Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1866-03-15
OUR WASHINGTON CORRESPONDENCE.

loUR WASHINGTON coRREsPoNDENcI
II EThe following letter from our Washing
ion CORE pondent, though delayed by tn
halls until the topics It treats have los
something of their freshness, will lb'
read with interest
III WxsHISoroS d. G. Feb. q. 1865.
II Editors Public Ledger Z Since my
last letter Announcing that the Radicals
in Congress had unbosomed themselves
and openly declared their contempt for
the Presidents, restoration policy, the
latter has, in defense, as firmly and dis
tinctly given to the people his views OF
the illiberal, unjust, and unconstitutional
proceedings instituted by the Thad. Ste
vens clique incur National Legislature.
THE Presidents veto message only as
tonished and enraged that cabal, and
they retorted by passing the Stevens res
olution on the indefinite non-admission
of the eleven repentant States, but the
Executive'sspeech to the populace onthe
22d, has so far had the effect of putting
utter dismay into the Radical ranks, that
at a meeting called by them night or
two after the speech, although severe and
vindictive action was expected, they
auarrelled amongst themselves, and adj
journed without striking blow in retail
iation, or concurring in any defensive
policy for the future
As had intimated in my former let
tiers, the conservative element in Con-
gress did prove too strong for the Sum-
nerites, when there arrived an important
crisis to bring it ont The vote in the
Senate, sustaining the Presidents veto
of the Freedmen's Bureau bill, shows
how surely conservatism gains on Radi-
cal bigotry .l
So, also, the late Union mass meetings
in New York and Baltimore, indorsing
the President, are the beginning of Sc
ries of popular demonstrations, which
are designed to show Congress and the
South. that the true sentiments Of the
Northern masses towards the Southern
people are not represented by the Radi-
Gals at the capital, but that although they
must insist that the freedmen be not in
jured, imposed upon, nor abused, by their
late masters, still they are for speedy
restoration of the South to its old posi-
fon in the bfotherhood Of States, beliey-
ing that she will act in good faith to-
ward the iemancipated, without being
forced TO it by any new military organi-
zatfon like the proposed Freedmen's
Bureau The present concern with that
titlsfis effective enough, when properly
conducted, and may, by law, exist for
one year after the President announces
that the war has legally ended, when the
negro should certainly be able to take
care Of himself A. De-
1.-THE radical Republican : journals
throughout the North are insinuating that
the President has turned upon the prin-
'ciples Of the party which elected him,
that he has thrown himself altogether
into the arms of the Copperheads, and
finally that he was intoxicated when he
delivered his speech to the multitude on
the 22d In reply TO the first Of these al
legations, we may quote from Senator
Sherman's speech in the Senate, deliv-
cred yesterday Sherman voted for the
Freedmen's Bill, against the veto, and
always with the Radicals, and yet he
had the manliness TO say, I" have thus,
Mr., President, endeavored to show that
70 this hour no act has been done by the
President inconsistent with his obliga-
tons to the great Union party that
elected him. Differences have arisen,
but they have arisen upon netc questions
not within the contemplation ofthe Union
party or the Union people when the
President was nominated" 10 regard
TO the second Of these assertions Of the
Radicals, viz: that the Executive has
thrown himself into the arms Of Copper
heads and all those opposed to the war,
/ may say that mfny Of that class for the
purpose Of in some manner opposing the
Radicals, do support the present policy
Of Mr.. johnson; so likewise, but for q
different purpose, do such men as Sew
ard, Dennison, MeCulloch, Dix, Nor
gan, Doolittle, Cowan, Raymond, and a
host of others who were always consist
ent linton men, asd the majority Of
them Republican, Has their loyalty
even been doabted2 TOOL
As to the third charge, viz: That the
President was under the influence Of
strong drink whsa making his late
speech, IL It is worthy o. anything more
than the silent contempt Of all gentle
men, may say, a. one Of the Presidents
auditors on the 22d, tina, Il was very ap-
parent 70 al who heard him, that no
one ever delivered a speech more dis
passionately, coolly, or underslAndingly,
than did Mr. johnson on that day That
address was cell spoken, and il is well
that il sOas spoken, for there is nov not
an American voter who can hear or