Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1867-12-06
Andrew Johnson.
BY J. r. W. SLOANE.


acter of the man whose name stands |
at the head of this article. We can
not promise that the picture will be
either fatterlng to the subject or at
tractive to the observer; we shall en-
deavor to make it truthful. Objects |
by no means agreeable to the eye, may |
be instructive to the understanding.
Some men appear to be raised to
positions of eminence that their yir
tues may shine with brighter lustre
others, that their defects and vices may |
be more conspicuous. To the former |
class belong Washington and Lincoln
to the latter belongs Andrew John |
son.
The present incumbent of the pres
idential chair is chiefly remarkable for
the lack of all qualifications essential
to a position SO dignified and respon,
sible, while, by some mysterious fatal
ity, bountifully endowed with all the
opposite qualities in rare combination.
If we were asked to describe what a
president of the United States should
be, we could reply in no way that
would more forcibly convey our mean
ing than by saying. What Andreac
johnson IS not. Ii, on that sad 18th
of April, whose morning hours were
laden with the heavy tidings that Alb
raham Lincoln, mortally wounded by
an assassin, lay dying,-and again,
that the president was dead,-any
friend of his country had attempted to
conceive the sort OF man that his sue
cessor should NOT be, the result could
not have differed materially from the
character of him who now holds that
high position.
Andrew Johnson is the result of the
worst influences Of slavery. That ae-
cursed institution has made him what
he is. In its polluted atmosphere
were developed and ripened those
qualities which make him the disgrace
and curse of his country. Scratch
a Russian, said Napoleon, and you
will find a Tartar beneath" john
sons patriotism and opposition to
slavery were a surface coating, con-
cealing the old tyrannical, negro ha-
ting spirit that lay beneath. The
country has been cruelty deceived and
disappointed. The president has bro
ken every pledge, aud given the lie to
every profession made before his ele-
vation. The voice of Andrew John
son OF Tennessee was that of Moses /:
the acts Of Andrew Johnson, presi-
dent of the United States, have been
those of Pharaoh. When ne was fair
Iy seated in the presidential chair, one
of his first utterances which reached
the public ear, was that infamous false
hood, accompanied with a profane
oath, that "thiS is white mans gov
ernment." This was soon followed by
the famous " "swinging round the cir
Gle" threats; and from that hour until
this, he has been a more malignant and
more dangerous enemy to the country
than was ever Jefferson Davis with
Lee and the Confederate army at his
back. Wendell Phillips struck the
key note of his policy when he told
the country that it had the rebellion
now encamped in the White House.
1t is not of his political conduct
alone, but also of his moral charac
ter that we purpose to speak. We sim
ply declare what is known to the
world, because he has taken no pains
to conceal it, when we state that An
drew Johnson is grossly Incorporate
1t is bitter, ,humiliating fact that sho {
mantle the cheek of every citizen of
the country with the crimson blush of
shame. Tell it not in Gath, publish il
not in the streets of ASkelon, that The
: highest interests of this great coun
, try, in the very crisis of her destiny
: have been committed to the hands of
an habitual drunkard. There is moi
a railroad company in the country
: that would employ Andrew JohDsor
: with his present habits. There i
s not a prudent merchant in the lanC
a who would give him the charge OF
t his business. And yet, the highes
: office of the nation is held by him, ant
: at this hour he dictates the nationa
i policy! The disgraceful scene at The
t time of his inauguration as vice pres
l. ident, and the humiliating display Of
5, last summer are fresh III the memo
t. ry of al. Lost to all sense of shame
u and indifferent to the ordinary pre-
r prieties of life, he daunts his wicked
L ness in the face of the nation and be
n fore the world. -., os 5.-
1t Other public men have been pre-
" fane-the more is this pity; Andrey
d johnson is the first president, so ia
o as we know, who has mouthed hi
. blasphemies in the presence OF as
l. sembled multitudeS. o.r
IL We pass in silence other vices OF
more debasing kind. Sufficient
open and manifest to excite any othe
# feeling than that of satisfaction 0
'e respect.
O. The vanity of the man would b
ID something amusing in sphere les
# conspicuous and responsible. He ha
% talked about himself until he is iron
n cally designated .the humble indiyidl
f. al He speaks as pompously of th
Il position he occupies as though he wer
d. the elect OF the nation, and not 9Th
le accident of an accident. ;" Initiate
i with the batteries of the cunnin
is sycophants who pander to his yanit.
le he imagines himself the & idol oil th
nation, and firmly believes that he
9 plying the role of Andrew Jackson
G. His favored friends and advisers ar
es men destitute of principle, unknow
le tn the nation-adyeuturer withOI