Brownlow's Knoxville Whig. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1866-1869, 1866-03-14

We collect few extracts from the leading Repab-
iican journals that supported the President for the
Vice Presidency in opposition to his late 22d Of
February speech, and present them as an illussrs-
ton of the sentiments and feelings of the opposition
to him. We will follow this up with the presenta-
ton Of the other side, by extracts favorable to him,
20 as to give readers both sides of this great and
exciting topic
The Washington Chonicle, Forneys paper, says
This great farce was fttingy closed by the speech
Of the President of the United States, verbatim
report of which we publish elsewhere: A more
shameful and humiliating spectacle could scarcely
be presented. It more than confirms oar previous
statement with reference to that official. Turning
upon his best friends upon the party that elevated
him to his present position and we may say upon the
loyal people Of the country he deliberately throws
himself into the extended arms of the Copperheads,
the men whose sympathies all through the recent
struggle for national existence were unreservedly
with the common enemy. We do not stop to COM
ment upon this extraordinary speech. 1t tells its
own story. 1t will be read to-day by the loyal mil
lions Of the North with mingled shame and indig-
nation, and by the rebels and Copperheads with un-
disguised joy. The only hope left for the country
now is the American Congress. Let the people rally
as one to the support of their chosen represen-
tatives.
The Memphis Post, edited by Federal General,
Eaton, says:
We feel in sorrow compelled to allude to the
speech of Mr.. johnson, made on Friday last, in an
swer to the summons of body OF men led by Sun
set" Cox, Blair and Hendricks. The ihfrmity of
the President, which painfully revealed to
the knowledge of the nation at the time of his in
auguration, and which so scaDdaized US abroad, has
again made itself manifest. No man living, pos
sessed of the abilities the natural shrewdness and
IL.
himself and his high position so far as to give ut
terance to such an undignifed speech, so unworthy
in style and sentiment of the Chief Magistrate of
this great nation except under the influence OF that
demon which steals away mems senses, and tempo
rarily makes fools of the wsest. 1t will carry pain,
and sorrow and regret TO the hearts of Thousands of
his countrymen, who looked up to him as one whose
high destiny it was to be instrumental in reunting
this great people and starting the nation once more
on its career of grandeur and prosperity.
The Baltimore American, leading Union paper,
says:
The speech Of President johnson was delivered
from the Executive mansion on Thursday to an as
semblage composed principally of what were known
during the war as Copperheads Southern sympathi-
zers and returned rebel soldiers The sentiments
expressed on the occasion brought exultation and
gadness to their hearts equal to that occasoned by
the tidings Of the first rebel victory at Bull Run
and will be hailed by their conederaes at the South
with much iubilation they would have felt du-
ring the war if Lee had routed Grant, or Sherman,
had been driven into the ocean, with all the gallant
and loyal hosts that followed him from Atlanta
Though those who thus rejoice did not succeed in
electing Mcclellan, they have secured a more I'M
expected victory, but one that will very likely yield
bitter fruit, it will cement and consecrate the
Unlon sentiment of the country, and give to the
South, in the end harder terms than they might
otherwise have obtained from the present succeed
Trorl la Ill Il r. Al
viii lament the OBJECTIONS of President whom
they trusted, and whose utterances had heretofore
given hope that he would prove equal TO the trust
reposed in him, the tone and temper and language
employed by him on this OCCASION will cause deep
shock of humiliation and sorrow. We have no
heart to further allude to the subject at this time
We are in the midst of political revolution, that
will at once cause the concentration of opinion and
the formation of parties and keep the country in a
turmoil of excitement during the next three years"
The Chicago Tribune, leading Union paper in
Illinois, says:
Mr.. Johnson's policy is heartily backed by the
entire South and by the Copperhead party of the
North. The President himself seems entirely will
ling to throw himself into the hands of this element
His speech at Washington was delivered to crowd
of notorious CopperheadS secessionsts and rebels,
with hardly man of loyal record in the entire as
semblage. His language, too, coarsely insulting
Union party, and his positions were revolutionary
and dangerous. He denpqnced the Reconstruction
Committee of both Houses of Congress as an ire
sponsible Central Directory, who opposed the resto
ration of the Union, and whom he compared to
Davis, Toombs and Slidell. As he opposed the lat
ter traitors he announced would he oppose the
former. And whom does the President thus brand
as traitors They are Senators Fessenden, Grimes,
Howard, Harris and Williams, and Representatives
Stevens, johnson, Bingham, Order, Conkling,
Blair, Morrill,, Boutwell,, Washburne and Rogers
They are as unsulled, patriotic and statesmanike
body of men as the Union party can furnish. Thad-
deus Stevens, Of Pennsylvania, he denounces BY
name enemy to the Government, laborng to
destroy it, merely because he is the recognized leader
of the House of Representatives. OF course such
language is an ndiscrmnate charge against the en-
tire House, for it is only the fact that they agree
with Thaddeus Stevens that makes him their leader
and therefore powerful and therefore worthy of be-
ingsmade target for the Presidents abuse. He Sc
lects IN like manner one of the most accomplished
orators of the Senate Mr.. Sumner; but In branding
Mr.. Sumner as traitor for his political opinions
he brands every Republican who agrees with Mr.
Sumner. His third 'traitor' is Wendell Phillips Il
mere public speaker, who holds no Office and does
nothing but talk. Does the President intend to
brand takers traitors and to suppress freedom of
speech in this country.
The New York Tribune SAYS:
Although but three persons arc here denounced
by name it is nowise disputable that in spirit and
scope, this denunciation is leveed at a very large
majority of the members Of Congress-all of them
elected by the same party and the same ticket
with the Presdent-elected expressly to legislate
and not forutousy enabled to do so by the crime of
assassin. And we but state what every one does
know, when we affirm that considerable rejecting
citizens of all classes we're at once amazed and
panied by the tidings. They were not msled nor
led at all by editorial structures and CLOSES for the
speech received at late an hour of the preced
ing night that scarcely journal made any COM
ment whatever; yet nearly every thoughtful person.
as he glanced over his morning paper was at once /
appalled, and mortified that such speech could have
emanated from such asource. The Evening Post !
which had been the most devoted, unquestioning ad-
vocate of what is called the Presidents policy"
and had eulogzed nearly every previous act and ut
terance of Mr. Johnson-gave expression, in the af (
ternoon to the common sentiment of the American z
people, in utterly rsprobatng the speech and the
spirit which inspired it. And yet, the majority of
our city journals have felt constrained to commend
and bolster it up by the most extraordinary plaudit
which we place on record.
The Cincinnati Gazette thus concludes notice !
Of the speech
Without referring to the principles announced in !
his deliverance, constrained to say that not
excepting the speech made by Mr.. johnson on the
occasion of his Inauguration it is the most disgrace
I'll utterance of which We have any record in the
history of men occupying positions corresponding
o that filled by him; and we presume there is no
Ugh minded man in the United States that does not
eel ashamed Of the performance. The pride of |
country is wounded by this exhibition on the part
If the President of the United States of vulgarity
hat is only tolerated in stump speakers on occa-
ions of political excitement. Above this the Pres
dent is rightly expected to rise and when he falls IN