Cleveland daily leader. [volume] ([Cleveland, Ohio]) 1865-1873, 1866-02-28

Andrew Johnson's own declarations and
assurances. No man ever supposed that
from him would proceed a single object
ion TO an attempt 10 reform the Govern
ment of the District of Columbia, and to
confer political rights upon the colored
people here. The same remark may be
made of the bill which he has
just vetoed. The measure was framed
and reported by Senator Trumbull, of Il
linois-distinguished for his frequently
manifested desire to maintain the Presi-
dent, and known for his opposition to
some of Mr.. Summers prominent politi-
cal theories. It was so carefully prepared,
and the President was so fully ware of its
provisions, that it was popularity believed
t havebeen submitted to him for approval.
His intimate friend, Senator Doolittle,
was one OF its leading advocates, and not
a Union vote in either House was thrown
against it. The measure itself was not
particularly acceptable to the radi-
Gals but was accepted by them as an
e~xpedient preparatory to the adoption
of a more drastic and permanent
system. Some o them, to my knowledge,
gave it their support because they be-
lieved it would be especially agreeable to
the President and this viii account for
the comparative rapidity with which it
was passed. 1t was supposed that he
would promptly give it his signature, and
thus promote a better understanding on
other subjects. Indeed, with the single
exception of Mr.. Stevens in the House,
who generally takes his own course, and
expressly insists that nobody is responsible
for his words or his vote but himself,
there was not a Union member
in either branch who did not sedulously
study every means to conciliate and please
Andrew johnson. And il this remark I
desire to include Senator Sumner, who is
known to have sustained the most intimate
relations with the President last summer,
because they then agreed substantially
and thoroughly on the great cardinal du-
ties and doctrines. Shortly after the as
sassination of Mr.. Lincoln, they had a
number of very satisfactory interviews.
| repeat, among the men who labored to
maintain friendship and cooperation be-
tween the President and the party that
placed him where he is, and who defended
him against his own slanderers, I'M
derstand that the Union party of the
country have, in fact, fought the ommon
enemy without Andrew johnson. From
the time when Montgomery Blair, and
other Copperheads, last summer, attempted
to Paralyze and to PROSTATE that party by
claiming that they spoke in the name and
with the authority of Andrew johnson,
the latter has been Sc Indifferent to the
measures he voted for in Congress and sus-
tanned while he was a candidate for Vice
President, and even directly after no as
sumed the Presidential chair, hat his
GOODNESS amounted almost to absolute ana
open hostility. The millions of noble
spirits who at first rejected the idea
that the man, thus sustained and
~apologized for by a generous and loyal
people, would be callous and treacherous,
and who were then reluctantly forced to
accustom themselves to this dismal APP
pr%ehension, will not, ! am sure, shrink
from the task now laid upon them of con-
solidating their ranks against the com
mon enemies of their country. They
must abandon all aspirations for place
and the compensation for this sacrifice,
if it be one, will be in the fact
that it is far better to be in a posi-
ton of honorable independence than
to be associated in the Govern
ment with those who have steadily prayed
or plotted for its downfall. But they will
not have long to wait. These are days,
let us hope, of purifying trials. No mat
ter how threatening the dangers that sur
round us, and how novel and weighty the
duties demanding our conscientious ener-
gies, both are to be preferred tothat agon-
izing suspense which has heretofore been
simply advantageous to the Copperheads
and traitors, and damaging to the perma-
Aent interests of the country.
OCCASIONAL.