Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1865-05-06
Pre.Ident .Bohn.on's Antecedent"


Some of the Democratic press have re-
produced extracts from President JOHN
SONS speeches, delivered when he was con-
sidered In full fellowship with the Demo-
cratic party, in which he reprobated Seces-
sionists and Abolitionists with equal indig-
nation; and in which he avowed himself an
adherent of the doctrine of State Rights
This reference is made to President JOHN
soN's antecedents, as furnishing founda-
tion on which to rest the belief that he Will
he more governed in his Administration by
his former expressed views and notlons
than by his present surroundings. 1t is
very likely that those who do this Will flnd
their foundation not any more solid than
ouicksand. Gen. BUTLER was so intensely
Southern in his feelings that in 1860 in the
Charleston Convention he voted persistent
ly for JEFF. DAVIS for nomination to the
Presidency. Since the commencement Of
the War he has paid precious little respect
to his antecedents, except that he may have
allowed them to spur him into the opposite
extreme. President JoHNsoN's antecedents
are as likely to operate in like manner on
himself. The Radicals of his party, in all
probability, will find him an unfaltering
representative of their ideas. From such
men as GERRIT SMITH, WENDELL PHILLIPS
and HORACE GREELEY the South would re-
ceive kinder treatment than it will receive
from President JOHNSON or than it would
receive from men like BUTLER or BRoUGH,
or men of that class.
In the absence of Proclamation from
President JOHNSON to the South, specitical-
ly setting forth how they will be dealt with,
it NAV be assumed that the men, who by
money and influence, have given strength
to the Rebellion, and all those that have
served that cause in military and civil po-
sitions will be despoiled of their property
and citizenship, and the men who have serv-
ed as privates in the rebel armies are likely
to be denied the exercise of suffrage for
time at least while to the colored people
will be given that privilege. Anythingthe
Southern people secure beyond this they
can count as pure gain. J
Wnebner Wisely UT uh"iooiy, WY A"i o.
portion of our people feel that, in view OF
the fact that the martial power of the
South is broken and impotent, and that
what is called the Confederate Government
is seeking to escape from the country with
as great a rapidity as possible, such thing
as adopting q conciliatory policy is inadr
missible, and that by reason of our ability
to put down any physical resistance, pol
icy that is prompted by vengeance and
rigor alone deserves favorable considera-
tion. To pleas for the adoption ofsuch a pol
lev President JOHNSON will most assuredly
lend an attentive ear. He has repeatedly
declared since his incumbency of the Pres
idential chair, that treason must be rem
dered odious," and his judgment accepts
the opinion that alone through the exercise
of stern and harsh policy can "treason be
rendered odious" perpetually. 1t is, fur
thernlore, probable, that any policy the
Democratic press shall indicate decided
partiality for, especially if that policy is
tempered with mercy, will find no favor in
DIq ewes. III I'D