Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1866-08-23
Johnson's Reputation of Lincoln


head politicians and journals that Pre-
sident johnson is following in the foot
steps Of the lamented Lincoln as regards
his reconstruction policy. The very fact
of their support of Johnson gives the lie
to their assertion, for no man was ever
hated by a class of men more than was
our late President by the copperheads in
his lifetime. 1t was not the man they
disliked, but his straightforward course
towards the seeded States, and the
means to be employed for their restora-
ton to the Union, and if our present
chief magistrate pursued the course Of
his illustrious predecessor, he would be
as thoroughly hated and despised by
them as was Mr. Lincoln. The follow
ing from the New York Tribune fully
illustrates the difference in the recon-
struction policy OF the two Presidents
The strongest point which Mr.. John
son could make-the point which he has
labored most to make-is, that in his at
tempt to force Congress to admit South
ern representatives, he is true to the
policy of Abraham Lincoln. Never was
q claim more baseless. Yet in all his
speeches Mr.. johnson has repeated it,
and, of late, with an irritation which be-
trays sense of weakness. Reverdy
johnson, in his address to the President,
ingeniously attempts to gain from the
love of the people for Mr.. Lincoln pOpu-
larity for his successor, and assures Mr..
johnson that "being upon the same
ticket with that much lamented public
servant, whose foul assassination touch
ed the heart of the civilized world with
grief and horror, you would have been
false to obvious duty if you had not en-
deavored to carry out the same policy.
All the Copperhead papers which fero-
ciously denounced Mr.. Lincoln's policy
while he lived, now praise Mr.. Johnson
for adopting it. Thus we may see how
highly the mantle Of Elijah is valued
but Mr.. johnson has cloak Of his own
and the true garment has fallen upor
Congress. Upon the question OF his full
fillment of the purposes of Mr.. Lincoln's
administration, the Union party might
safely appeal to the people, and stand OF
fall by that alone.
It would be easier to define what il
not than what is the peculiar policy
which Mr.. johnson and Mr.. SewarC
have invented and submitted to tht
South for adoption yet there are few
plain principles which underlie it. 1t il
based upon the idea that no legislation
of Congress is required to restore thu
rebel States their forfeited privileges i
49, n
them no conditions whatever, but il
bound to admit them on demand to it
halls. A State, on this theory may fgh
for years against the Union, and, throw
ing down its arms, at once take part il
the government Or, if there be an.
preparation OF measures or time requir
ed, the President may alone determin
the duration Of the penance and the ma
ture of the purgatives. His policy, il
short, has for its central idea the IN
limited efficacy of a Presidential am
nesty; those whom he has pardone
other men have no right to question.
This is Mr.. Johnson's policy. That c
Mr.. Lincoln is absolutely antipodal. !
is well known, and the proof is now i
the possession of the government tina
I1is I<lHNOli, uCdi tiS NlNSS Va OhS WSsi
declared that he had no power whateve
over the reconstruction Of the Union
that belonged to Congress. His mes
sages to Congress repeated it. His mes
sage of December, 1864, was specially in
tended to assure the Southern people c
the kindness they would receive upo
their submission yet he explicitly lin
tied the extent of the mercy they coul
receive from him. "Some certain an
other possible questions are, and woul
be, beyond the executive power to ad
just as, for instance, the admission c
members into Congress, and whateve
might require the appropriation G
money. The Executive power itsel
would be greatly diminished by the ces
sation of war. Pardons and remission
or forfeitures, however, would still b
within Executive control" This wa
well understood North and South. N
language could be palmer than this
which, in promising Executive elem
--"u limited it to individuals, and ex