The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1865-03-23
Andrew Johnson.

we are deeply mortlhed as any one can
be on the account of the inebriation of An
drew johnson at the ceremony of the nau-
guration; but we deprecate tie manner and
spirit in which the Vice Presidents conduct
is commented upon by the Republican press
knowing that the opposition journals
would seek to make capital out of the affair
by heaping censnre upon Mr.. Johnson and
the loyal party which elevated him to the
second office in the Republic, Republican
journals have really eclipsed the copperhead
press in reckless censure Of sterling pat
riot, to whom the Union owes more, than to
any other living man whose lot was cast in
a rebel State The Incorporate zeal of these
loyal journals, for the purpose Of 'taking
the wind out Of the sails" of the opposition
press, is manifestly inconsiderate and un-
wise. No one can be more keenly sensitive
than we, of the breach OF propriety commit
ted by the Vice President; and vet we do
not, as some of our contemporaries seem to
regard it as an indelible stain upon the char
acter of the Nation. Their eproachr ests up
on Andrew Johnson; and we can readily
believe that no one has experienced more
poignant sorrow than he, because of his mis-
conduct, which has doubtless been greatly
exaggerated. We are willing to give the
Vice President the benefit of whatever can
palliate his offence, and therefore cite the
following from the New York Sun:
''lt is due to truth, if not to
charity, to remember that there are not
wanting some circumstances in this case
which are calculated to place the oject of so
many fierce assaults in an attitude sugges-
tive as much of pity as of condemnation. -
We recognize that there is not in the Uni
ted States a man who has rendered more
effective service to the Union cause than
Andrew Johnson. He has been in the very
depths and whirlpool of secession, and held
his ground from first to last like man.
At time when all mems hearts forsook
them, and when the treachery of Mr.. Bu-
chanan rendered it extremely doubtful
whether any active opposition would be Of
tered to the formation of a slave confeder-
acy Andrew johnson, of Tennessee, in his
place in the United States Senate, denounc-
ed jeff Davis and the other southern trait
ors to their faces, and maintained that the
American people would never submit to dis
union and ACKNOWLEDGMENT He resisted
all the Establishments of the chivalry, and
abandoned house, home, property and ev-
erything for the Union, and he has ever
been true to his record AS Governor of
Tennessee he inspired our Generals there,
with the saving grace of his indomitabIe
spirit and strong will. We who live peace
ably at home cannot realize the fierce ex-
element and peril to which border State,
Unionist is or was subjected, who dares to
stand up for his principles. Still less can
we comprehend the tremendous strain up
on a leader of even Andrew Johnson's stall
wart frame and robust mind. The over
excitement was too much for him at last.
The strong man succumbed in the hour of
his triumph. At the moment when his
services had been recognized by the Amer
lean people, the Vice President elect was
stricken down with an illness from which it
was long doubtful whether he could recov-
er. He did not die, but he has never been
the same man since. We have no heart to
recount the old sad story, of resort to
stimulants, to recruit the shattered energies
which had been wasted in the noblest of all
causes. During our best and what now
appears, most quiet times. the excitement
of ordinary politics broke down many of the
strongest men. AS compared with Euro
pean Statesmen, our public men do not live
out half of their days. But now, when the
events of hundred years are crowded
within the scope of few months, who can
tell the wear and tear of Drawn and brain
of those who struggle in the heat and thick
of the contest? Iii his misfortune, rather
than his fault that Andrew johnson did not
pass the ordeal unscathed. The excite
ment that produced his sickness followed
him through his convalescence, and he re-
sorted to strong drink to drown the clamor
of Office holders, that haunted President
Taylor to his death. 1t still remains to be
decided whether Vice President johnson has
urvived the period of his usefulness or his
sremoval from his high position may not be
necessary to the honor and dignity of our
But in the future, the memory of
his services will eclipse his faults, and
we who reap the benefit of his labor should
not prejudice ourselves before posterity, by
judging too harshly, a man to whom we owe
SO much"
To this, the Baltimore american adds:
1--WE were present in the Senate in 1861
when Andy johnson made his memorable
speech alluded to by the Sun. He spoke
from the desk adjoining that occupied by
JET Davis, and almost shaking his finger
In the face of the arch traitor, he exclaimed
II L eoere President Of the United
States, I aooutd arrest you as traitors
Il acoutd try yoU as traitors-and
# connected, acould, by the Eternal,
hang you as traitors.'' i