New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1866-04-20
THE puEmpENr,s SPEECHES.

lie must be very bold, aud should be very able
man, who, under exalted responsibilities does not
hesitate to make speeches treating of tie most inn
portant and difficult questions night after night Aud
President johnson is a bold man, with great conf
denco in his own abilities ~ well in mia purposes
and general recttude. Yet he cannot well disregard
the fact that Mr. Clay-who spoke often aad at least
as well as any other American-failed 10 reach the
goal Of his ambition.
Mr. Johnson errs in complaining that some Others
have judged him har5hly. lie is not at all mealy-
mouhed himself, and has always spoken Of Others
acts aud presumed motives with entire freedom. We
like thsit is our own way-but we NEAR to endure
harsh criticism without wncing lie wlo goes into
battle must be resigned to getting now and then a
dent in his holmet
Mr.. johnson did not need to claim slul share of
the credit Of making ours nation of Fremen. JUS
tce afrms it, and History will award it. His proela-
nation of Universal Freedom in Tennessee; his
insisting that every Rebel State should ratiiy the
Constitutional Amendment as prerequisite to resto-
ration; his general bearing toward TIC rejected
cornerstone" of the late Southern Confederacy
fully entte him to it, Why, then, can 10 not await
the award which is so certain to be favorable Sup
pose a hundred Congesmen and thousand presses
were daily insisting that he nevor lpso to and
is now trying to reetabsh Slavery, whatof it, so long
as il is not the fact
fthe President fails anywhere, it is in clear, log
cal perception of great principles. Ho talks plausby
and well; but he does not always crap the great
truths he inculcatcS Witness the following extract
from his speech to the soldiers:
ished by revolution when fathers conending
against the power Of Great Britain What vas one Of the
principal OF their complaint IL was hat they were
denied representation. They complained OF taxation with
out representation One OF the great Prnss laid down
should be no TAXATION Eihcm representation. lbw. then does
the matter stand Who bag ben agp9g RG,e,' Who has
remains to be done to complete tho restoration these
States to all their former relations with the Fderal Govern
o s.d 20 o s 'od rsn nave
say admit representatives what do we meant We mean rep
was intended at tho beginning OF the Goyernmnt.'
Now this great principle is all fd which those
whom the President has at times had t bad tasto to
stigmatxe as disunionsts insist on. If The President
will help them to establish this he will lever more be
provoked nor inclined to speak Of them rproachfuy
Only let it be established and reeognzd as funda-
mental basis of American institutions that there
shall be no taxation without representation, and our
people will thenceforth be calm, ppsperous and
united All can be settled-all resentnents buried,
all difficulties removed-by tho genera recognition
and adoption of that principle. Then WY not adopt
iti Why will not the President give hs Justly great
influence TO secure its sdoption'
Mr.. johnson cannot on reflection, suppose that the
loyal Whites Of the old Free States willever consent
to give to two cI-Rebels in the South much power
in the Federal Union as is welded by tree of them.
selves Then why not frankly tell tho south that she
must either enfranehse her Blacks or renounce her
claim TO count them as basis Of Fedeal power' Is
it not plain that she must come to this It astr TSn
why not at once'