The West Virginia journal. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1864-1877, 1866-01-31
The Cnf6niStS and their President

IF ever a party made greater mis-
take than the Uniou party did las! sum
mer, there is no record OF it in the his
tory Of politics, Their President had
boon murdered ;thc Vice President thus
succeeding to the power, was Southern
man; the rebellion had just calcd, and
Southcrners wore seeking terms
Under these circumstances the Union.
lists did not surround their new. PrcSi-
dent; seek to sustain and encourage
him, and give him tangible proof 1t once
Of the support and the loyal expectation
of the party to which he owed his c!cva.
ton. On the contrary, thcy-!e, him
alouo. i All summer long this Southern
President lived, moved and breathed in
m atmosphere. Of Sou,hcrners. "Oh,
for. braciug breeze from the Green
MountsinsI 70 stir the air Of tho White
House," exclaimed one Of the few who
staid to watch. Blu. the breeze never
came. Now and then, Northern Con
gresham ran down to Washington for
q day, found the ante room Of the TX,
ecutive mansion full Of rebels. and lett
in:disgust, without seeing: the President.
or after only hurried and not very
gooi-tempcrcd interview. g. '.;'
Meanwhile the President, generous
and full Of sympathy for the fallen, saw
only their good side. If there was ma
Lightly, it was reserved for the freedmen;
IF there was left the hatred against the
North on which the flames Of war had
been fed, it was all turned against the
blood. thirsty Sumueritcs for the preSi-
dent there were ouly .houied words, and
the faircst spoken promises. Those who
might have Informed him better, avoid
ed him those who surrounded him con.
stansly found their own interest in lead.
ing him assray as to the actual facts Q:
If, under these circumstances, Mr.
johnson has been led to different con-
illusions from those Of his party, what
cause is there for-wondcr?
TO ,hi,'daJ; I fear, thcrcis too much
Of the same 5luEier. Union members
have heard that the President may turn
against them; they don't like some
things he has done, and they either keep
away, rs DO dozcus whoM | could name
or, as in other cases, begin their inter.
views by assuming tha. he is thinking
Of going over to the enemy. Not long
ago, an eminent R:Ji:ai came to Wash.
iDSton to have frank talk with the
President he had helped to elect. When
no Was taking his leave the presidcn,
said, L" l wish Lcoulj sec and Eavc free
talks like this with more men Of YOU,
way Of thinking. They don't seem IL
come tome freely, as tho other side DO.
The other day We had 4 fae specimen
Of this " freedom on the other side \
committee ofIEmmany Democrats wal,
ed on the President and motestly aske,
him to 90 oyer to Ncw .Nork and a,terC
their Sth Of lJanusry meotins! Abou
the same time it happened that an os(
fellow. Democrat aud late. rival candi
date for the Vice Presidency, had an in
tcrvicw ,xith Mr.Johpson. .:Iisll You,
said ohio Cochranc; = 6o..DeG, dcra,i
party rocked in treason throughout til,
war. You cauuot ntfurJ let the PEG
pie tEiuk you have one lingering rsli
sympathy for it," And he came away
seeming to think tho tPfesiusns agresc
with him.
It cannot be denied, however, tina
many gentlemen Of very diverse VIEW
seem to come away from tho Whit
House. entertaining similar impressions
sand Democrats With. Sorthasn, eons:itu
encies nd Southern, principles in man
cases really :beEerc.that they are soin
to carry the President oter. Thus sue
Democrat as Mr.. John Hogan, Of s.