The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1866-10-12
Mr.. BOutlUeW on Presidential
UsurpattOn.

a preliminary analysis of the presidents
character, Mr.. Boutwell, says that he is
the victim and the slave of fear, hatred
and ambition. 1t is common report
founded upon the statements of those best
acquainted with the president, that he
lives in continual fear of personal harm,
and that he anticipates hostile congress
slonal action in an attempt to impeach
him and deprive him of his office. The
absurdity of this would seem apparent to
all who understand the American people
or have marked their leniency during the
present period. But with this fear in the
presidents mind is associated an intense
hatred of nearly all the recognized leaders
OF the party by which he was nominated
ANA elected to office, and an inordinate
ambition. which only waits an election to
the presidency of the United States to fill
its measure. The following is the sub
stance of Mr.. Boutwells striking portrait
Of the president:
"N1r. johnson was and is a Union
man; but be was not an anti slavery man
upon principle. He was Southern state
rights man. He looked upon the national
government as necessity, and the cxer-
else of any powers on its part as danger
His political training was peculiar. He
had carried on a long war with slavehold-
erS, but he had never made war Ill ION
slavery. He belonged to poor white
class. In his own language he was a pie
beian. The shareholders were the patri-
clans. He desired that all the white men
OF Tennessee, especially, and of the whole
South, should be OF one class-all slave
holders-all patricians, if that were posi-
ble: and he himself for q time became
one. Failing in this, he was satisfied
when all became non-Slaveholders and the
patrician class ceased 20 exist. Hence, as
far as Mr.. Johnson's opinions and pur-
poses are concerned. the war has accom-
plished everything for which it was un-
dertaken. The Union has been preserved.
and the patrician class has been broken
down. Naturally, Mr. johnson is salts
fed"
Like most other Southern statesmen of
later times, Mr. johnson fears the grow
ing power of the North, and he therefore
has no disposition to remove from the
South an eighth OF the political power of
the nation, to which they have no iust
title whatever Hence his devotion to a
sectional policy and his leadership, by the
Use of national patronage, of all the allied
elements hostile to freedom, loyalty and
Justice. 1T is not enough" says Mr.
> Boutwell,, ''m the estimation Of the preSi
dent, that the loyal people should receive
these enemies of the Umon and murdererS
OF their sons and brothers rs equals, but
he demands recognition of their superb
ority and permanent rule in the govern
ment by a voluntary tender OF an eighth
OF the entire representative force OF the
republic" This is the second great con-
sriracy against the American people
The president cannot defend himself bv
saving that he is for the constitution as it
was, for he has helped to make it differ
ent from what 1t was. Neither can he
say that he is opposed to conditions to
the return of states, for he has imposed
such conditions himself Nor can he
assert that the rebel states have always
, been states in the Union. for then he Is
guilty OF impeachable otfenSes in setting
aside their officers, giving them new ones
and debating their course. Thus his only
defense admits his usurpation Of power,
o Indefensible as his course is, Mr.. Boutwell,
. thinks its explanation may be found in
e some one or in several OF the following
: propositions
V u. That the rebel leaders have ac-
i quired control over the president,
,i through the power of some circumstance
), not known to the public, which enables
IS them to dictate policy to him.
y = That he fears Impeachment, and
( consequently directs all his efforts to Sc.
d cure more than a third of the senate, st
= us to render conviction impossible.
N 3. That lie seeks reelection, anC
l. purposes to make the South a unit in hi:
i favor, as the nucleus around which the
er democratic party of the North must gathe
III in 1868.
" 1. That he desires to reinstate th
it Ei South as the controlling force in the gov
IN ernment of the cOuntry.''
After remarking upon the evidences il
support of the above points, Mr.. Boutwel
makes the following succinct statement
H. of party positions and composition:
1.-The republican party desires liberty
independence and equal laws for all peo
+ pie; the presidential party seeks to op
press the negro race, to degrade the whit
race Of the North by deprivlng every ma
of his due share in the government of til
country, and finally, to subject all the i'll
: terests of the republic to the caprice
policy and passions Of its enemies.
The presidential party is composed c
traitors in the South who had the courae
to fight, of traitors in the North who ha
not the courage or opportunity to ASA
their government, Of a small number {
-. persons who would follow the fortunes {
Old any army if they could be permitted t
CLEAN the otfal of the camp, and a "
smaller number who are led to belieS
Vt that any system of adjustment. is bette
q than continuance of the contest"
After stating the strength of parties
the last house, and the present genera