American citizen. [volume] (Butler, Butler County, Pa.) 1863-1872, 1865-07-26
PREsIDENTJOHNsON.

the policy OF Andrew johnson III the hu-
ministration of the Government. they
must by this time be thoroughly dissipa-
ted. We were rot among the number OF
those who for moment entertained this
apprehension. We regarded the fact of
hi. nomination fC Vice President an
honor unsolicited by him-when it was
believed that anomination was tantamount
to an election, made by the collected in.
teiligence Of the nation, under cireum-
stances requiring the gravest consdera-
ton ,as the highest possible endorsement
of his ability, integrity, and patriotism.
So we'll fortified was our convictions of
his being the right man, that not even
the shadow of doubt presented itself
Besides, the man s record was before the
world, and there was not spot upon it,
Through life of many and trying vicis
situdes, which would have forever para
lyzed the hopes of thousands, he never
ialtered in firm determination to achieve
name among his fellow-men. Aud in
all this struggle, sometimes almost over
whelmed with fortuitous circumstances of
an adverse nature, he maintained fdel-
ity of character which, even in the heat
ed political contest of the day, escaped
without impeachment
When we especially consider Andrew
Johnsons partizap career, coming down
to the outbreak of the rebellion, it chal-
lenges not merely our approval, but ad-
miration Like thousands of others be-
losaing to his political party he never
dreamed that, whatever might be its sym
pathy for the institution of slavery, and
however closely the fraternity existed be-
tween the North and the South on ma
tional questions, the party as a party
would rebel against the constituted au-
thority Of the country, attempt its over
throw and the establishment of a sepa-
rate and independent government. He
never dreamed that Treason, the greatest
IF crimes, lurked at the bottom of the
of the autagonism of his political
friends, and that they had conspired to
ruin the country they could no longer
rule But no sooner did the astounding
truth flash upon him; no sooner did the
damning evidence of their monstrous
guilt stare him nakedly in the face, than
he denounced, in burning, withering
tones, the enormous sin, its wicked au-
thors and advocates Look at the record
of the United States Senate from Decem-
Der, 1860, to March, 1861 In his out
bursts of indignation, he spared no one
coming under his excoriating lash. He
knew none as friends but those who stood
Internationally for his country one and
indivisible lie knew no enemies but
the enemies of that country, be they
whom they might.
When he went back to his home in
Tennessee, which through the effort of
leading Shareholders, who were always
leading politicians also with those con
trolling the power of the State, he found
them not merely ripe for rebellion, but as
having already taken the preliminary
steps toward carrying the State out of the
Union and uniting her fortunes with the
so-called confederacy. He threw him
selfinto the breach-the very wide breach
but found himself powerless against
carefully formed and potent coalition A
long and desolate war was inevitable yet
he did not relent his efforts to save his
State. The capital was rescued from the
the sacrilegious hands of the rebels,
mainly through his advice and assistance,
just as it was subsequently saved from re-
capture by the rebels, while Military
Governor, by his determined frmness and
courage, when in all others nearly every
hope had vanished His official career
in this latter capacity, will be valuable
chapter Tor the historical student for gen
erations yet unborn. Suffice it to say,
that while exercising the functions of
Military Governor, he was looked upon
by the Great Union Party of the Nation
to be the fttest person tc fill the elevated
position Of Vice President of the United
States on the same ticket with Abraham
Lincoln as President. With him he was
chosen by a vast majority of the Ameri-
can people; and subsequently by the act
of mysterious Providence, Abraham
Lincoln fell sacrifice to the fell spirit
of the rebellion, and he, Andrew John
son, was inaugurated and is now Presi-
dent of the United States.
What man, in his right mind, can have
misgivings as to the administration of
this sclf-reared, doubly tried, and scathe-
less patriot No one On the contrary,
since he has assumed the reins of Gov
ernment his policy has been beyond crit
icism. 1t has been cool, frank, indepen-
dent and just. And if he cannot arrive
at certain conclusions as to the political
status of the freedmen, it is an honest
difference of opinion, in which he is sup
ported by someof the leading statesmen
of the country hence, is undeserving of
condemnation. In this, however, there
rs no cause for jubilant on the part of the
rebel sympathizers in the North. They
will have, upon the dangerous gulf upon
which they are floating, but narrow
plank for their support, with the con-
sciousness that they have none other to
rely upon. Let them clutch it to their
hearts content; and as the waters are
gurgling in their ears let them remember
that while they had much to do in precip-
itating and sustaining the rebellion, the
hope that Andrew johnson will prove
false to his record and false to his country
and its glorious destinies, will be as base
less as their other and warmer cherished