The weekly North-Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 186?-1869, 1866-02-14
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Editors Of the Standard and Authorized publishers
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"Wednesday, February ia ,n.lS66.
PRESIDENT JoHNsoN- - q CRISIS q

President to the Montana delegation,
and his conversation with Frederick
Douglas and otherieolored persons, in
relation to the claim set up by the latter
for the privilege Of suffrage. Il ~,
ia 1t isi,obyious that the period is at
hand when the conflict, for some time
foreseen and predicted, between the
President and the ultra leaders of the
Republican party, is to begin. The
President is fortunate in having planted
himself in the very outset, on the ancient
right of the States to determine the
question of suffrage for themselves
This position is impregnable. 1t may
be assailed- win be assailed in the
most fierce and formidable manner, but
it will not be carried. To carry it, or
in other words, to dictate through the
Congress to the States what sort of suf.
frage they shall have, would be to do
violence to the Constitution, and would
practically change the character of the
government itself.
We believe the President will be sus-
tanned i'll this struggle by large pro-
portion of the Republican party, and by
the entire body of the Douglas Demo-
Gratis. Such Republicans, for example,
as those of Ohio, who elected Gen. Cox
Governor of that State, pledged as he
was against negro suffrage, will rally
almost en- mdsse around the President.
The Southern people can only look
on, as they have no representation in the
Congress, but they will b., perhaps, the
most deeply interested in the result
The struggle will shake the government
itself to the centre. But we have no
fears of Andrew johnson. Right or
wrong, he is man of iron will; but he
will be strengthened and sustained in
this great crisis by the knowledge that
he is standing on the Constitution, and
contending for the principles laid down
| by the fathers. He declares that he is
not looking to reelection. We believe
him; but if he should succeed in this con-
fict with the ultras Of his own party,
and should restore the Union of the
States in its. entirety and integrity, as
we feel sure he will do in the end, he
will build up for himself q popularity
equal to that of Gen. jackson or Mr..
Clay in their best days. 1t is exceed
ingly important that every friend the
President has in the South, should be
cautious in what he says and does, while
this conflict is progressing. Every hard
word uttered by Southern men about
the so-called radicals is a thorn in
the Presidents path. Every manifesto
ton of disloyalty is an obstruction in
his way, and weakens his arm which is
stretched forth to aid us. Every unac-
ceptable member of Congress, elected
by the insurgent States and pressed for
admission, is so much dead weight which
the President has to carry. He has
already been seriously embarrassed by
the conduct of those very States for
whose existence as States he is contend
ing; and if he should fail and fall in the
struggle, and if the worst should there
after happen to us, it will be owing to
the conducted referred to. 9
Our confidence in Andrew johnson
is a plant of no recent growth. We
have always regarded him as an able
statesman and true patriot; and in the
Standard ofthe Goth of April last, a few
days after he was called to the Presi-
dency, we said:
"The City of Raleigh has the honor
of having given birth to the present
President of the United States. Many
of our old people remember him when a
boy, and we have often heard them
speak of him. He left here when mere
youth, penniless, without friends, I'M
educated, to "seek his fortune. in the
"wide, wide world" The world now
sees how, with the blessing Of Proyi-
dence, he has succeeded Energy, hon
esty, industry, perseverance, inaexible
integrity, and the most ardent and con-
sistent devotion to the rights of the peo-
pie, have made him what he is. North
Carolina is proud of her son, and we
predict that the great body of her peo-
pie will prove themselves the most gen.
erous and steadfast supporters Of his
: administration. e5aesl 5I-lsss q
! Andrew Johnson is a man of first-rate
order Of intellect. 1t was no accident
that made him member of Congress,
then Governor of Tennessee, and after
wards Vice President of the United
States. No doubt he mourns, as we all
do, the sad event which called him to
his present position, and abhors as we
all do the desperate wretch by whose
handlhis predecessor fell; but we have
reason to thank Providence that he was
in position under the Constitution to
take the place Of the lamented Lincoln
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