The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1867-01-31
"Out Of the Frying Pan into the Fire y


In the u. s. Senate, a few weeks ago
Dir. Sumner while discussing the bill to
regulate the tenure Of Office, took occasion
to give Andrew johnson regular roast.
ing, raising a blister at every stroke Of
his merciless invectivc Mr Reyerdy
johnson, of Maryland, a professed friend
Of the President, came to his rescue, but
made sad work of it. He attempted to
pour a healing balm into Andy's wounds,
but the balm was even more caustic than
the original application.
Here is what Mr. Sumner said:
Sir, in holding up Andrew johnson to
Judgment, | do not allude to his open ex-
posures OF himself in a state Of bestial in
toxication while he was taking his oath
Of Office, nor do | allude to the maudlin
speeches by which he had disgraced the
country as it was never before degraded,
nor do | hearken to any reports of par
dons sold, or Of personal corruption. This
is not the case against him, as | deem it
my duty to present in this argument
Those things are bad, very bad, but they
might not, in the opinion Of some Sena--
tors, justify US on the present OCCASION
La other words, they might not be sufFi..
cient reason for the amendment which I
have moved, but there is reason which is
ample. The President has usurped the
power Of Congress on colossal scale, and
he has employed these usurped powers
in facilitating rebel spirit and awaken
ing anew the dying fires Of the rebellion.
This is the great and unpardonable ofensc
for which history must condemn him, if
you do not He is usurper through
whom infinite wrong has been. done to
his country He is d usurper who, prom
ising to be Moses, has become PEaroh,
and in the maintenance of his usurpatiou
he has employed the power ef removal
from Office
And here is Reverdy Johnson's reply:
Mr. johnson said that in discussing
the bill before the Senate, 1t was wholly
unnecessary to inquire into the character
Of the President. The President had
said great many things that he (Nr,
Johnsou) could wish, for his own sake,
that he had not said, but he is by nature
impetuous, brought up and sprung from
the humblest walks of life He has been
subjected TO turmoil from time to time,
which, perhaps, he would not have been
subjected to if lie had been educated in
the colleges which haze given to my
friend FROM Massachusetts, such distinc-
ton in the estimation Of the learned
Il was on the stump in Tennessee. Meet
ing men who spoke not in the language
Of the classics, but In language, the strog-
er it was the better it was liked By those
who heard it. No member of the Sen
ate regretted more than l did, said Nr
| johnson, the exhibition Of this feeling on
the part Of the President on the 22d Of
February last, or upon TIE journey he
took to the west last summer. 1t was
censurable and entirely out Of accord with
the dignity that ought to attach to the
high Office he holds But that did not
prove that the President vas untrue to
his country, or that he was usprper.
Every ybody who reads the defence"
made by the Maryland Senator, must ad-
nit that it is the most damaging thing
that could be uttered against the Presi-
dent. Itacknow edges that he Is coarse Of
speech, vulgar in manners, and vindictive
In temper-in one word he is natural
born and regularly trained "rough;'
whose foul mouthed diatribes on the 22d
Of February and while Swinging round
the circle, although highly ccusurable,
should be charitaby overlooked as being
the characteristic ebullitions OF one whom
the :. force of circumstance" had made
blackguard. If Andy johnson has cause
to pray for deiverance from his enemies,
he has much more reason to cry save
me from my friends.'