The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1866-03-01

confederates.
President Johnson's Political PoIIey-ais
Past and Present Record.
The developments at Washington during the
last ten days, commencing with the veto of the
Freedmen's Bureau bill, bid fair to revolutionizt
the political affairs Of this country. The poll
ticisns throughout the North are in almost al
much ola furry as they were at the commence
mont Of our late civil war. To comprehend
fully tho significance of the events which are
transpiring at the national capital, 1t is neces
sary to recall the past record of Andrew John.
son, whose message and speech have created all
this hustle and commotion. By comparing his
present action with his speeches in the past,
the public can clearly divine the object at which
be aims and discover the course in which he
is guiding the ship of state. In endeavoring to
restore the Union, cement the victories of W.
and secure to the country all the benefit OF
peace and prosperity, the President fovid ar
rayed against him formidable fchon IN
Congress, directing all its efforts % increase
the sectional hatreds which prduced the re-
bellion. This faction was tryj'g to perpetuase
that feeling in the North, 20 react IN a Ike
spirit ON the disloyal met in the South, until
the strife would be again renewed and a new
revolution inauguratsd more bloody than the
first. At the very moment when this tide was
strongest, and at the very time when the poll
ticians were being carried away by its inlatu-
alton, Andrew johnson steps forward and
arrests it. The violent agitation which his
action has produced is of itself conclusive
evidence of the dangers that existed and
Of the necessity for prompt and decisive
measures to avert them. 1t is only in this way
that the people could be aroused and prepared
for the exigencies Of the occasion.
In pursuing the course that he has at this
particular juncturc Of affairs, President john
son is simply carrying out the ideas aud prin-
ciples which he has advocated and adhered
to during his sntirc political career. This fact
is conclusiyely shown by the interesting state
ments which we publish In another part Of to-
days issue, commencing with brief history
by one Of our Washington correspondents Of
the steps taken by the radicals in Congress and
of their endeavors in spite Of the Executive to
fastsn their ruinous policy upon the country.
This letter, with the extracts from the Congress
sional speeches Of Mr.. johnson, delivered ct
the commencement Of the rebellion and prior
to that period, together with his letter Of In
structions to Governor Sharkey, Of Mississippi,
and Carl Schurz, which we publish else
where, makes decidedly interesting chapter,
which the politicians Of all faiths and
all schools can read and digest with
great profit to themselves. The RESPONSE
bility Of the present rupture between
the President and Congress Is clearly shown to
rest on the shoulders Of the latter. We doubt
If any public man has ever borne 80 long and
so patiently the studied insults Of men claim
ing to represent his own party, as has Presi-
dent johnson. The radicals in Congress
pushed their crusade against both him and the
constitution to that extent that he could not
longer remain silent and maintain his self
respect, or retain his consistency with his past
record. The opportunity was offered for him
to vindicate his policy, and he acted upon :. in
that bold and fearless spirit which has more
than anything else characterized his public
career.
But we are told by the Jacobin orators and
radical press that Mr.. Johnson has gone back
upon his party, insulted the good sense Of the
people and outraged the loyal sentiment of the
North. The ideas expressed, both In the veto
message and in his speech Of the I'D ult,
were precisely the same that be uttered on
the floor of the Senate In 1861, when
he defed both Southern secessionists and
Northern disunionists. On that occasion
he placed such men as Wendell Phillips and
Jefferson Davis in the same category, nor did
he hesitate to name them then as now. The
issue was then made distinct, and many Of
those who then spplauded now denounce him
for repeating the same sentiments, thus prov
ing that while Mr.. Johnson remains firm 10 his
principles, others have gone OF after false gods
and adopted hercsies fraught with equal dan
ger to the peace and permanency OF the nation
as were the dogmas Of the Southern secession
lists. II is upon this line that he has fought his
political battlesL II Is upon this line that he
has rallied the people around him In the past,
and now stands out in bold relief above and
beyond all others as the leader Of the people
in the great work Of restoring the Union. The
waves Of fanatlcism may beat against him, the
disunion storm may rage and Its thunderbolts
burst about his head, yet he stands now as be
has on all former occasions, immovable and
invincible Conscious that he Is right, and with
unHinching confidence In the people, he braves
the storm, determined not 10 yield TO the dema-
gogues who would destroy the country that
they might profit by lis ruin.
In pursuing this course President Johnson
has not in NE least abandoned the principles
marked out by tho Baltimore Convention,
which placed him In nomination. AT that con-
vention an effort was made 10 exclude Tennes-
see from representation. This effort was made
by Stevens and the very men who are de-
nouncing Mr.. johnson now, and the plea used
was that IL was no longer a State. But