Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1866-10-11
A sCATHuNG LETTER.
Resignation Of Hon. Isaac n.
Arnold. Auditor OF the Post
Office Deua ri tn ent

t DHftmcnt
Three days before his assassination, tb
resiiion was. rendered to me by Presiden
/ Lincoln IN Facilitate the preparation Of
record Of his Aduiinistraf lion and the ovel
throw of slavery in the Republic, which
then hoped he would live to consummate
When ! accepted the commission from you
which death prevented him from issuing,
did it in the full faith, based upon your pat
riotic record during the rebellion and you
repeated declarations over the dead bodyo
the martyred President, that your polio
would make treason "odious" and that yo
would he faithful to the loyal men. Mort
and South. who have saved the Republic
that you would endeavor to carry out tn
principles which will make Lincoln's Ad
ministration illustrious to all time.
I will do YOU the Justice TO say that he
lieve IT, while you were addressing the Iii
nois delegation who wsitedon you and ten
dered you the same support they had pivcr
their own great statesman, if a. that mo
ment, when your heart seemed full Of loyal
ty and fidelity, and you to d US that ''th'
reorle must understand that treason is th'
blsckest of all crimes and will surely be pun
ished." and that when the question of ex
ercising mercy comes before me it will ht
considered calmlv-iud:cially for we mus
not forget that what may be mercy to the
individual is cruelty to the Stste"--if at that
time your future course could have beer
held up before you, and your apostacy could
have been foretod, yeu would have indie
nnntly excl'imed, rs thy servant dog
that he should do this thing !"
You have betrayed the great Union party
which elected Abraham Lincoln, which, as
an incident Of tho election, placed you ir
the Office of Vice President You have de
serted its principles, and are to-day in open
cordial communion with those who sought
the overthrow of the Republic; Oft those wlc
for four long years made war upon our flag,
and who crowned their long catalogue Of
crimes by the murder which placed you in
the Executive chair.
You are to-day prosecuting and denounc
ing as traitors the lifelong friends cf Afra'
ham Lincoln; those upon whom his great
arm leanea for surrert.in the hour Of su
prone reril for the Union; you are dennunc-
ing and persecu'ing those friends Of Mr..
Lincoln for mn offense hut fidelity 70 the
rrincinles and party which you have de-
serted
You have chosen as your friends and COUP
sellorv from the lately rebollious States not
the rersecuted. abused, faithful, heroic
Union man but those whose hands are yet
stained with thr blood of loyal men. In the
loval States your supporters and counsellors
are to great extent with those whose sym
pathies were ever with rebels and traitors.
In your present position, and with snch
sssoriatrs, Vt * natural you should hate
those whose fidelity must be constant re-
proach IN YOU You are punshingr in Hi
nois and elsewhere the old personal friends
of Lincoln at the instance Of his LIFELONG en-,
enies
Mr.. President, the American people. in
their hour nf bitterest anguish, when al
most sturefed with grief over the murder
IF the nohest, rraudest character which
has adorned our history heard your voice
utter;ng bold INDIGNANT, Iowa and patriotic
words. They took you to their hearts and
gave you their confidence. Where pre you
to,dov9 Who are your associates and ad
visers? What promise made over the dead
hody of Lincoln have you kept?. What
pledge, then uttered. have you not broken
Sir you are welding immense power and
patronage; but tell you, not in anger, bnt
in deepest sorrow, there are few names 9th
er than that of the rebel chief, as yet in
Fortress Monroe, as Odious amoug loya'
men, and so popular among traitors, as II al
of Andrew johnson With fidelity. you
would to-day have hepn the first Of Ameri-
can statesmen. With fidelity on your part
there would to-day have been harmony in
all the departments of the government. and
peace snd security throughout the ,Repub'
lie. With fidelity, it was yours to have
saved the country. God and the peopIe
will prevent your treachery from destroying
it. ~. g.-.. ... ....t..,.
I will not now contrast your policy with
that Of your llustrious predecessor; but
shall ask vour attention to one point. 10
the loyal black man end the loyol white man
of the South, Mr.. Lincoln promised pro
lection and security. He kept his promise.
When rebel emissaries, such as you pardon
and take 70 yonr confidence proposed to
him 20 return TO slavery the black soldier Of
the Union army, and thus win the masters
they had fopcht, Mr.. Lincoln Indignantly
replied, "should I do so, would deserve
70 be damned in time nnd eternity !"
How can YOU, Mr. President, occupy the
Executive Mansion ss the successor OF LIN
eoln7 How could you visit his grave with
the bloody outrapes Of Memphis and New
Orlcaus unpunisbed2 Do you remember
that Mr.. Lincoln said "NeGroes, Ike Other
peorle. act upon motives? If they stak,
their lives for us, they must he prompted
by the strongest motive-even the promise
Of freedom; and the promise being made
must be Kept"
The nation promised the negro liberty and
protection for helping it to put down the re
bellion. Ysu have turned him over to his
exasnprated master, whom he bel ped "a
subdue. When did yon punish rebel fo'
the murder of loyal negro? The rebels
are to-day your cnunsrllors. They and thu
Copperheads constitute large majority o.
those who call themselves your friends.
They control your PATRONAGE. FL.
Believing you are to day exerting youl
vast power in the interest Of traitors, ant
that your policy should be overthrown a
the ballot hox; that the Republic, based NJ
liberty and Justice, may live, retire from
office. that may freely and effectively ait
in that overthrow / have the honor to be
.1II'..0f Very respectfully. &c,.
g,e.,.n. ISAAC N. ARNOLD.
To ANDREW JOHNSON. .tf.o
President of the United States.