The Shasta courier., 1865-05-06
The New President.

OF TresIoons AiuColh having In measure
subsided, the public mind naturally turns
to contemplate the man who succeeds him in
the high and responsible Office of Chief Mag.
istrate OF the Nation, and considerable inter.
est is manifested to know what manner OF
man he is. A city cotemporary, which runs
to defamation of prominent men, as naturally
as water runs to the sea, seemingly endeav.
ored to increase the public excitement over
the first news of President Lincon's death. to
pitch of absolute CONSERVATION, by follow.
Ing the announcement of the Presidents as.
sasslnatlon, with an exaggerated, defamatorv
account of the life, habits and capacity OF
Mr.. johnson, who succeeded to the Office
from which Mr.. Lincoln was foully elected
Up to 1860, Mr.. Johnsos's public career had
been more noted than that of Mr.. Lincoln.
lie had won an immense local. and no mean
national reputation. by his course as poll
tician, his administration of the Office of Gov
ernor OF Tennessee, ard by his acts and
speeches in the United States Senate, of
which body he was an honored, influential,
and active member at the time of the COM
mencement of the Rebellion From the very
first, Mr.. johnson took a positive stand
against the Secessonists, yet like many Re-
publicans, he was not unwilling to concede
to them somewhat in the shape of a compro
mise for the sake of averting the horrors of
war from the Nation. However, he always
insisted that they had not the first shadow Of
an excuse for proceeding to extremities, and
when they commenced the war he espoused
the cause of the Union with energy and ar.
dor, and has vigorously battled for it up to
the present moment. Like Lincoln, johnson
is pre-eminently a self. made man, having by
his own exertions and talents worked his way
from the very lowest portion of the social and
political ladder to the topmost rung. Beyond
this there is but little resemblance between
the two men, except that both can truly be
classed as perfectly honest, and ready to
make any personal sacrifices in support of
principle. In all that goes to mark the man
of intellect. johnson is without doubt the su-
perior of Lincoln he is also more impulsive,
energetic, unyielding, as well as less charit.
able and kind-hearted. Lincoln would par.
don hundred convicted offenders where
johnson would one. Lincoln generally ap-
peared to be governed by the first portion of
Richeiieu's maxim, "All means to concli-
ate :" while johnson is imbued with the
spirit of the closing portion ef The same max.
i'm. all power to crush" While with Lin
coin Mercy not unfrequently stepped in to
bar the path of strict Justice, with johnson
stern Justice remorelessly administered will
not heed the tears of Mercy. Of undoubted
patriotism, unfinching integrity, command
ing intellect. comprehensive mind, extensive
information, unyielding tenacity of purpose,
and with character untainted by immoral
excesses of any kind, Johnson's past career
gives the most abundant assurance that the
confidence placed in him by the people when
they chose him for Vice President will not be
betrayed, and that in the high and response
bic office to which he has been elevated he
will deport himself with dignity. ability, and
justice. The country need not fear that he
will manifest either doubt, hesitation, vaclla-
ton, or weakness in whatever emergency he
may be placed. His past life and we'll
known character leave no room for such
fears. Neither are there grounds for fear
that by rash impetuosity he will place the
Nation in a position of danger or even great
difficulty. One trait of his stern yet just
disposition may be traced in the order eman.
ating from the War Department in relation
to parties who may conceal or aid the escape
of the assassins. There is prompt, stern,
and just vigor in that order, yet it is not the
result of impulse, but of calm deliberation.-
Another trait may be traced to his delara.
tions of intention to be concliatory and mer.
ciful toward the deluded masses of the South.
ern people, and his determination to bring to
punishment the instigators and leaders of the
Rebellion. He discriminates between the
guilty and the innocent between those gull.
ty by their own yolition and those urged into
positions of guilt. For the latter he has
mercy, for the former justice-S. r. Call.
LAST WoRDs-Our late Chief Magistrate
uttered not word after he had received his
death wound no sententious saying, such as
are often attributed to the departing great Of
earth, escaped his dying lips, but the follow
ing sentiment, uttered on the occasion of bis
Inauguration should live forever. 1t should
be engraved on the monument of the illustri
Gus dead. And if there is solitary human
feeling in the hearts of the assassins or the
guilty approvers of their act, the kind and
merciful spirit expressed. will cause them tt
writhe in agony: with malice toward
none," said the martyred statesman, with
charity for all with frmness in the right
as God gives us to see the right, let us strive
on to finish the work we are in to bind uI
the nations wound to care for him wht
shall have borne the battle, and for his wild
ow and his orphan-to do all which may
achieve and cherish a lasting peace among
ourselves, and with all nations" ."-Stockto,
Record.
The Mountain Democrat closes itsj lamen