Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1866-02-26

President johnson and she RHdi-
cal IDOctrlnes-An Incident in the
s'ast History of johnson i'm Ten
messee.
We make the following interesting ex-
tract from letter from Tennessee cores
pondent:
The recent utterances from the White
House, particularly the Presidents talk to
the negro delegation, carried, it appears, a
general feeling of disappointment and
sadness" among the Radicals. They are
beginning to find out his EXcellency. They
are beginning to discover that the views he
has hitherto expressed, it may be somewhat
incohefently, "are not the result of impulse,
but of thorough, calm consideration" The
truth Is, Andrew johnson is Democrat,
ITO the manner born" and can never, with.
out total abandonment of the practice and
precepts of his life, sustain the measures OF
the Republican party. Upon the war plat
form, he was with them. Upon that he was
elected. But, that issue having been dis
posed of by the return of peace, he can no
longer act with them without falsifying his
entire political record. That his political
principles are too much the result "of thor
ough, calm considerations" that they are
too deeply ingrained in his nature to be
readily changed, may be assumed as be-
yond all reasonable probability. He sprung
directly from the loins of the people. NO
man has more confidence in the integrity
and intelligence of the people, and no
statesman ever conhded so completely in
them. No statesman ever more consistent
ly opposed every effort to make this an inn
perial Government in the eXtentpower and
magniicence OF its chartered monOpolies.
His legislative efforts have always been tor
the poor and the humble, not for the rich
and lordly. His maxim is: "Government
was made for the people, and not the people
for Government" Hence he has always
favored the retaining of the powers Of
government by the people. Hence he has
always opposed strong, consolidated, cen
tralized National Government. Hence he
has always opposed large armies and over
grown navies in time of peace. Hence he
has always opposed all high tariffs u alton
al Banks aud grand schemes of National
improvements, by means of which spec
ulatOrs and stockholders grow rich.
Hence he proposed and has ever ad-
vocated the policy of furnishing
homesteads to the people, rather than
voting away the public lands to
immense corporations. Unless he is
totally changed man, the Radicals can
never drive him from his position. He
may, from courtesy to the party that elected
him, step back TO the wall, and stand with
his face to the front. Threats of impeach-
ment or words of persuasion will not change
the direction of his course When the issue
is fully made up, and the contest is fairly
begun between him and the Radicals, he
will make it thunder so that they will hear it
to the utmost verge of the political horizon.
The lightniug's flash will be seen and the
electric shock felt by every member of the
circle. ...
An incident in Johnson's second guber-
material canvass will serve to Illustrate the
character OF the man. 1t was when Know
nothingism was at its highest pitch of pride
and power. 1t was before the purposes of
the order were understood. The names of
thousands of Democrats we're on its rolls.
Meredith P. Gentry was his opponent, per-
sOnally the most popular man in the State,
and one of the most highly gifted orators
that ever occupied position in the halls of
Congress. Mr.. johnson was scathing in his
satire; bitter and unrelenting in his denun-
Citations. He read cOpiously from the blue
book, and spared neither the Democrat
who had wandered from the fold nor him
whose lack of political principle caused
him to embrace every ism that presented
itself. In canvassing the State the candi-
dates came to Senatorial district where l..
was the Democratic candidate. L. had
heard of the severe handling which Gov.
johnson gave the Know-nothings, and,
fearing that kind of treatment might have
a bad effect upon the Democratic prospects
in his district, he approached the Governor
on the subject and told him of the happy
influence the cOnciliatory policy was having
upon those who had gone into the dark
lantern order. He told the Governor that
by the day of election all of them could be
brought back to the old faith, but if they
were denounced they would get mad and
stick to Know -nothingism. The Governor
listened very patiently until L. had explain
ed the policy he had been pursuing, and the
course he desired the Governor to pursue.
Governor Johnson characteristically re-
piled: "True, L., may not persuade any
of them to come out, but I'll be id if |
don't make the hole so hot that no more of
them will 90 in" The result was his tri
umphant election, despite the efforts of
Brownlow and the present Radical leaders
of Tennessee. So it will be when he COM
mences his war on Radicalism. He may
not persuade many of that party to come
out. but he will make the hole so hot that
nomore will 90 intoit.