The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-03-23

the Presidents policy; but he is entitled to their
hearty cooperation. 1t is possible that he may
be satisfied with less; but from high conslde-
ration OF dignity and decorum he should be
relieved of all embarIa3sments upon the subject.
President Johnson's FartY Relations
From Me Worid.
1t is a question OF some interest no far Presi-
dent johnson may consider himself bound to
the Republican party in consequence of his
election by 1t to a different Office from the one
he fills. This is q question Of individual honor
and conscience which only Mr. johnson can
decide; but the main considerations which bear
on it are as open to the public judgment as to
his own.
1t cannot be pretended that previous to the
Baltimore Convention, MIR. johnson Owed any
allegiance 10 the Republican party. lie had
always been more pronounced Dem )crat, II
possible, and more vehement opponent OF tue
Republican party, than the late Senator Douglas.
Neither MIR. johnson nor Mr.. Douglas in giving
prompt ana vigorous support to the war, pro
tessed themselves, or were Understood by others,
to have renounced their Democratic principles,
or 10 have changed their party relations. Mr..
johnson was appointed Military Governor Of
Tennessee because he was the most prominent
10y alist in that State, and it was deemed polite
10 appoint resident Tor his local knowledge.
lie had the rank and pay OF brlgadler-general,
and was no more bound 10 Cnange his politics
i'll consequence OF his appointment than any
other Democratic bngadiergeneral appointed
by President Lincoln.
Whatever claim the Republican party has on
Mr. johnson dates from the Baltimore Conyen-
zion. His sole obi CATION TO the party was
created by the action OF that Convention. After
his nomination the party was compelled TO vote
tor him in order to vote Tor MIR. LlncOln; as 1t
was impossible to run separate sets of electors
for President and NicePTesldent We must,
therefore, look into the history of the Conven-
ton 70 find the measure OF his obligation.
hat II. Inh nlyaYnt
at Baltimore because it was deemed eXpedlent to
strengthen the ticket by nominating Democrat.
ViCe-PresiGeNt Hamlin had strong body of sup
porters; and he was rejected by the Convention
only because it was thought better to go out of
the Republican party for The second name on the
ticket The VicePresdent has no political
power, except to cast a tie vote on equal dlvi-
SION OF the Senate; the chance OF his becoming
President was small-neXt 10 nothing, as it then
appeared-and the Convention preferred what
they supposed the slight risk OF having Demo-
cratic President by death, to the greater risk OF
Democratic PIesidentby election. What is more
To the purpose is, that the same question was
agltated in the Convention which now divides
the President and Congress-; that 1T was decided
by the Convention in favor OF Mr.. Johnson's
present policy; and that his nomination was
the consequence OF that decision and part of it.
Thad. Stevens opposed, in the Convention, the
admission OF the delegates from Tennessee, on
precisely the same grounds that he has this win
ter led the opposition to admitting the Southern
representatives to Congress. The choice for
Vice President of that part of the Convention
which preferred to reject Mr.. Hamlin and take a
Democrat, lay between Mr.. johnson and Mr..
Dickinson; and the competing Democratic claims
were decided by the New York delegation, who
concluded in caucus to vote for the admission OF
the Tennessee delegates, and thus secure the
! nomination OF Mr.. johnson. So far, therefore,
! as he is bound to anything by the action of the
! Republican Convention, it Is to Ia steady adhe
renee to his present policy. The adoption of that
policy by the Convention was the very thing
] III "a rot pH hum hiG nfo noe
and election, the party take different ground, he
is under no obligation to follow them. The
! striCtest notions of gratitude and fidelity car
bind him to nothing beyond the policy of the
! Convention by which he was nominated.
Besides the question of policy, there is the
question of patronage. Considering the Re
! publican party merely as an organization for The
| spoils, and regarding the President as a party
chief, all usage would still allow him the frees
! range OF personal choice so long as he did MOI
| go out OF the party Tor appointees. II some Re
pu6lcans support policy which he deems vital
and others oppose it, he is perfectly Tree as {
party man, to bestow all his offices on Republi
cans who agree with him.
i But this degrading spoils view Is unworthy
OF the crisis. 1t is, in TACT inconsistent will
the preservation of the Union. Even if Mr.
Lincoln had lived, or if Mr.. Seward were
President, he Gould not, without base treachery
TO the country, administer the Government OIL
the spoils system of ordinary times, which re
quires all the offices to be bestowed on member
OF the party that elected the President. 1t thi
rule were followed now, the Government coulC
not possibly be administered in the recovered
States, which would be kept excluded from
the Union by the impos5ibilty of tindint
agents to execute the laws. The success of tn
war Just at the time he came into Office compel
Mr.. johnson to go entirely outside the part.
that elected him for appointees TO Office il
nearly one half OF the country. 1t is fortunate
that he has no party obligations that interior
with hls perfect freedom in the disposal of tn
public patronage. Though Democrat in prin
cple, he owes nothing to the Democratic party
tor 1t opposed his election. Though elected b.
the Republicans, he owes little to them, for the
took him as Democrat; took him because h
was a Democrat; and bestowed on him an ofic
of mere honor, without either patronage or in
huence. Il he has offices to bestow, it is con
trary to their intentions. If he has power il
the Government it is not because they meant t
trust him any. If be differs from them il
policy, it is because they differ from the Cor
yention that nominated him. 1t is not possibl
to conceive a combination OF circumstance
which would more completely exempt Pres
dent from all party obligations, and leave hin
free to act in the spirit of elevated patriotism
without regard to party trammels.