The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-06-18
President Johnson's Mistakes.

from Ne w ora.
We know OF nobody who regards President
Johnson's position as, at present, very COM
manding one. With great cleaIness aud sound
ness Of political views, and remarkable energy
and boldpess in their expression, he figures
before the country, thus far rather an able
debater than as great executive officer. The
vigor anG independence he has always shown in
one of these characters excited expectations, not
yet realized, of the eflice ency with which he
would discharge the duties of the other. Up TO
his entrance on the Presidency, Mr.. Johnson
had never been in q position either to acquire or
to display much skill as an administrative Off
Ger. AS Governor of Tennessee in ante-war
times, he had only routine duties, which one
clear.headed man is as competent to discharge
as another. As Military Governor of the same
State, durlng the war, he encountered no ad-
verse wills which he could not suOdue by mill
tary force. His duties, in that character, re-
qured much courage, but little administrative
capacity. Mr.. Johnson's Just reputation Tor
ability was acquired in different theatre. He
was q skiltul and torcible debater iii both
Houses OF Congress; but there are many clear
and cogeut reasoners who possess but slender
talents TOR administration. Responsibility for
the soup6ness of ones opinions, or for ones
individual vote, is a very simple thing in COM
parison with responsibility for the right working
OF great and complicated administrative sys
TEN, as able speech is different from the
ability to make vast governmental machine
plant instrument for the accomplishment of
great ends.
That statesman of Mr. Johnson's acknow-
led2ed vigor OF character should possess so
little influence in the Government Of which he
is the official head; that his Will, always sup
posed TO be strong, is in abeyance, like
an imprisoned force, Is phenomenon of
which the proofs are more apparent than the
explanation. The most important mistake
Mir. Johnson has made, is keeping the Cabi-
net OF President Lincoln. Had he succeeded
Mr.. Lincoln by an election, instead o. by
a visitation OF Providence, he would have
| selected a new Cabinet, as matter Of course.
/ Every President has right TO select his own
! confidential advisers, and he must needs be
cipher in the Government, ii the heads OF
| department entertain views not accordant
with his own. If. in the progress OF his admin.
istration, he finds that Congress, which daily
addresses the people through its debates, enter
tains views hostile to his on questions deemed by
him fundamental, it becomes doubly i'm portant
that the Executive department. which can
seldom address the people, except through its
acts, should possess all the Vigor which results
from an energetic unity OF purpose. That in
President Johnson's Cabinet there has been no
energy, and scarcely any unaGimity, in support
OF his policy against q bitterly hostile Congress,
is notorious. Soon after the difference became
pronounced, Mr.. Seward, the ablest OF his Cabi-
net officers, made his Ill health preieXt, and
lett the country during the critical period while
| the Congressional opposition was getting head.
4 bIr. Stanton, who ranks next to Mr.
I Seward in influence and energy made an osten.
tatious profession of keeping alOof rom political
questions, and conhning himself to hls strictly
executive duties, repeating this profession when
he was called out at the serenade. MIR. McCul.
logh, though jealous and true, is no politician.
Nj. Harlan has never disguised his opposition 70
the Presidents policy; Messrs Speei and Denn
son have been quasi neutral, with a leaning
towards Congress; and Mr. Welles, who was the
subordinate of his own subordinate durIng the
war, is of too feeble and sluggish temper to be
OF much weight in either scale. In dlderence
important enough to call forth the indignant
denunciations in the Presidents 22d or February
speech, and the earnest protests contained IN
his vetoes why did he tolerate a colo and hostile
Cabinet, which did not espouse his cause and
! quarrel, and almost openly SIDED WIN MS
enemies? He has done nobly Tor his SIDE OF the
! controversy as q courageons reasoner and adVo-
cate; as AN administrator, nothing
| similar debility of Will has marKed all MS
acts (or, to speak more properly, has been dis
played in all his inactiOn) in administrative
matters ON which there has been duerence OF
opinion. His indecision kept the cnlei empo-
rum OF our commerce without Colleccor-an
office which should never be ten days vacant =
Tor many successive months. lie mas kept JET
terson Davis imprisoned on charge Wnlch
nobody belieYes-complicity IN the asstSSlnt-
tiOn-ior fourteen months, without either re-
tracing the charge-oticially made by hlmselI-
or bringing it to a trial. He still DroIongs q
state OF things which Is the scapdal OIL poDli,c
justice, apparently shrinking from the respons'
bility OF any steps tending to its removal. In
r the elections which have occurred IN Varlod Us
4 States, he seems to have been snitten win tht
i oaHe HloIdl paralysis. TIC COuiu PN,sS9lotJ -,
changed the result in New Hampshire; coulC
2 certainly have changed it in Connecticut; out
e IN both elections. he stood helpless neutral
d while his own battle was being fought, ant
Il allowed the enemies OF his policy TO triumph.
i As those ON whom the President has no partl
d claims have given his policy a jealous and dis
o interested support, they claim, as their onl
II reward and as honest well.Wishers to both him
y and IL, the privilege o! stating why, 10 thel
# opinion, ii has not as yet, been very emlnent
h successful. We approve of Mr.. johnson
e policy, his Message, his yetoes, his speeches
his logic, his invectve, everything, IN short
a that is his, except his haltng inhrmity OF pun
a. pose during crisis Of the most important cor