Mineral Point weekly tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1859-1868, 1865-04-25

SPEECH OF SENATOR DooLITTLE, AT RACINE
OK SUNDAY EVENING LAST

The Hon. ]. r. Doolittle, the distin-
guished Senator from Wisconsin,, made 4
speech in Racine, Wis, on Sunday even
ing last, on the GREAT CkrME. After
speaking of Mr.. Lincoln and Ms Seward
in eloquent terms, he said:
You ask me to speak of Andrew Johnson.
Who is he? what is he p and what will
be his policy? And you insist that shall,
give you as neighbor and a friend, what
information may have upon that most
important subject. l will answer you
briefly, and from tho best information /
have.
lie is, think q native Of Ncrth Caro-
lima. He was an humble mechanic,
tailor by trade, and, it is said, received in
structions in the first rudiments of educa-
ton from his devoted wife He is man
Of full medium stature, compact and
strong built, of dark complexion and deep
set black eyes He is of biliou. tempara-
ment and strong intellect, indomitable
energy and iron will In his character !
should say the strongest feature of all is
that Of stern justice, and general hatred
Of all forms Of aristocracy and oppression,
and patriotism so ardent that it amounts
to passion-almost religion He was
the real author of the homestead law, all
though it did not pass both houses until
after the rebellion began. On account of
his determined and constant support of
this measure of the people, and which, of
Itself, would bar slavery outofall the new
territories, the aristocratic shareholders
of the South-Mason, Slidell, Toombs,
Davis and the like-long before the rebel
lion hated him with perfect hatred.
have occasion to know how much he
reciprocated their feelings towards him,
for when l was occasionally, as young
Senator, engaged in controversy with
them, he always took great pleasure in
referring me to the necessary documents
to enable me successfully to controver.
them.
But vcu ask me- is he a sober man
Such was certainly his character during
all the time he was in tho Senate Of the
United States. My best impression is that
he did not drink at all at that time
After his leaving the Senate to go to Ten
nessee as n Brigadier General to act as
Military Governor, 7, OF course, do not
know whether he did or did not, like n
great many officers in the army, indulge
in drink ! am informed that when he
left Tennessee to come on to Washington
to attend the Inauguration he was just re-
covering from severe illness. That he
came upon most urgent solicitations
against his own preferences. Tha. he
was sustained and kept up moi Q or less by
stimulants, prescribed and recommended
by his physician. He was still suffering
from his malady when probably he ought
to have been under the charge Of bis ply
sician. On the day Of his Inauguration,
what occurred then has given rise to n
thousand criticism, and apprehensions-
shall not 60 further into that than to say
I saw him several times afterwards and
before left Washington, at the house Of
Mr. Francis p Blair where he was stay
ing by invitation in company with the
Hon Preston King Of New York and ]
found him recovering from his illness and
so far as could Judge, in oil respects a,
he was in the Senate.
l do not believe that Andrew johnson,
who always lived temperate and upright
life until past fifty year, Of age, now that
the great responsibilities Of the Presiden-
cy are thrown upon him, can or will per-
NIT himself to indulge in the use Of intox
icating drinks, and thus endanger that
Republic for which he has done and suf-
fered so much, and for which he would
Law down hi. life would sooner believe
that he would forswear all into1ications
whatsoever.
But you ask me again what policy he
will pursue?
As to the Reconstruction question, he
will undoubtedly pursue the same policy
az Mr.. Lincoln In MS aoures Wnen IN
augnrated, speaking of the States, he said
They are not dead but sleeping" He is
fully committed in favor Of the reorganiz>
cd free States of Tennessee, Arkansas and
Louisiana As TO this affair Of Gen
Weitzel in Virginia he has not spoken,
and of course / cannot assume to speak
for him.
But what course will be pursue toward
the traitors We can only judge by his
record early in the rebellion. during the
last DAYS of Buchanan's administration
On the ID of March, 1851, in speech, in
reply to lane, of Oregon, speaking of the
firing upon the Star of the West, and seiz
ure of arsenals, docks, forts and navy
yards, he used the following memorable
language:
"Show me who has been engaged in
these conspiracies, who has given instruc-
tions to take our forts and custom houses,
our arsenal. and dock yards, and I will
show you traitor" Applause in tho
galleries. When order was restored he