The Jeffersonian Democrat. [volume] (Chardon, Ohio) 1854-1865, 1865-05-05
President Andrew johnson.

For the third time In tho history Of this
Republic, the death of the President has
raised the Vice President to the Executive.
From the mere presiding officer of delib
erative body yesterday without political pow.
or, be is raised to-day by the act of an as
sassin 10 the control of the executive power
OF this great country, aud the Commander.
in. Chief of its army and navy, in o vast civil
war, which places extraordinary power for
good or i'll iE the hauds of the President.
There is probably no man in the country
who is better hated by the insurgent South
ern leaders than Andrew johnson; and no
man who understands their character, or
who is better qualified by observation to
judge of the best mode of dealing with them
than be. And. while public sentiment has
iatoly dealt numerically with him for
single fault, displayed under circumstances
which caused national modification, with.
out taking into consideration possible phys
ical conditions which may have brought
about the misfortune in the absence of pres
ent Indulgence or want Of respect for the
occasion, they will remember, now that the
great responsibilities of the executive rest
upon him. that he is man who, as Senator
Of Southern State, resisted secession when,
to do SO was to meet the bate of the power
that was absolute in the South, and bad al.
ways ruled the country; when it was to put
oil political prospects, property and his
life 10 jeopardy.
OF all tho States that we're carried into
secession, Andrew johnson was the only
Senator who remained faithful to the Ma.
tional Government This could not have
been II he had not been wel.grounded in
principles antagonistic to those Of the South.
ern ruling class. That these were princi.
pies Of real democracy, as distinguished
from those of tho srstocracy which ruled
the Democratic party, We have corrobora
ting evidence Of, 10 the fact that he alone of
all the Southern Senators voted for the
Homestead Law--that measure which, by
making the public lands free in small par
cells to settlers, placed an obstacle to tho
acquisition of the large tracts which slavery
requires; settled the country with white 10.
borers, which slavery is 10 conflict with, and
thus created . natural barrier against its
extension into new territory.
From its inception he has fought seces.
sion with all his might, periling everything
he had 10 iifo 10 resisting it. No man
knows better than no the necessity for re-
organizing Government In the South upon
. different class than the aristocratio Gle.
ment which carried il into rebellion; and no
man 10 less likely to compromise away the
blood shed for national salvation by restOr-
ing this class 10 power over the South His
measures for recOnstructiOu Of civil govern
ment in Tennessee have been straightfor-
ward, determined and radical to the end Of
establishing loyal men In power. His ad.
dress just Ne the Tennessee State Conven-
ton was about to adjourn, and to leave TO q
future convention the reorganization Of the
State Government, checked it's irresolu ution
and urged it to 60 forward, unmindfu, Of
technical irregularities, for the sake of tht
great end of establishing civil government.
Andrew johnson has given the best evi
dence of his patriotism. He is . man of re
msrkable natural talent and force of char
aoter. He comes into the Goverement NJ
time when the overthrow Of the rebellion
assured, and when he will have sll the el
perience OF the past and the aid of thos
most experienced in his Administrations
We are confident that the executive Office
safe in his hands, and that his course will 9
once bring assurance of il to the country
Gin. Gdz.