Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1866-05-11
President johnson and the Southern
People.

The Presidents sudden popularity with
the most unrepentant Of the late rebcls, is a
hard thing for true men who would gladly
support the President if they could. to ge;
along with. That Mr.. johnson can have the
confidence and support Of diemeuical opT,-
sites, Of men who still glory in their crimes,
and declare ave do not repent" Of treason
and rebellion and of the loyal northern masses
who fought through the war to forever put
down the guilty fantasies is impossible. But
the President is rapidly securing, has already
secured, the apparently hearty adhesion Of
the ex-rebels as class. Hear one of these
reconstructed secessionists
rFrom the Jackson (AIiss.) Clarion, April - J
The speech Of President johnson which we
published yesterday, is another of his character
istically bold and honest demonstrations. While
We were committing TO paper our thoughts on
the O lestion of show far the South should sup
port the President we did not know how pow
erful reinforcement was advancing along the
telegraph wires to the support Of cur views. We
utterly Tepudiate the consideration Of the pur-
blind, mole-eyed policy which in such times,
and under such circumstances as the present.
would counsel reticence and reserve We must
speak. plainly what we think. We DO not re-
psnf-we speak not merely IN our individual
person, but in the name Of the Southern people
re do not repent Of the course lrhich -four
years ago IRE entered upon; we leave it 10 pos.
terity to say that we did right. Why Proyi-
IL. 49,
We shall know hereafter, and even now VI,
watch with interest from day 10 day. ID,
unfolding Of the divine purposes concerning th'
country which He has decreed shall beione
though many wise and good men thought differ
ent.
How singular the turn that affairs have taken
and how completely PrOvidential. The good
natured buifoOn whom the people Of the N0ril
chose TO place in the chair Of Washington anl
jackson, was removed when his mission was &C
complshed. and the hearts Of Southern men al
ready depressed by the great misfortune tina
was fresh upon them, sank deeper ut tn
thought that ruler was then set over them who's
little finger would be thicker than his pred
ecesscr's loins. We well recollect the remarl
frequently made year ago, that the death c
Lincoln was the greatest disaster that could hay
happened TO the South. But instead Of the des
Dol whose accession 10 power was % much uEetl
ed, We see man with all the honesty Of Henr,
Clay, the frmness Of Andrew jackson, and tb
boldness Of William Pitt, combined with char
acterlstics peculiarly his own, which stamp hin
the man for the tunes, There is in Presijen
johnson disregard for conyentionaliues tina
makes him perfectly at home in novel circum
stances where the cautious inquirer after Pre-
cedents would be completely lost for want o
q red tape clue TO guide him. Conservatism itsel
stands bewildered at situation for which tn
conditions Of conservatism supply no formula
but radical Of the radicals, steps forth as til
preserver and restorer Of the Union under tn
constitution.
If Southern men DO not admire and applau
such man as this, it is because the God tina
made them has reconstructed them in wa
hitherto unheard of-taking away their oil
heart and giving them instead a heart Of dirt
They are not the people TO give half hearte
approval, nor if they were, are these tn
times for 1t. or is Andrew johnson the man I
whom il Is due.