The Shasta courier., 1866-10-13
New York Independent on johnson.

Andrew johnson is making a tour among
the people-showing them his face to divert
| them from looking at his heart. He has the
| face of a demagogue, the heart OF a traitor
Riding in his open barouche through each
| successive city, bowling on the right to cheers
| for Farraput. and on the left to shouts tor
Grant. he is blind to the fact that the peo-
ple who tender him formal reception on
account of his office, deny him personal
welcome on account of the man. A self
deceived politician, he sees nothing IN those
pageants but an illusory evidence of his
personal popularity he. himself, is the
| shining sun, and these are the shadows which
his glory casts Consumed with an egotism
which he cloaks with humility, he makes
peacock's parade OF his character, his career,
his sacrifices, his policy, and his love for the
people. In the midst of the spectacle,
thoughtful spectators give secret thanks to
God that the basest citizen of the republic,
even though its Chief Magistrate. is unable
to destroy, but only to disgrace it.
What an opportunity for a great career
was offered to this man before the nation
suspected that he was trlckster But that
stone, cut head, that deed set and lascivious
eye, that ball clenched hand seeking to be
fist, indicate man that might be a hero
|
of moral ideas. Accordingly, though he
might have restored the Union in thirty
days after Lees surrender, by simply die
tating impartial justice. he chose instead to
reanimate the rebellion and to re-imperil the
country. Though he might have won
proud title as the uplifter of the lowly, he
chose instead to remand the oppressed to be
crushed by the oppressor. Though lie
might have established perennial order in
the rebellious States be chose instead to re.
store the old hostilities of twenty years ago.
Though he might have reconstructed the
republic in the spirit of unity and with the
bond of peace, he chose instead to keep it
angrily divided, section against section, to
this unhappy hour.
Making promises only to break them, he
has the brazenness to ask if he has ever
been perfdious Promising that treason
should be made odious, he has broken his
promise by making treason the chief pass
port to his favor Promising that rebels
should take g back Seats" he has broken
his promise by thrusting rehe!s into the
chief places of honor within his gift. Prom
ising that he would be the Moses of the black
race he has falsifed by vetoing every bill
providing of their safety and happiness
Promising that '.loyal men, whether white
or black should alone govern the State,' he
has broken his promise by setting his foot
equally on all loyal men, whether white or
black and selecting instead the enemies Of
the republic to be his agents in its govern
ment. Promising that his plan of re-
construction was to be only an experiment,
which Congress might either accept or re
ject, he has broken his promise by an un-
paralleled attempt ON the part of the execu-
tive branch of the Government to nullify
the legislative. Promising that his quarrels
with the Republican party should be fought
out exclusively within the ranks of that
party he has broken his promise by openly
desertng to the Copperheads and rebels
Making all these promises, and breaking
them all, now at last with an effrontery like
that of Charles the First, who lost his head
by lying, Andrew johnson exclaims, " Show
me the promise | have broken ?" To which
the astonished American people reply, Show
us the promise You have kept"
This Presidential pilgrim is the culprit
who, before he left home, tampered with
General Sherdan's dispatches seeking to
destroy the reputation of that loyal soldier
by involving him in the disgrace of abetting
the rioters of New Orleans. Thus, ON the
lst of August, General Sheridan telegraph
ed to General Grant, saying, /" The Mayor
of the city, during my absence, suppressed
the Convention by the of the police
force, and in so doing attacked the members
of the Convention and a party of two bum
dred negroes, and with fire arms, clubs,
knives, in a manner so unnecessary and
atrocious as to compel me to say it was muir
der" The President of the United States,
having thus suppressed the Convention by
murder, Immediately sought to suppress the
evidence of his crime. On the day follow
ing, General Sheridan telegraphed fuller
and darker statement, which was likewise
suppressed by the same blood stained and
cowardly hand. 1t was no riot" said the
/. General, sit was an absolute massacre by
the police, which was not exceeded in mur-
derous cruelty by that of Fort Pillow. 1t
was murder VIII ch the Mayor and police of
necessity Furthermore, | believe it was
premeditated and prearranged." To all
time the dread responsibility for the iendsh
slaughter at New Orleans shall rest on An
drew johnson, President of the United
States. He was the inspirer, the ring
leader, the alder and abetter, the apologist,
and, at last, the official concealer of the
atrocity. And now, as he pursues his vain
glorious journey, he finds himself surround
ed not only by the visible multitudes who
gather to cape at his lordship, but by an in
visible company Of spirits that were disem-
bodied at New Orleans by his act-a ghost
ly legion, haunting his Presidential progress
riding in his barouche, sitting at his feasts
gliding into his bed-chamber, commissioned
to follow him through his life, and impatient
to confront him at the last day.
This is the man who appeals to the peo-
Pile Let the people respond Out of re-
spect for the Chief Magistracy, let them
hold back their breath from kissing the
Chief Magistrate but when the ballot box
shall ask for decision, let the verdict be
4 overwhelming. The President hopes to con
quer Congress. Let the people give him a
Congress that cannot be conquered. Not a
single weak hearted man ought so be sent
to the Fortieth Congress. Let no consider
alton of compliment to old members induce
a denomination of plant and yielding Re
publicans. Troubous times need brave
spirits. OF the entire Union majority in
: the House of Representative, about one
: half ought TO be changed for men of strong
er backbone To be weak is to be mis-
erable.' particularly with majorities whose
numbers are stronger than their principles
Good men. without moral courage, when
sent to Washington, become as sheep. to the
wolf Brave work is ahead send only