Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1866-09-06
ANDREW JOHySON--EXECU-
TIVE USURPATION.

NV u 0SOHAE N loNs
Andrew Johnson, who, through ac-
cident, is President of the United
States, is travelling over the country
making electioneering speeches in sup
port of what he terms "My Policy
Tn these speeches he assails very bit
terly all those who preserved his neck
from the halter. Had it not been for
those whom Andrew johnson speaks
of to-day as "Northern traitors" he
would at this hour be fugitive from
the country, or his bones would be
bleaching on the plains of the South.
The men he so wantonly assails saved
the country from the Rebels, who would
have visited all their fury on men like
Andrew johnson. They took him, o
hunted fugitive, and elevated him to
the second office In the gift of the peo-
pie. And now he not only betrays
these men and the country, but assails
them with vile bllingsgate that would
disgrace fish woman.
Mr.. johnson is ostensibly on his way
to Chicago to attend the Douglas mon
ument ceremonies, but really he is on
an electioneering tour; and what
American is there whose check does
not tingle with shame at the prostitu-
ton he daily makes of his great office
He daily assails a CO. ordinate branch
of the Govcrnment-the Representa-
tives of the People--as "traitors,
and speaks Of the People of the North
as enemies Of the Union" A pretty
speech to come from the most recreant
and shameless betrayer of the most
sacred trust reposed in an Executive
since our Government was founded
We wish the People to think of the
dangerous tendency Of Mr.. Johnson's
course, and to act as the great crisis
demands. Mr.. johnson has what he
is pleased to call "policy. He
speaks frequently with tremendous EN-,
phasis of "My Policy" In the
speeches made during his present cleo
tioneering tour he appears first in the
role of the demagogue, asking the ap-
probation of the people, as did Louis
Napoleon when he was preparing for
his coup d etat in 1S4S, and then he
announces that he will take " no steps
backward" or, in other words, that his
"policy" must be adopted, whether
the People approve it or not. Warm
ing up as he progresses, he calls the
Representatives of the People strait
ors, and all who do not see the beauty
of his "policy" as it blossoms out at
New Orleans and Memphis and in the
Wholesale murder and prescription of
Union men all over the South, and in
cluding also the crime of forgery, are
denounced by him as enemies to the
Union" Louis Napoleon never spoke
with more contempt of the Corps Leg
iSiatV than does Mr.. johnson of the
Congress of the United States. Mr..
johnson has an .undoubted right to
" recommend Legislation to Congress,
but there his duty ends; and II Con-
gress does not adopt his recommends.
tions 1t is his duty to acquiesce. But
Mr.. Johnson's policy" is not re-
commendation. 1t is such policy as
Louis Napoleon or the Emperor of
Austria adopts. 1t is policy of acts,
independent oflegislation, and enforced
by all the power which he holds. Mr..
j Johnson no more asked the opinion of
the Representatives of the People in
this great matter of reconstruction
than does Louis Napoleon the opinion
of the Corps LegislatV, He does not
call Congress together to determine the
terms of reconstruction, in which de-
partment our form of government vests
this power entirely, but proceeds him
self to dispose of all the vast questions
growing out of the war. AT first he
informs the Rebel communities that all
his acts are subject to the approval of