
written in answer to a request from ou'
fellow citizen for definite information
and positive assurance, as to President
Johnson's habits, personal character
and probable policy. On these all i'm
portant points the letter ia 40 explicit,
anil satisfactory that, ,hongh uttered
in strict privacy, it is entitled to wide
spread circulation. The writer says:
What occurred at the Inauguration
on the 4:h Of March, in regard to Pre-
iident johnson, was purely accidental
lie hal come from Tennessee recently
where he had been severely sick and
xas still in 4 weak condition. When
he left his room at the hotel he had no,
tasted drop Of anything, but when he
arrived at the Capitol some officious
friend induced him to take glass oi
brandy, upon the supposition that he
would thus be ADLER to pass through the
ce, cmnnv before him. He dill as ad
vised, hut instead Of steadying his ner
yes in his weak state, il was too much
for him. These facts | have from a
f.iend Ct his l!r. F., Of Tennessee.
ahom you probably know, man Of
excellent character. intimatel, acqnaint
ed with ~. Johnson, AMI state them
:erms carefully to calm your aprrehen-
eiore. | assure Won that hc i not a
dfnnkard. In the many years Of nv
acquaintance with him. [ have never
seen him drunk; and for four wears,
probably six, saw him every dav.
There is not a symptom ofintemporanec
in his appearance now: he is calm, q. II
possessed, is a ting with dignity anil
perfect pronriety, and to the satisfaction
oi his visitors, who anxious like your
self, arc here from all parts of,he coun.
try, and are giving him their coanten-
ance whatever. They will not be per
mitsei, with his allowance at least. t.
usurp the direction OF affairs IN the Sc
ceded States but will be held to
answer for their past treason. OF this
I feel perfectly sure. He has saii as
much to me, and / believe i, was \, his
suggestion, before Mr.. Lincnn's fcath.
that the quasi authority to the Virginia
members of the Legislafure-r, bel-to
meet and consult as TO the aif,ir Of tha,
State, was revoked.
The prestige Of republican institutions
mas been sadly wounded by the cruel
deed that has been nerpe'nasea here
But it is, after all, the natural ..onse.
qnence Of the doctrines held hy tie
traitors, and is not so bad as TIE whole
sale murder Of innocent men that has
stalked over the land, under their All
spices. Give yourself no uncasiness
about the safety Of our institutions
only insisr in your circle, that Justice
according to law, shall be meted ont to
the arch traitors wherever they can be
caught and all will be well. Iteg yor
to fell, and t. cause yourself to Sc.
clearly, that unless punishment, ,he
prescribed by the law. is inflicted upor
the leaders, tie confidence Of the peopl.
in eur common safety will be sappcd
Let the law have its course there !,
no other safety. am totally mistaken
in President johnson, if you do not ses
this principle nnswervingly acted npon
The bchesta ofjns,ice will BE- religiou>l,
obeyel: not by violence, but in the re
gular operation Of the laws..-Ciemenc,
will be exercised after trial and co,
vic.ion that is to say, when it is mad,
manifest to ali that the malcfactor is a
the mercy OF the government.
would not be amiss for you and som,
Ct the influential men 81 your part 0
Iowa to visit this city and call on III,
! President, and assure him that yon viii
sustain him in the performance Of Nj
duty.
Indemnity for the past-pay up. s.,
curi'y f,r the !u,ure--poy lorn.