The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-02-24

10 the Presidency. He was still Military Gov
einor, with that consistent record, when be was
selected by the Baltimore Convention as its can
didate for Vice President. The news of his
nomination being immediately, transmitted to
Nashville by telegraph, Mr.. johnson, In response
to congratulations, made speech, of which the
main point was that, by his nomination, the
Baltimore Convention had recognized Tennessee
as State in the Union, whose citizens remained
eligible to the most important offices in the
The purpose Of this recital is IN show that II
the Republican party expected President john
SON. to pursue any different course from that
which be has actually adopted, they imputed to
him seryile suppleness, degrading syco-
OF an honest man. Their Journals and Congress
men talk as IT. by nominating him to the Vice
Presidency, they became The owners of his
soul. But they selected him not Tor has advan-
they judged IL expedient TO strengthen their
ticket by putting upon Il War Democrat as
q lure to Democratic votes-a safe stratagem, az
they supposed, since the Vice.President is an
official cipher, without influence in the Govern
ment. Mr.. Johnson, as presiding officer OF the
Senate, would have had less po yer than is pos
sessed by Mr., foster, its President pro tempOre;
for Mr.: Foster has vote, and can participate in
the debates, but Vice-President cannot.
When Vice-President thus selected because
he was not Republican, selected for the pur-
pose OF winning to Mr.. Lincoln the support OF
War Democrats, is Unexpectedly made Presi-
Republican parly acquire the right to dOmineer
over his Judgment to tamper with his con-
science? TO insult his selfrespect? 10 compel
him to turn his back upon himself and stultify
his whole political record? to make him poll
tical puppet to dance as they pulled the wires
Knowing what he was when they went out of
their party to nominate him, they are bound to
respect his convictions. Before they ventured
TO handy insinuations of party treachery, 1t be-
hooves them to show that he ever protessed
party allegiance. Mr.. johnson never pretended
to be anything but Union Democrat. The
Presidency is an Office the Republican party
never meant he should fill; and if the motive
of the giver is the measure of gratitude, he owes
them little
But supposing, to serve our argument, that
Mr.. johnson had ever belonged to the Repub-
can party, and that it had voluntarily made him
President, how would the account stand between
him and it up 10 this time? A party President
is recognized party chief entitled to the cour-
tesies at least il mot to the influence, of that
position. AS the head of party, he il, at the
very lowest estimate, entitled TO admission 10
the party councils, and may Justly feel affronted
II important steps are taken without the defer
ence of consultation. A party chief may have
his judgment oveIruled by his associates, but
they have no right to put upon HIM the slight
and indignity of ignoring his existence, or to
act in ostentatious disregard OF his wishes. But
how have the Republicans treated President
johnson? They condemned him without hear
ing. They held caucus and decided on line
OF action opposed to what they suspected would
be in his message, without waiting to listen to it.
1t has been their chief aim to thwart him.
Bill afCer bill, on the most grabbed, ticklsh, and
exciting questions, have been concocted, adopted
as party measures, and supported by full party
vote, without conierring with him at all, and
with an unconcealed design to trustrate mis-
policy, undo his work, and humiliate ms pride.
This is such treatment as no man of spirit would
patiently bear from party of which he was the
recognized head.
And now in relation TO patronage. party
President is under an implied obligation to fill
all the offices in his git from the party that
elected HIM; but in other respects he is entitled
to the freest personal preferences. President
Johnson, with unprecedented dlsinrerestedness
has waived the privileges OF his position; he has
retained even Mr.. Lincoln's confidential advi
sers; he has sought no personal by-ends of any
description. The Republican party, in making
him Vice-President, intended to give him nc
they intended. On this score they have nc
g1ound of complaint, much less any excuse foI
the persistent indigniCy with which they have
treated him. They make mighty awkward
figure when they foam and accuse him OF inf
telity to their party.
1t is sufficient reply, that he never belonged
TO it. 1t is another sufficient reply, that they
have steadily refused him the Difference due to
party chief 1t is still another sufficient reply
that he has forborne all the vulgar perquisites o
his position. which he might have taken con
sistently with party usage. On his side it il
purely difference of principle, in which hi
fault if it be fault, is not change, but per
sistency.
Can the difference be reconciled? To suppose
| it. is to suppose the Republican party can con
tinue TO exist after the public Remuneration OF it
| principles. II there is reconciliation, they viii
| go to HIM, not he to them. Such surrender
would demoralize and break down their party
| and wipe it out of existence. But If they adhere
| TO Their principles, as he certainly will to his
the destruction of their party IS equally iuevita
| BILE. The same class OF voters to whom they
appealed in nominating him for Vice-President
will follow his political fortunes; and, as eff
| Gent political organization, the Republican
| party cannot survive their loss. When tht
| patronage of the Government is used against it
instead of for it, the disinteeration will proceed
| apace. From a sectional party, it will be rapidly
| reduced to a mere faction, held in contempt b,
majority of the people in every part Of tn
| country.
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