Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1866-03-08
8radford &eporter,
Towanda, Thursday, March 8, 1866.
THE PRESIDENTS SPEECH.

last week, preventing the expression of our
views upon the important events which
have lately transpired at the National Cap
ital. The feelings of amazement, and in
tense disgust with which we read the Pres
ident's harangue to the mob OF secession
lists and returned rebel soldiers, from the
steps of the White House, on the 22d ult.,
have in the meantime, given way to ap-
prehe nsiOn and sense Of danger which
threatens the country. 1t has been no Sc
cret to those conversant with the state OF
affairs at Washington, for the past few
weeks, that President JOHNSON was becom-
ing alienated from the party which placed
him in power, and a traitor to the princl-
pies revered and promu gated by the Repnb-
lcan organization. There has been, during
the session of Congress, constant state OF
feverish apprehension that the President, III
spite of his former speeches. and IN the fac"
of the popular demands was ready to throw
himself into the embrace of the Copper
heads Wherever treason had been most
malignant, wherever sympathy with seces-
sion most virulent, there has been found
the most extravagant and fulsome adula-
ton of the President, and the manifestation
of newly awakened hopes, which pointed t"
the control of the Executive, and the em-
iuyment of Presidential favors.
The fears of the Unionists, and the hopes
f the traitors ,culminatcd in the Presidents
veto of the Freedmen's Bureau bill, prepar-
ed by Gen. HOWARD and sanctioned in its de-
tails before it was presented to Congress,
bv the President himself We shall not
now discuss that veto ; the fallacy OF the
Presidents objections have been fully
shown. The veto itself, may be more Or
less liable to objection 1t is with the mo
tives which prompted that veto, that We
have now specially to deal That message
removed the fmsy veil which had hereto
fore cloaked the Presidential designs, and
revealed him in all the deiormity of a trail
tor to the party which elected him, and to
the principles which were SO plainly and
emphaticly endorsed and enunciated by the
Republican party in the Presidential Can
vass of 1864
If any doubt remained as TO the inten-
ton and apostacy of ANDREW JOHNSON, his
unfortunate and Incorporate harangue OF
the 22d ult, has dispel ed it all Surround
ed by u howling mob OF traitors, for which
Washington is particularly distinguished,
he gave utterance to sentiments which dis
graced the high office he fills, and delighted
the rebel auditors who were wild with ex-
uItation. That speech has redeemed the
cheek OF every patriot with shame. 1t finds
no apologies in the bitterest rebel sympa-
thiz,r of the North While the Copper
heads are exultant in the prospect of the
apostacy Of ANDREW JOHNSON, and the dali
ger of division which threatens the Repub-
lican party their presses have no word Of
apology for his unseemly and degrading
exhibitions of passion.
The Demo ;ratc party looks to the re-en
slavement of the Freedmen In times past
the corner stone Of that organization has
/ been Slavery. 1t made that organization
compact and powerful. The party there
fore has opposed Emancipation. 1t stead
fastly opposes everything that looks to the
elevation of the Freedman. In the future,
it sees for itself no hope Of success, bat in
the consolidation of that great interest
which has heretofore swayed the political
destinies Of the Country. 1t is to this party
that President JOINS N has allied himself.
( He throws himself into the open arms 81
/ those who, failing after years Of bloodshed,
! to subvert and overthrow the Government,
now seek to bring the country back to its
! condition in 1860 What violence could
not accomplish, they hope 10y political Chi
canery to effect The great events of the
last four years are to neutralized; the
wheels of progress to be stayed the man
acles to be again rivetcd on the mbs Of
the freed and the broken sceptre Of dcs-
pUtism to be made whole. ANDREW JOHN
son gives himself heart and sonl To these
unholy schemes. H brands as lie his
former professions he skaters with a
breath the popular confidence in his homes
ty aud patriotism he endeavors to set
back the hands on the dial Of time, he casts
himself before the wheels Of progress, in
the vain hope Of staying their onward ca
rec let him be crushed before their rev.
Olutions
The downfall OF ANDREW JOHNSON, is the
saddest spectacle ever presented in the po'
Iitical history of the nation. The Repub,
lican National Convention Of 1854. put
aside one Of the truest men OF the land, tc
give room for him. 10 show the world
the highest possible appreciation of his
courage and patriotism. He had de6ed
treason at home and boldly denounced it in
the Senate. When the inscrutable pruvi.
dence of the Almighty removed LINCOLN
from the helm, ANDREW JOHNSON Came into
the Presidential chair, with proud record
and fame which the wise5t aud the great
est might have envied. a)w has the