Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1867-07-31
A Word for the President.

In another part of our paper will be found the
last Veto of President JOHNSON Like all his
Others it ia nub. ablv and conscientious effort in
behalf OF institutional liberty. While ro read
it, we could not help thinking that much injustice
is done nova days in the South to Mr.. JOHNSON.
1t has become rather the fashion to decry him,
and to say that he speaks and writes much, but
doe. little. Iu fact it is almo,t impossible to do
Justice to an executive officer situated Us is the
President For long time past he has been re-
gardcd by all the prescribed people OF tho South
as the only barrier between them and utter ruin
and despair He has been regarded by US all as the
rock against which the angry waves Of Radical
ism, lsshed into fury by hnte for the South and
her people, must first dash themselves before
swallowing up their victims. His course in the
beginning of our struggles made nine-tenths Of
the Southern citizens his enemies. Let US do him
justice.
We all we'll remember his speech in the United
States Senate, in 1860, agsinat seces'ion. lie
took strong grounds against the dissolution Of the
Union; and his effort WAS regarded by all on hi'
and unanswerabe. He has no conccnlments. We
all know his opinions, for he ever frankly svors
them. So long the war continued, nc was for
saving the Union by what he regarded as tho only
way to do so-by war. The South failed in the
effort she made to bo FREQ from compact
that brought to her people nought but evil. Her
soldiers grounded their arms and ceased the strag-
gle. From that moment Mr.. IoHSsoa'S efforts
have been to get tho Southern Statos back into
their original position, and have peace lie, at
least, seems to have buried all auimosties agains,
those who had regarded him, in war, az their Bit
terest foe. h ondearored to avert Rll that re-
lcntless vengeance with which he knew tho Radi-
calls regarded us. Had he continued our enemy
and "nurscd his wrath to keep it warm" he could
have been omn potent in power and cruelty; for
Congress clothed him with all power to opprsss
u.s. lie himself ha. suggested no harsh lava, but
has endeavorcd, by his yetocs to savo us from the
operations Of such as he considered unconstitu-
tional, degrading aud oppressive. In all his
communications to Congress touching the rights
of the South or of individuals, ho ha. been our
apologist and defender, and tho defender of that
Constitution uhoao .hiold we would place over
Us, In executing tho Civil Rights Bill and
tho Frccdmans Bureau Bill, ho ha, made US feel
their injustice and wrong as littlo as possible:
Like All MOI, he has committed great mistakes
and lnadc great crrors but tho South is the last
part Of tho Union that should complain, harshiy
and thoughtlessly, Of those miItakes md errors :
for ho nj light have been tho hard, unrclcnting ty-
rant of an un.crupuous majority, rather than our
friend. We must admit that some things might
have been better done than they have been done /;
but We hayo not yet ,oeH in thi President any
wish TO opprcs: the Southern people. Throughout
all the Southern States he has been regarded by
tho people as their friend, tho only man who could
deliver them from bondage; and thus so much
has beou hoped End expected of him that NO are
nos lisbIe to % him great injustice.
No other president Wa ovet eAyirohpl With
tho overshadowirg trials, and riial md perplex-
ing questions, that surrounded him. Ho wishos
to reconcile an e1ultnnt and vindictivo mHjority
with minority defeated but proud of thoir civic
and military history sensitive as to their rights,
and sourcd Ly their misfnrtunes. Ho would DO
this. and save Constitution and Government
upon tho preservation of which hang the lihoFties
OF psso than thirty millions of psop TO- In sF0ft,
he would reconcile and save liberty. Is it not q
giant ta.k7 II he should succeed, he will pas,
into history ms one of tho great mon of great
epoch. Alas VIC should rather express 1t thus {,
If he bad succeeded, he would have passed Into
history rs one of the great mon of great epoch.
Shall VIC not give him credit for the noble cGorb
oven though he has failed