The Montana post. [volume] (Virginia City, Montana Territory [i.e. Mont.]) 1864-1869, 1867-03-23
FACTS.

gard to President Johnson, takes us
to task for not resorting to arguments
and facts to prove his course incorrect
and unconstitutional, We had thought
that the statements made were too well
known TO need more than mere mention
to satisfy any one If it is any satisfac~
ton, however, we viii state the follow
ing facts, which we challenge the Dem
ocrGt to deny, in substantiation of every
charge made in The Situation-Loyal
Version" We stated that he held the
position of President ''by bloody acci-
dent" He never was elected President
of the United States, and the hand of
the assassin, Booth, in the same demoniac
shot that deprived the nation of life
not less noble than that of Washington,
raised him to the Office of Chief Execu
tive. We charitably pre-supposed that
Andrew Johnson was not an accom-
plice in this, and named il "a bloody
accident" We stated that he had
raised hopes and fostered desires in the
hearts of the Southern people, which,
with armies to advocate them, the 10y
alists of the Union would never recog-
nize." 1t is unnecessary to go over trod-
den ground to show the multiplicity of
methods by which this has been done.
We defy any Democratic paper to show
TO the contrary of the assertion that
within the last year the President has
been the champion and sympathizer of
the South against the measures pro
posed by the representatives of the 10y
al States 1t is true, that to-day, they do
not openly assert their claims to scpa-
rate government, but in their deter
mined persistence to again secure con-
troll of the United States Government
against which they have not yet mitiga-
ted their enmity-and assuming TO de-
demand terms, do not recognize their
defeat as rebels-they are indulging in
hopes "as feeting as the baseless fabric
of vision" with about as much pros
pect of success and glory as had Don
Quixote in his absurd tilt against the
wind-mills. The Constitutional Amend
ments, as submitted to the South, were
the ultimatum of the loyal States to the
rebel. They were magnanimous, and
such as no loyal man could consistently
oppose. Senator Wade and numerous
other Radical members assured the
Southern delegations publicly, and on
the floor of the Senate, that if they were
ratified no further conditions would be
exacted of the Southern people, and that
Congress would admit their representa-
tives to seats. After this assurance,
President Johnson advised them E" to
bide their time" and on the return of
! those delegations TO their States, the
amendments were rejected. This alone
is sufficient evidence of his hostility to
Congress. Again we stated: 1--WE have
seen his impotent wrath poured out in
vile invectives against the representa-
tives of the people" Here is an extract
from one of his speeches, delivered in
Il tell you, my countrymen, that though
the powers of hell and Thdd Sterens
Nth his gang were by, they could not
turn me from my purpose" Again at
ST. Louis he said he would "kick the
Radicals out of Congress" etc To say
nothing of his maudlin, hiccoughing re-
marks at divers times and sundry places,
about - dead ducks" and "plebes-" We
stated that "courtezans had procured
pardons by the score for the most un-
worthy rebels" 1t is n notorious fact
that Mrs. Cobb, whose reputation as a
fair but frail female is worldwide,
did, when all others had failed, procure
pardons from the President for more
than twenty prescribed rebels, and that
in this business of pardon-procuress, she
has, during the last year, amassed a
handsome fortune. 1t is not necessary
TO go into particulars on this subject.
We stated that " billions of property be-
longing to the Government had been re
turned To traitors by him" The esti-
mate was rather large perhaps, but as
in law, we gave him credit for the inten-
ton to some extent. The Judiciary
Committee in investigating the New Or
leans riots, brought to light the fact
that in Louisiana alone, he had returned
TO rebels confscated property to the
amount of s50OO0, 900, in the face of the
most earnest protests of Union Generals
in that State. This, we believe, embod-
| =. IL. olo-c..a, ..oproina1 in tbat arficla