Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1867-08-27
wsudell philips on the Rampage

The head and chief Of the Radical
tribe has the virtue Of being both brave
and frank. He is rather a thorn in the
side of his party, because he will think
what he pleases and say what he thinks.
He has some fauatical notions of right
and wrong, and is rather the most sane
of his party. he is in furore for the
impeachment of johnson on account OF
the removal of Stanton. He is in trepi-
dation lest his adopted brothers should
suffer by the untoward event, and hints
hi, suspicion that the more moderate of
his party are on the side Of johnson. He
says:
For every broken heart ard desolate
home in the South, for every murdered
black there, we hold Fessenden, Wilson,
Edmunds, Conkling and their clan re-
sponsible. We will not be told that by
such course this man IS chances for the
Presidency are strengthened, and that
other measure is best TO be advanced.
The policy which talks to its purpose
over bloody hearths and murdered men
ia devihsh. Nogame is admissible where
the counters are life and death. Heart.
less men shall not sit i'll the capitol
plaving with the lives of negroes and
Upionists and escape rebuke merely be-
canse they style themselves politicians.
Their proper style is murderers. We
know that we use strong language. Let
the reader put himself beside the hunted
Unionist of Texas-let him stand under
the desolate roof whose owner has just
been shot in the presence of his wife and
children-let him think of the negroes
ruthlessly murdered by hundreds-and
then ask himself if the strongest terms
we can use do not halt and linger far
behind the truth?
If Stanton is removed, those Senators
did II. If Rousseau goes TO New Or
leans to take Sheridsn's place, they sent
him there To get places for their fam
ilies-to leave national finance wholly
in the hands of capitalize engineer
Grants nomination, nose men opposed
impeacbment and voted to adjourn Con-
gress. leaving johnson free course all
the summer only that they might carry
ont their plots. 1t is unfair to single
ont one sinner. johnson can do little
harm without the aid of these men, his
satellites and tools in the Senate. If
Johnson dares to day to challenge Stan
ton, it is not because Kentucky and
Louisiana rebels fill his ante chamber
and Seward poisons his ear. 1t is not
because the World and Chicago Times
buster in his behalf. He dares to-day
TO challenge Stanton because Henry
Wilson, Grants jackal, consents to carry
the challenge, and Fessenden, in return
for dozen offices given to his kindred,
acts as second in the fray. Do not
let us SO disgrace the American
people and discredit their intelligence
and virtue as to tell the world that an
EXPOSED and all but convicted rebel Of
Johnson's calbre can mislead them and
leopard their future. Having survived
Lee and Davis, who had at least ability,
let us not show this nation trembling
before a clumsy knave with neither
character nor ability. Let us net admit
that our fellow citizens arg overawed by
O Cabinet like that at Washington. Few
Of its members ever had any reputation,
either for honor or ability, to lose; and
no one had any reputation which in the
eyes ofan intelligent people could endure
keeping such company. No, let US tell
the truth. The nation watches this duel
in anxious suspense, only because Will
son, Sherman aud Fessenden and their
fellows stand behind the President;
because they stab the Secretary of War
They affect the supreme anxiety about
violating the Constitution by any at
tempt at impeachment In reality they
are scheming for presidential candi.
date. Are there foxes in the Senate
cunning enough to hide their tracks from
Reynard in the State Department?
When johnson reads Senator ShermaD's
speeches he probably quotes his own
words, When you hear man pirate of
the Constitution, spot him; be is trail
tor" When Seward reads Fessenden,
he remembers Avonmore's portrait of
Clare, Zone who stiekles for the letter
Of the Constitution with the sfectation
Of prude. and abandons its principles
with the effrontery Of a prostitute"
WENDELL PHILLIPS.