Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1865-03-15

Defence of Vice President johnson.
The Washington correspondent of the
New York Commercial says:
Mr.. johnson is at "Silver Spring." the
suburban residence of Francis P. Blair,
where the Vice Presidents old Senatorial
friend, President King, is also guest. 1t
Ia hoped that fresh air and quiet will recu
perate aud restore the mental faculties of
Mr.. johnson, which have been badly de-
ranged by the constant excitement atte1.
dant on bis administration of affairs in
Tennessee, and by recent severe illness.
with other causes.
The New York SWn is out with defence
or palliation of the condition of Vice
President johnson at the ceremony of the
Inauguration. We quote the article entire:
While deprecaling. in common with eve.
~ American citizen who is keenly alive to
the honor and dignity of his country, the
conduct of Vice President johnson at the
inauguration on the fourth of March, we
would respectfully submit that the spirit in
which it is commented upon in public and
private is scarcely less rePrehensible than
the offence which has been committed
Although we are keenly sensitive of the
breach of propriety, good taste and sound
sense that has been committed by the mag
istrate holding the second office in the Uni-
ted States Government, and can realize to
some degree the aid and comfort that it
will afford to foreign enemies and do
nestle traitors, yet it 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 OBJECT of so many fierce assaults 10 al
attitude suggestive as much OF pity as of
condemnation. Though far from agreeing
with many of the political views OF Andrew
johnson, we recognize that there ia not in
the United States a man who bas'rendered
more effective service to the Union cause.
He has been in the very depths and v~hi'l-
pool of secession, and held his ground, from
hrst to last, like Q man. AT a time when
SaIl mems hearts forsock them, and when
the treachery Of Mr.. Buchanan, and the
scarcely disguised VaciilAtion of President
Lincoln aud some Of his advisers, and the
course of a large portion of the public press
headed by the New York Tribune, all COM
biued to render it extremely doubtful
whether any active opposition would be
| offered to the formation of slave confed
eracy, Andrew johnson, of Tennessee, in
his place in the United States Senate, de-
| noupced JEFF. Davis and the other Southern
traitors to their faces, and maintained that
the American people would never submit to
disunion and Acknowledgement. He re
sisted all the Establishments of the chiv.
airy, and abandoned house, home, proper.
ty, and everything for the Union, and he
has ever been true to his record. Az Gov.
ernor of Tennessee he inspired our Gener.
ais there with the saving grace of his in.
| do itoh T,
secret that at one time Nashville would
have been evacuated but for his opposition
TO the opinion of a we'll known General
who maintained thatit should be abandon
ed. In a strictly strategicaI point of view
| il should have been, for it had been flank
ed by Brsgg's army. But pluck triumpbed
| and Nashville is ours to this day, and was
the base for oil Sherman's glorious success.
es. We who live penCeably at home can
not realize the fierce excitement and perils
to which a Border State Unionist is or was
| subjected, who dares TO stand up for his
principles. Still less can we comprehend
the tremendous strain upon a leader Of
even Andrew Johnson's stalwnrt frame and
robust mind. The over excitement was
too much for him at last. The strong man
succumbed in his hour of triumph. At the
moment when his services had been recop-
mixed by the American people, the Vice
President elect was stricken down with an
illness from which it was long doubtful
whether he could recover. He did not die,
but be 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 qui-
ct times, the excitement OF ordinary poll.
tics broke down many of the strongest men.
AS compared with European statesmen,
our public men do not live out haIf of their
days. But now, when the events of hun.
dred years are crowded within the scope
of few months who can tell the wear and
tear Of Drawn aud brain of those who
struggle in the heat and thick of the con.
tesilR Tits, perhaps, his misfortune rather
than his fault, that Andrew Johnson did
not pass the ordeal unscathed. The ex-
element that produced his sickness follow
ed him through his convslescence, and he
resorted to strong drink to drown the
clamor of Office holders, that haunted
President Taylor to his death. 1t still re-
mains to be decided whether Vice President
Johnston has survived the period OF his
usefulness, or whether his removal from
his high position may not be necessary to
the honor and dignity of our country But
in the future, the memory of his services
will eclipse his faults, and we who reap the
benefit of bis labor should not prejudice
ourselves before posterity, by judging too
harshly a man whom we owe so much.