Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1866-04-26
The President ON the stump.

pOrtanL events lndL nave recently LTdus-
pired at Washington, although mention
was made OF them in our telegraphic
dispatches. We refer to two visits
made TO the President last week, one on
Wednesday evening, when large body
of soldiers and sailors called to pay him
their respects, and the other on Thurs
day, when two regiments of colored
troops and various colored civic associa-
tions called upon him who had promised
to be their "Moses."
The soldiers and sailors called to
thank the President for his order giving
preference to manned veterans in the
military and naval service for appoint
ments TO office in the different depart
ments. Mr.. Johnsons reply was in
style and manner somewhat different
from his address to the crowd assembled
before the White House on the 22d Of.
February; yet 1t was in matter like that
speech in several particulars. In reply
to an address from an officer Of the sol
diers aud sailors league, the President
thanked them and expressed hearty sym
patty with the objects Of their associa-
ton. He then spoke of the various
struggles the nation had passed through
the bloody struggle in which it had
its birth the war of 1872, when it vim
dicated its power to maintain an honor
able position among the nations; the
war of the rebellion, when the people
proved their ability to put down organ
lied treason among themselves; it is
now passing through fourth ordeal,
and will prove its power to establish
peace and unity without violating the
principles Of free constitutional govern
ment and falling into consolidation and
despotism. The President required to
his own services and losses in the effort
to save the Union, and alluded with Bit
terness to his calumniators, in way to
indicate that he very easily loses
self-Control on the very occasions when
such control is most needed and be-
coming in a chief executive of a great
nation. We can hardly conceive of Ian
guage more inconsistent with the digni-
ty of the Presidential Office than the fol
lowing, which we take from report of
the speech under notice:
while I was thus exposed personally
and publicly, and in every way, some Of
my present traducers and Calumniators
were far removed from the foe and were
enjoying ease and comfort. Cheers and
laughter.) But l care not fer them. |
care not for their SANDER. And the foul
whelps of sin have been turned loose
against me. care not for all that, and
bet me tell you here to-day that though
pretty well advanced in life, l feel that
shall live long enough to live down the
whole pack Of traducers and slanderers
EApplause.) They have turned the
whole pack loose to lower me in your
estimation. (Voice-'They can't do it,
Tray. Blanche and Sweetheart, little
dogs and all, come along, swapping and
snarling at my heels; but | heed them
not. Cheers The American people
citizens soldiers and sailors, know that
from my advent into public life to the
present moment, I have always stood
unyieldingly and unwaveringly the ad
vocate and defender Of their rights anC
interests. (Cheers. "
The writer Of this article mas never
doubted the sincerity of PRESIDENT John
sons patriotism from the moment HI
stood up in the United States Senate anC
denounced secession as treason, and thu
retiring secediug Senator's as traitors
deserving the halter, to this day. Blu
making due allowance for the provoking
assaults on his motives and charaCte
by few impracticable members of Con
gress and others, we can see no justlca
ton of the Presidents manner of treat
ing them.
After arguing that rebellion does no
destroy the States, the President pro
ceeded to speak Of the restoration o
civil government in Tennessee, under di
rection of President Lincoln; said tina
when he succeeded to the Presidenc
Congress had adjourned without pre-
scribing any plan Of reconstruction, an
he proceeded to restore the other State
in strict accordance with the plan re
ceived from his predecessor and alread
initiated, and had completed the wor
according to the original plan, so far a
it was within the power Of the eXecu
tive. The President then spoke Of REP
RESERVATION of the Southern States i
Congress, stating his views forcibly an
in a manner calculated to win respeC
from all intelligent candid minds, an
assent from many. He insisted that th
States lately in rebellion should be geI
resented by way of completing the wor
of reconstruction, but that only Toys
men should be admitted to seats in eitl
er branch of Congress. And that as Ii
Constitution expressly gives each hou:
The exclusive right to judge of the qua
ihcation of its own members, there ca
be no danger that disloyal member
would gain admission. The PresideI
lave oraof c&racs IN Aha ohctroct riuht ,