The weekly North-Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 186?-1869, 1867-07-24
sNo.8O..


For the standard.
An ORAT10N.
Mr. EDITOR The following pieoe ef or
atory was not among the literary exercises 1t
thelast Commencement at Chapel Hill II
is from the pen Of my young friend Psaoh-
down, who has been placed under my spe-
cial care and training, with view 70 prepare
him to enter the next Freshman clsss It the
before mentioned distinguished seat Of learn
ing. Imay remark, in passing, that young
Peachdown has some ambition to exoel -
public speaker, and hopes to take his frst
steps in this direction next Commencennent,
by delivering. as Fresh competitof. tho fol-
lowing oration before reconstructed Uni
versity. The curious reader may trace some
resemblance between this production and a
speech of the Irish Orator, Phillips, on dis
tinguished European whom General George
B. Mcclellan is supposed BY some most near
ly to have rivailed. 500
Concord, N. O. s2a ~ !
ANDREW JOHNSON is FAlLHri
We may now pause before that wonderful
phenomenon, which passed before N, Ike
some iqnis fatuus where utter unreIiabiiity
ruined the hopes its professions had origin
ated. ga ~ go t4
Flung into life about fifty years before
Rebellion, which quickened every energy ofa
people who acknowledged no criterion but
slavery. he commenced hls Course In East
Tennessee, North -Carolinian by birth, snd
tailor by profession. st
He knew no motive but Office, heworship
ed no God but political advancement, and
with demagogues devotion he knelt at the
shrine of his idolatry. Subsidiary to this,
there was no creed that he did not profess,
no opinion that he did not rromulgate for
the sake of q seat in the Legislature he be-
trayed the friends who first lifted him from
obscurity; in hope of the GovernoFship he
upheld the standard of popular rights; de-
claring that treason must be made odious
and the lands of the slave aristocrisy confs-
Gated, he bowed before the national flag;
regular tar heel, he became the adopted child
of the republic, and with parricidal In
gratitude upon the ruins both Of Congress
and the liberties of the people, he attempted
to rear the throne of his despotism. h7lzra
Aprofessed Democrat, he despised the pop
ular will a pretended patriot be charged
the representatives of the nation with tFea-
son, and in the name of Moses, be vetoed the
Freedmen's Bureau bill and proclaimed
without remorse the political dogmas Of the
Rhetts and the Yanceys'. ~ - 4
At his touch patriotism was humbled,
copperheads hissed, rebels ruled, the widest
theories took possession of his brain, and ell
that was Republican and all that was loyal
fed from him as from the glance Of destiny.
To inferior intellects his combinations
appeared perfectly impracticable; but in bis
own eyes simplicity marked their develop
ment and success would vindicates their
adoption. k tisstat' zitsfis
Swinging round the circle, nature had no
obstacle that he did not surmount, epaos no
opposition that he did not spun; and
whether along the, Lakes or the tributaries of
the Mississippi, he seemed every where proof
| against the demonstrations Of popular III
| will and empowered with selfcomplacency.
The continent was amazed at beholding the
audacity of his policy. Skepticism bowed
to the prodiges Of his performances; romance
assumed the az of history nor was there
full for expectation, when the world saw An
|
upon free American citizens. ss.ef u
| Amid all the progress of public sentimenl
he remained stationary as o democrat
| Whether declaring that leading traitors
should be executed, or releasing Jefferson
accepting the nomination at Nash
vile or making his 22d of February speech
whether tickling Fred. Douglas OF hob
nobbing with the South Carolina tlelegs-
tion-giving his opinion that Stats forfcits
all rights by rebellion, or weeping when
extremes met at the Philadelphia lConven-
tion-he was still the same dogged, obsti-
mite, egotistic individual. ~ ess85<
Graded in the South, be easily became u
tool for its aristocrisy; and whether Alder
man, Governor or President, his darling as-
piration was still to be recognized BY the
chivalry. To accomplish thls, be made even
loyalty pay tribute. The chivalry knew tb6t
if he disgraced himself, il was 70 crown
them with honor; that If be exposed him
self to peril it was to repay them With Office
and public plunder. s... ss,s 10.
Such is a faint and feeble picture Of An
drew johnson, the first (and Il u 70 be hoped
the last man, placed in the Pfesidentlal
chair by an assassin's bullet. 1',r'if ssf7e
That he has done much eyiL there Il iittle
doubt; that he has been the OCCASION o'
much good. there is just - little. Thrergi,
his opposition we are to-day enjoying tbs
blessings of universal suffrage and . conspi-
idated government State sovereignty has
found her grave in the ruins Of the C0hfed
eracy, and the slave sristocrisy with its whole
train of tynnnic satellites hes fed forever
Future Presidents may learn from him tt1l
their safest study a. well as their nobleet, 4
the wishes Of the people and the poouIG