The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1866-02-23
President johnson and the Repub-
ticNn Party.

President, but open expressions OF appre-
hen,on that he would bctray the party by
whici! he came into power These APP
prphen,ion> have been awaked by the pO-
sitjon the President has taken with refer
encc to the admission Of the representa-
tive, from the late rcbcllious states to the
floor OF Congress. a. well as by the view
he entertains as to the inexpediency OF
granting unqualified suffrage to all; and
have been foStered hy injudicious republl-
Gan and designing democratic journals
Some of the liSaifected 90 50 tai as to
doubt his sincerity and political integrity,
willie others. conceding his honesty, fear
that lii judgment is warped and biased
by Southern proclivities and old party az
tiiiHtouS.
I'rne it i that it is not easy to straight
on IN The oak the crook that grew in the
sapIng. and perhaps it would have been
wiser. in times like these. had we selected
or Vice President from among what we
qall Northern men. ii for no other reason,
that thu, we should have avoided occasion
for even unjust Ground Of suspicion-tor
the very appearance of evil. but we
should rcine,lhcr that although President
Johnson was born and reared 1T the South,
he was never thoroughly Southern III
principle lie did not spring from the
slominant cllss-the aristocracy. His
syInpl.bic- have ever been with the peo-
nile and he has shown himself a friend OF
fine colored man. He has shown his
friendliness 10 the race by the radical
o,,arootes he has demanded irom the
South for their protection He was OF us
and with us in our darkest day. lie
stood almost alone on the very frontier,
and SngIc-hanled strove to hurl back the
wild waves OF barlariSn, a. they surged
norihward.
He Is orr President and every loyal
man should stand by him and strengthen
his hands, till it IS evident that he cannot
be trusted. rather tAan oy carplng critl-
ci>m help TO weaken his administration
and undermine its influence We recall
that there were times during the admins
3ration OF Nlr. Lincoln when there was
MOI less Justification with his course than
is now manifest toward President John
son. But the croakers were fam to adj.
nit. even while that noble man remained
On this. the lie side of the grave, that
their fears were groundleSs and that he
was wiser than they knew. Phillips cali
ed President Lincoln Kentucky honest .
and we found that 10 Dc a sturdy KIND
Of honesty, and have faith to believe tina
Tennessee honesty will not prove les
stancl. This man has suffered too mucI
for principle now 10 betray it. Hi
patriotism is not that oi party or section
but of blood.
Dive>tel OF all personal or official re
-pon<ibility, it Is easy to say that this OF
dat measure is wise or right; while un
der the weight of such responsibility W.
should be slow to act. The burden wea
ries him who bears il. Mr. Lincoln wa
called radical before be WAS elevated t
the Presidency. Mr.. seward was tn
leader Of the radical party, before he be
came a member of the cabinet. Both be
came cautiously conservative under tn
responsibility Of their positions. 1t
much easier to point the way than T.
travel the path.
That The democratic party have enter
tanned hopes llag President Johnson woul'
be drawn over 10 them bv hearty sup
port OF his measures. Is sufficiently mani
fest. IL" slightest di>atfection in the re
publican ranks. was an opportunity the
stood ready to take by the hand, hopin
at least thus TO increase the disatiection {
the radicals towards the President. and i
this expectation they have not been who
ly disappointed. There was Il time wher
10y moderate measures. the leaders of I'll
democratic party might have united ur
der their banner the conservative eiemel
of the nation in one compact body. BIZ
there was no Moses to lead them-thei
great men were dead or had gone over f
the enemy and TO Joshua was left to then
Flushed with here and there a local vic
tory. they believed themselves masters c
the occasion, and thought the massc
would follow whittier they led. This wa
fatal error. Like Napoleon they learn
ed too late that there is no permanen