The New York herald., 1866-05-20
PRESIDENT JOHNsONs POSITION.

The London Times Report OF His Repi
90 His Ene mies-His Appearance as n
sayings at the Military serenade In
Washington, &c.
Washington Apr 1el corrcspondence OF London Times
Yesterday evening the President addressed to the pub
lie another vndicaon OF the he has pursued
relation TO the South nee his accession to office.
The occasion which gave rise TO II not Of any
extraordinary interest. A few days ago Mr. johnson
publicly recommended the appointment of disabled SOL
diers and sailors 70 posts for which they were capable in
gratitude the soldiers and sailors who are adrif
Washington arranged TO scrcnade the President the
White House Mr.. johnson took advantage OF this cir.
cumstance 70 explain many points in his policy
which have been wfuliy distorted by his op-
slider his manner Of doing undignihed, IL would
be well 20 remember that he ,s placed In a very un-
usual and trying position The President Of this country
has ministers In either department OF Congress
through whom he put forward his views 10 the
nation He has agents 10 clear away msrepresenta.
ton and prevent the public mind from being led away
by wrong statements and false issnes But there have
been very few instances Of President coming into con-
tact gta Congros thoroughly hostile him that he
has no party In u able or willing 10 secure for him ord
nary fair play Mr.. Johnson stands in that position aud
against ssod phaanx Of active and vigorous
he do nothing but forward simply and plainly
aud tell the people through the newspapcrs-for of
course that the object of the speech night not
merely to crafty Washington crowd--hs veritable
opinions and objects and appeal to them Judge fairly
and honestly between him and hts There w.
no doubt, . strong tendency In Mr. johnson to come
out in this manner, and fight hts adversares There
il strong touch Of the bogereut In his dispostion "a
his very appearance and rrvsstbly suggested
last evening After he has endured certain quantity
Of badgering he must show himself and have grnppie
with his foes MT Lincoln peaceful BY na-
ture and Is useful o rccocct the present moment
that just before his Assassination he exposed 10 the
very Misrepresentation and abuse from the very
same men, OF which MT johnson s now the oeicct
Mr. sumner attacked President Lincoln most violeniy "
aud bitterly for his anxiety 10 bring back the South into
the Union and into Congress with little cause fol
animosity as possible left behind Had Mr.. Lincoln
lived, and had he perseyered In the policy he had
marked out he would have farvd no better than Mr.
johnson; but his disposition was more placable anc
yielding He might have been nrn, but he would hav,
left others to tight his policy Mr. johnson obliged ts
DO his own nshtlpg at present.
The band began It's performances
directly Il arrived. and after Il had played tws
or three tunes some boards were brought out u
place upon the steps and make a sort OF pla,
orm, and presently Mr.. johnson came forward, fol
loved by hs secretary and te~ friends He uncovered
his bead as he stepped on the PLATFORM but the people
did not they pressed ooes TO his side keeping thet
hats 90 caps on, and tss Of coure is natural here
treating him In every wsy a. u themselves Som
had been appointed 70 deliver address and vert
poor srokcsmv he rfcyed " be- Tho unfor,una,s ma