New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1866-09-13
PRESIDENT Johnson.

patch from President johnson, in which that
distinguished official expresses regret that his
engagements do not permit him to extend his
tour further South than Louisville, Conse-
| quenay New Orleans will not have an oppor-
tunity, at least this year. of welcoming the
man to whom she, as well as the whole coun-
try, owes so much for his courageous defense
Of popular rights and of the great principles
! of public liberty, against the assaults of the
most violent, vindictive, despotical and retro
gressive party that has ever figured in the
history of the United States. The people of
this city and of the whole South will leaIl
with regret the decision Of the President for
| although they had little reason to expect COM
plance with their invitation, they hoped that
some lucky chance might turn Mr. Johnsons
steps hitherward It is plain, from the
tone of the Presidents remarks, and from
his acts even more than from his
words that he understands the state
of affairs III the South, and especially the
origin and the history of the movement
which led to the recent audacious attempt to
subyert the government of this State, quite as
well as such matters can be understood by
any one at distance; but we should have
been better satisfied, had he the opportunity,
by personal observation, to corroborate his
convictions of the slanderous misrepresenta-
tons of Southern opinion and Southern senti-
ment, with which the columns of the radical
press are replete. We should like him to see
for himself that the Southern people are
striving earnestly and not unsuccessfully, to
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reorganize their industry and their commerce;
| that they are anxious, above all things, to
cultivate a friendly feeling among the freed
men, by treating that class Of their population
with sympathy Kindness and justice; and that
the so-called s'Unionists and '1oyalists so
far from living in perpetual dread of assassi-
nation, are quite as safe here as they would
be in New England or New York
Seeing these things. for himself, he could
return to Washington in still better heart for
the great struggle to which he is committed,
in behalf Of public liberty and constitu-
tiona1 Union. Under ordinary circumstances
the power of single individual, whether for
good or for evil, is extremely small Even
the influence of those men who fill SO large
a space on history's page, has been perma-
ton of social progress More especially is
this true in later ages, when public opinion,
and not the will Of rulers, or the expedients
of politicians, has become the great lever of
the social movement If there is an excep-
ton to this rule it is to be found in the case
of President johnson. Circumstances have
placed him in position in which he is cap
able, if not Of controlling, at least
Of affecting, very materially, the result /
Of the impending political struggle And
that struggle differs vastly from the
ordinary contests of parties. It involves
much more than the success OF defeat Of tenn
porary measures, or Of projects Of Legislation
which mayEbere rejected Or accepted without seri-
ous consequences to our political and social |
system. 1t embraces, in fact, the question
whether or not the nature and tendency of
our institutions shall be essentially changed
whether ornot they shall become retrogres-
i've instead of progressive whether or not a
Legislative despotism shall sue
iced to a government of limited powers
Ehether or not the federal government shall
ecome an engine of interference, repression
nd tyranny whether, in short the Jeffer-
oniasn and truly democratic and progressive )
oetrine that g the best government is that q
.hieh governs least; shall prevail, or the a
inverse dogma, that 9 the best government {
that which governs most, shall henceforth t
ntrol our political action. a
These are momentods questions. It han 4
ms that, by the exercise Of mere force, the
States are deprived Of any voice in !
terlnining them. But it happens, fortu- i
tely, that the President who has taken the i,
'eral side in this great controversy, repre- n
nts the public opinion Of the South Thus
$ moral influence is strengthened, and he
cupies an attitude fan more important and d
gnifcant than if he were merely the chief a
& party, Or if he only sought to impose a 70
'culiar policy on the country It would
we gladdened the hearts and encouraged 9,
e hopes of the people Of the South if they :,
'uld have had an opportunity to exchange = :,
cas- with the man who now represents their :.
use, as fan as that cause is identified with
e principles Of liberty and justice, They "
ould have liked to greet him with pleasant t
ords, and to fortify him with agreeable facts 81
lt.since this pleasure is not permitted to Sc
EN-, they wish him 'sGod speed " on his
lrney, safe returntto the capital and con- II
lped health and strength to prosecute the f.
'uggle which he has so nobly begun. Ia
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STATES REPUBLICAN, IN FORM.