The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1866-04-28
What Andrew johnson thought a Yea
Ago.


What Andrew johnson thought Year
. Ago.
It is now . few days over one year since
Andrew Johnson entered the White House
as Chief Magistrate of this nation. His
course in this first year of his admin
isfration, proves that the aPPrehensions Of
many, at that time, that all would not go
right, were not unfounded.
Upon taking the oath of Office, he spoke
as follows so far as any indication of his
policy could be expected:
"The only assurance that can now give
of the future, is by reference to the past.
The course which have taken in the past,
in connection with this rebellion, must be
regarded as a guarantee of the future"
A few days previous to this, on receipt
of the news of the capture of Richmond,
he thus expressed himself as to his past
opinions, which he gave assurance at his
Inauguration would be carrird out in his
future policy:
"One word more, and have done. It
is this: / am in favor of leniency; but, in
my opinion, evildoers should be punished.
Treason is the highest crime known in the
catalogue of crimes, and for him that is
guilty of it-foF him that is willing to lift
his impious hand against the authority of
the nation-I would say, death is too easy
q punishment. My notion is that treason
must be made odious, and traitors
must be punished and Impoverished, their
social power broken; they must be made to
feel the penalty of their crime
Now we claim that Andrew johnson las
not only not adhered to the policy laid down
in the extract last quoted, bu: has gone d.
rectly contrary to it. He has turned his
back not only upon the above declarations,
but upon all his speeches and his noble &C
tions from the time he denounced traitors
in the Senate until lie got comfortably seat
ed in the Presidential chair. Had he car.
ried out the policy laid down above and
pursued by him while Governor of Tennes-
see, the country would have been entirely
satisfied. II is no fsctious fight on Andrew
johnson, that the Republicans are waging
Il is a struggle for the maintenance nc
extension of those very principles which
carried him triumphantly through the last
Presidential campaign, and which he was
thought to be friendly to from his former
speeches and acts.
But how changed the President is. He
has turned from the punishment of evil
doors, to pardoning them. From making
''treason odious" he has turned to trying tc
make it respectable. He appoints traitors
to Office, and the White House is the resort
of those whose fingers are red with blood
OfUnion men. From "impoverishing" and
breaking the power of traitors. he wants t.
build up the very same arristocratic, sla'
very loving, arrogant rebels. and let then
back into the Congress of the nation to MAKE
laws to govern Union people. Instead Q
feeling the penalty of their crime thsy
are naughty, defiant and as much rebel q
heart as ever. They openly declare thsiI
hatred to the Government, and their inten
ton of making another strike when the Op
POrtunity offers. They are whipped bu
not conquered" And the President il
fAWning and bringing to them to such de
gree that they hurrah for s'Jeff. Davis
and ANDREW Johnson" Aud 4 man nasc
no better recommendation with the Presi
dent than to have been COppsrhead dur
ing the war. In fact the Presidents ..ma
king treason OdiOus" with rush. His reu
utAiiOn for consistency. honesty an,
strAighforWardnsss sssms to be no part Q
&.