The Waynesburg Republican. [volume] (Waynesburg, Pa.) 1867-18??, 1867-11-06

DEMOCRACY AND EMANCIPATION.

The statement that the Republican
party has abandoned every or any
principle on which the Government
carried on the war, is very good
"Johnsonese." 1t has formed the
burden of all Mr.. Johnson's speeches,
drunk or sober, and belongs to the
class of statements which Mr.. John
son mas the capacity to believe, but
which Mr.. Randall could never have
seen any sense in without the aid of
the extraordinary light shed upon the
subject by his position as Postmaster
General. This fiction has just enough
foundation in fact to make passable
lie:
For lie that's all lie we may meet andcon-
quer outright;
But lie that's half truth is a harder matter
to fight
1t is true that on the day otter Nc
Dowel's disgraceful defeat at Bull
Run, Andrew johnson, then q Demo-
cratic Senator from Tennessee, who had
debated seriously whether to 60 with
the Rebels or the Union cause, and
who has since told us that he might
have "gratifed his highest ambition
by becoming rebel, introduceda reso-
luton into the Senate, which was pass
ed three days after, on July 25, 1861,
presenting a sort of Conservative or
Pro-Slavery war platform for the ben
eft of the week-kneed Democrats of
whom Mr.. johnson was chief. The
resolution declared that
"In this National emergency, Con-
gress banishing all feeling of mere pas
sion or resentment, will recollect only
its duty to the whole country /; that
this war is not waged upon our party
in any spirit ofoppression, Or for any
purpose of conquest or subjugation, or
purpose of overthrowingo or interfering
with the rights or established institu-
tions of those States, but to defend aud
maintain the supremacy of the Con-
stitution, and to preserve the Union
with all the dignity, equality, and
rights of the several States unimpaired,
and that as soon as these objects are
accomplished, the war ought to cease"
/. In accordance with this resolu-
tion the war was conducted until jan
uary l, 1868. Mcclellan, Fitz-John
Porter, and Buell., and with some in
cidental aid from Lee, Stonewall jack
son, and Albert S. Johnston were en-
gagged in burying our armies, and caus-
ing them to retreat vigorously from
the presence of the enemy. Many
gloomy defeats were suffered, and, ex-
cept Fort Donelsop, Roanoke, and
the capture of New-Orlcans, no decis-
i've victories had been gained. Cop
perheads and Rebels were in high
feather, and Unionists and Radicals
were enraged and disgusted. The
above resolution, intended as an olive
branch to the Rebels, and soothing
sirup to the Copperheads, had failed
to conciliate either. Then, in obedi-
ence to the overwhelming voice of the
loyal North, the policy Of our Gov
ernment was reversed. The Emanci-
patton Proclamation was issued,
pledging the Government to overturn
the very "institution" which the above
resolution promised to protect. An
drew johnson, its author, went into
Tennessee as Military Governor, and
aided in overthrowing its Rebel State
government, and in organizing new
one, in the teeth of his own resolution
promising not to interfere with State
institutions, Ofcourse, every honest
man would see in this change of policy
a repeal of the above resolution. No
suchresolution, was evsr passed after this
policy was adopted. That act render
ed the preservation Of Rebel State in
ststnti6ns impossible, and the reselu-
lion quoted was thenccforth null. II
the above resclaticn were still in force,
then Mr.. Johnson's' career in Tennesi
see would constitute its most signal
violation; for there, withoat ~ law d