The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1867-02-01
THE RECORD OF A nnnseADE.

THE RECORD OF a RnHEoADE.
The Washington correspondent of the
Cincinnati Gasenx mentions numerous facts
which have come to light, showing that 4.
johnson formed the purposs Of re-orgsniz- |
ing the old Democratic party, severed By the
war, and assuming its leadership, even be-
fore the death of President Lincoln. His
sreschery to the cause, and the friends who
elected him, was selfish, deliberate and COM
plete, months before the 22d OF February
harangue, and he only kept up the pretense
of adherence to the party and it's principles,
rs a means of disrupting the party, and car
rying over as large portion of it - prectis
cable with him, into the ranks of the reunl-
ted Democracy.
When he passed through Cincinnati, on his way
TO Washington, to be inaugursted Vice President,
in separate conversations with two gentlemen, |
universally known in that city, and men whs
stand ~ high as any, he said, hrst to enc, with
marked emphasis: II am IN old penosfAI ana
80 are sou and II this country 10 ever saved, 1t
has got to be saved through reorganization OF
the Democratic party" This in substance and
almost exact words be repeated afferward to the
other gentleman.
few weeks before the assassination he said to
man who was then his friend IF | am ever
President of the United States, this damned Yam
kee influence will be crushed" few weeks af-
ter the assassination the same man met him, and
the first remark of Mr., johnson was, "Do You
remember what told you when saw you iasu
Well now am President, and this damned an
kee influence shall be crushed out in this Govern
ment."
Before MI Lincoln WAS hardly cold in his
grave Mr.. johnson had been party to the pub
LEGATION of an editorialn bitter Democratic jour
nal here, taking the distinct ground that he had
always acted with the Democratic party, and was
now ito champion" and triumphant standard
bearer" OF course the rarentage Of that editori-
al has been denied, but the fact that Mr.. johnson
is responsible for il remains unchanged, unless the
evidence Of those who parties to its prepare
tion be considered worthless.
The aversion shown by Mr.. Lincoln. during the
last days of his life, toward the Vice President, is
well understood by those who were most intimate
with him. His visits to the White Heuse then
sent shudder through the whole Presidential
family.
On his way to Richmond Mr.. Lincoln stopped
at City Point, and while there Mr.. johnson walked
into the room where Mr.. Lincoln was, The latter
greeted him with excessive GOODNESS, merely bid
ding him good morning, and then taking up pa
per began to read, with the very evident purpose
Of avoiding him. This was remarked upon, and
explanations asked by some present as to the
cause when thoroughly acqusinted with Mr.
Lincoln's feelings, replied that "Mr. johnson had
come solely to annoy the President" Mr.. Lincoln
soon went on board his steamer to dine, without
inviting Mr.. johnson, and in reply TO the ques
ton, "Shall Mr.. johnson be invited to dinner
he replied pointedly, "of course not"
1t was after Mr.. Lincons return to this city.
and only three days before his DEATH that, at the
end Of long interview with Mr. johnson, he said
of him, as has been heretofore stated: THAT mis-
cradle man; cannot anticipate the trouble he will
cause me during my second term"
Long before the 22d Of February speech,
Republican congressman had learned, from
personal intercourse with the President, that
he was playing game of double faced de-
ception, and that he was one of the mort
shameless liars in America. And, in view Of
the developments since made, there is no
room whatever to doubt that be was negotia-
ting and plotting with Charles Mason, Chair
man Of the Democratic National Committee,
while processing to Republican members of
Congress, his purpose Of maintaining unfal.
tering fidelity to the Republican party, and
its principles, and to settle whatever differ.
euces might arise within the party itself. It
was, by means of such of-repeated assuran-
---s 49,. oNssess-.y u.i--- ----a r~-s----.--
General Dennison, were deceived so long a.
to his position and intentions. And, through
just such double>dealing, and continued false.
hood, and deception, many others in Wash
ington, and elsewhere, were kept in igno.
rance, even after rebels and sympathzers be
came his daily and nightly, familiar, and on.
ly trusted counseors.
1t was in May, we think, only a month or
so after the assassination Of Lincoln, that
Judge Mason, as Chairman Of the National
Democratic Committee, who was on terms Of
intimacy with the President issued an ed.
dress to the reunited Democracy, North and
South, congratulating them on that gracious
interposition Of Providence, which had re-
moved Lincoln from the Presidential ehair,
and placed a lite-long Democrat in his place.
In view Of which, and Of his personal assur-
ance that the new President was all right,
and would take the position of chief of the
Democratic party, restored, on its old plat.
form, he exhorted both wings of the party to
rally in support of President johnson.
Those who know Judge Mason, know him
to bs entirely too timid to have taken any
such position, except at the instigation OF
johnson, and with his promised backing.
But subsequent events, convinced johnson
that it was no easy matter to disrupt the Re.
publican party, and utterly impossible to
succeed by prompt and open treason. Hence,
he still played a double faced game, and
eventually concocted the Philadelphia Con.
vention programme, to bridge the Gulf over
which he was to pass into the Democratic
party, with his bread and butter followers.
In confirmation Of the fact that there was
change of policy in party tactics, we recall
10 the recollection of our readers, the re-
mark, in recent letter of Vallandigham 6,
that the Democratic National Committee had
been induced to waive the holding Of Ma
tional Convention in the Spring, and was
then dragged into the Philadelphia fzzle.
The proofs Of President Johnson's pre-
meditated treachery to the party and its
friends, are already stronger than that against
Judas Iscariot, and the CLEANS of light are
bringing the black record out in darker
shadows.