Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1866-02-28
The bottom Round.

More in sorrow and chagrin, than in in
dignatiOn and anger, will startled nation
read this morning the distempered utter
ances of its Chief Magistrate. Criticism is
disarmed of its weapons and stands aghast
In the overwhelming presence OF this Presi-
dental address. 1t is its own best COM
mentary, and the application of epithets
would be painting the lily and gliding re-
fined gold.
Whatever interpretations may have been
placed upon the veto message. Mr.. johnson
leaves US no longer in doubt as to where he
stands and what he means. We speak ad-
visedly when we say that Andrew johnson,
in his Thursday speech, makes direct, Bit
ter, unprovoked assault upon the Union
party through its epresentatiyes-th ma
jority in Congress. The President only
mentions by name Mr.. Sumner and Mr..
Stevens, but wayfaring man though fool
must know that the Executive bolt, ostensi-
bly, hurled at the representative men of the
Radicals" is intended to strike every one
of that brave majority who dared to resist
Presidential dictation, by voting to over
rule the veto. We are not a satellite of
Charles Sumner or Thaddeus Stevens; we
believe that many of their views, though
honestly entertained and ably presented,
are gravely erroneous and often impracti-
cable. But we do not lose sight of their
pure patriotism, love of Justice and fear
lessness in doing what they believe to be
right neither do we forget that, their va
garies aside, they are to some extent the
representative men of the respective bodies
to which they belong. And when Mr..
johnson from his high position brands as
traitors and rebels these men and their CO.
laborers in Congress, he torfeits the respect
of honest men and degrades the Presi-
dents chair to the level of demagogue's
stump. ...
OF the depth of scurrility and colloquial
slang to which Andrew johnson has seen
fit to descend we have no heart to wrte.-
Buchanan with all his treason, and Tyler
with his treachery, remembered in their fall
the dignity OF place and the decencies of
official life. For the sake of our faith in
human nature we wish there were reason to
believe that Mr.. Johnson's anomalous words
could be excused on the same ground that
the maudlin sentences of his inaugural were
endured. But the telegraph Informs us that
a corrected copy OF the speech was sent to
the New York ItmeS for publication, in adj
vance of all other journals, and that the
President had prepared it with care.
One conclusion is, to us, inevitable: If
this speech is the studied utterance of the
President OF this Republic, trouble lies
ahead. Andrew johnson affects to believe
that Congress has no Constitutional right to
exclude rebel States from representation for
twenty four hours. He says in words that
we are entering another rebellion, that is,
Congress is a gigantic rebel and must be
suppressed. If the President believes his
own words he must feel bound to use his
power to enforce the laws and see that the
Constitution is not longer violated by a
'iactious majority" in Congress. Mr., john
son has not many steps to take before de-
scendmg to introduce Southern members to
the, floors of Congress by military power,
by many of his most intimate associates
We do not wish to excite undue alarm, but
in these critical times, and after reading the
Presidents startling words, we should be
prepared for anything.-Saadusky Register
(Rn1icnIl - -.