Delaware State journal and statesman., 1866-02-23
"occAsIONAL" ON THE VETO
MESSAGE AND CONDUCT OF
ANDREW JOHNSON.
LETTER FROM OCCASIONAL. "
WAsHrNGroS. Feb oO

WASHINGTON, Feb. 90, 1866.
While the staunch friends OF the Repubhc
were taking counsel among themselves last
evening, after the reading of the veto mes.
sage OF President johnson, the Copperhead
politicians, in and out OF Congress. assisted
by the disloyal elements in this city. were
celebrating the event with ioy as tumul
luous as that with which the secession sym.
paihizers here would have hailed the en-.
trance of Jefferson Davis into the capital ot
the United States after the battle of Buu
Run Even before Congress had adjourned
the star announced IA sercnade 10 the Prpsi.
dent; and early in the evening a band nf
music, followed by about two hundred peo.
pie called at the Presidential mansion. His
EXcellency declined to make speech. Int
somebody announced that he would address
the public on Thursday evening. Not a
mon member of either House, and not even
an oilice-hudcr, so far as could henr tool.
part in the demonstration. Tp to this writ
ing have not cOnversed with a single indi.
yidual-Senator Representatives or citizen
who avows his willingness to support the
policy loreshadowed in the veto message Of
the Freedmen's Bureau Bill. say this, YOU
will observe, before we have received any
intimaiion from the people of the States
their legislators, newspapers or politicians,
and before either House has taken action
upon that extraordinary document. In one
respect it is far better that the relations be
tween the loyal people and Mr.. johnson
should be clearly defined and understood b..
The suspense which has prevailed in regard
to his exact Iolicy succeeding and vet rapid-
/ " changing the almost unanimous approval
of his annual message, was almost insup.
portable. You will recolect that, prior to
the New York and Pennsylvania elections
OF last year, although the President was re.
peatedly called upon by the prominent Union
men in both States, and solicited TO declare
in favor Of the regular Union tickets, or at
least against the Copperheads, he refused to
take sides with the friends of the country.
In our own State, it cannot be denied. that
he promised to give Mr., Cessna, chairman OF
the Union State Central Committee an an.
swer-whch answer was never received. In
New York he was so utterly demoralized by
the visits of the Democrats who demanded
his Endorsement Of their platform that he wa,
only inlerentially quoted in favor of tho
Union candidates In both these States
brave men who had fought against the rebe
enemies headed the Union tickets, and vet
although they stood upon platforms earnestly
approving the Presidents course, ant
pledged to him the loyal support of the peo
pie, he refused to abandon his neutral groun(
and allowed the Copperhcads to claim hin
as their supporter Bit eoith all This aid N,
Copperdeads acre more utterly defedted hai
at any period IF Me reJsliion Please max,
a note Of this historical fact inasmuch as i
will serve to dissipatc the cry that Presiden
Johnson's veto was provoked by what il
called the radical policy in Congress n,
such complaint could be made before til,
great elections to which refer The radi
Gals were silent at home; and, indeed, hat
been rllber ignored by the Union party il
New York and Pennsylvania, and yet tip
hand of the President was turned against us
and thn battle had to be fought without him
The same temper characterized him directli
after the meeting of Congress Not an init
, nation was given from tho time of his au
! nual message OF his intention to carry on
r the positive nd voluntary pledges mad
: while he was candidate before the peorr.. r.e
. and even after he became President, by til,
l assassination of Abraham Lincoln. His sus
, picious silence, in regard to the blood-staineo
, tyrant and traitor, Jefferson Davis, which st
alarmed the people during the autumn o
1863 became more ominous and marked afte
the meeting of Congress From the organ
OF disahection, beginning with the Nanoaa