The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-02-26
President JohnsOn's Speech.

From the WOrtd.
We do not enter into the feelings of the fasti-
dious people who claim that the Presidents
speech on the 22d wanted dignity. He was not
speaking as President but private citizen.
A. few weeks ago, the most influential member Of
Congress arraigned him for remarks made in a
private conversation with Senator Dixon, and
was insoent enough to suggest that the Presi-
dent deserved beheadmg tor expressing his OPT
Mons. When the leader OF the House of Repre-
sentatives, speaking in his official capacity thus
denies to the President the most ordinary rights
OF citizen, he is justified in practically assert
ing his rights in pretty strong form. He is
too strict an observer of decorum to oVerstep
the reserve of official forms when speaking as a
public officer; but as simple citizen, address
ing his fellow.citizens, he showed his practical
contempt Tor the Congressional denial OF his
right TO say that his soul is his own.
We have had a Tennessee President before
whose intrepid openness made the nincompoops
and red-tap1sts of his day 'stare and gasp"
General Jackson's freedoms of this kind were
official as we'll as unofficial, as his replies to
certain delegations and committees in the Bank
days bear witness. Anybody who is curious to
see specimens may find them in the third volume
OF Parton's "Lite.n To son Of Rufus King, who
was the spokesman OF q committee OF merchants
and bankers from this city, General, Jackson
said;-'Well, sir, Rufus King was always
Federalist, and | suppose you take alter him.
lnsolent, 90 YOU say? What do you come to me
'Mhy am teased with committees? Here l am
receiving two or three anonymous letters every
day, threatening me with assassination il 1
don't restore the deposits and recharter the
oank--tne abominable instltution-the monster
that has attempted to control the Government.
I've got my loot upon 1t, and I'll crush it.n He
was perpetualy saying he had no confidence in
Congress, and expressing the opinion that its
members had been bought up with bank gold.
'1he id Internal scoundrel ~ was the epithet
he applied to one member of Congress. After
reaolng one of Mr. Clays philEpics against him,
he eXcaimed;-"Oh, it live to get these robes
OF Office OF ne, / wall bring the rascal TO a
dear account" President johnson has not ap-
preached the passionate outbursts Of his Tennes-
rec predecessor; and, indeed, has said nothing
not Justified, and even demanded, by the circun-
stances.
ltis duty which EIr johnson owed to the
Union cause to disabuse the country OF a deeep
ton industriously practised upon it by the Re-
publican party, and we do not well see how he
could have done it eieotudty IN any other way.
For the last six months that party has been
using his name and prestige to enable them to
carry the elections, and then pIesumiDg on the
result OF these elections TO oYeIAWe him into
submission o their policy. Thor arrogance in
Congress rests ON the fact that they have carried
all the Northern State elections, which they
hold over the head Of the President as a proof
OF endorsement by the people when, in truth,
without the aid OF the Presidents name the
Northern malorities would have been against
them. IL is necessary that thisRishonest game
OF playing the PresidenGs popular influence
against his oifcial influence should be stopped.
All the fall elections were carried by this
stratagem, and as soon as Congress me. these