The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-02-23

freedom which were eXtOrted from King John
by the barons of England in the signature OF
Magma Chdrtd-that basis of our common law.
1T is for the principles of our common law
and common justice, and for the rights of the
whole people as against what Is called the
Government that am to-day contending, It
is for this am called 'usurper,' while the fact
is, 1t is because | would not usurp power, nor
nave excessive powers thrust upon me, If can
help It, that this war has been made upon me.
challenge the production OF single act in my
whole administration which has aimed to
incl ease my authority as President. Even in
constructing Provisional Governments for the
Southern States-also denounced as one of my
'hagTant usurpauons'-the object evidently was
to divest the national Government of its cen.
ralizing power, and restore that power as
nearly and promptly as circumstances would
permit to the people OF the various ex-Rebel
States.l
'Thc South is to-day in our hands, beaten,
helpless, well-nigh hopeless country, and tho
power we WELD should be held as a sacred
trust. We should not use 1t vindiCuvely. will
not argue because we profess to be Christians,
and these men are our brothers; but if on no
higher ground then upon the ground Of self
interest. All the legislation proposed for the
South, proposes to multiply offices at the ex-
pense of the general Government, while not
adding the productions of Southern industry to
the general stock for the redemption OF our
national debt and the support of our annual
burdens. NV object is to reduce the assumed
and really usurpatonal powers forced on the
general Government during the war, powers
tnaJ were tnen PSSelJldl 10 meet q desperate
emergency: but which cannot much longer be
continued without vitiatng the whole fabric
and theory OF our representative and popular
! system.
"What Congress in it's wisdom may see fit to
| do, cannot saR but my own course is clear.
| / shall exercise every function Of my Office IN
! defence of the people and their rights, accord
| ing TO the best JUDGMENT that Heven has en-
| kowed me with. / shall execute all laws scru-
! pulously, and perhaps most scrupulously those
which have been passed against nv judgment
and over my veto. Bnt for all such legislation,
! Congress must bear the undivided responsI
! bility; and the days cannot be far distant II
which the terrible logic of events will force the
! people to ask themselves seriously, and not in
| passion, ON which side lay the tendency OF
| usurpationP"
Thus, but far more fully and forcibly, spoke
the President to me yesterday-his converse
ton running off from the main topic OCCASION
ally into happy illustrations and brief, quick,
! striking criticisms on the names most promi-
nent in our national politics. OF Mr.. Greeley
he spoke with warm respect, eulogizing the
| sterling integrity of his character and his great
! talents as more than a compensation
for his occasional eccentricities of iudg-
ment; but from inquiries pushed in
kanother quarter, your correspondent be-
Mieves there never has been any fOunda-
Tton of the report that Mr.. Greeley is about
| entering the Cabinet as Postmaster-General.
Indeed, as to all rumOrs of Cabinet changes, a
| long experience in Washington has made the
| writer wholly incredulous; but that Mr..
| Seward may very possibly contemplate retir-
ing shortly after next 4th of March, in which
case he wishes Charles Francis Adams to be
! his successor, has reached me on authority
more than commonly entitled to credit.
| And, now before concluding let me give a
personal picture of President Johnson as he
appears in his audience chamber. | have
| seen three previous Presidents - Lincoln,
IN
or less direct relations with each; and the
| impression Mr.. Johnson makes may be best
! conveyed by citing a remark of James L.
! Brady, Immediately after his first interview
with the present President. 1t was just after
Mr.. Lincoln's death and Mr.. JohnsOn's
inauguration, and while the papers
We're most fiercely denouncing the latter as
being habitually in an unfit condition for the
discharge of his important duties. 81 know
not how that may be-" said Mr.. Brady; 'but
on quitting the audience-room my impression
was that l had seen the first President who
fulfilled my ideal of what the appearance anC
manner of a President should be-calm, cour
teous, dignifed, imperturbabe, attentive, pa
tient, and innately an honest gentleman"
Mr. Johnson invariably dresses neatly in de
cOrOus black without ring watch-guard, studs
or any gleam of jewelry. His manner is emf
nently grave, his voice level and impres
sive, his gestures chiefly with penci
when speaking; and when he is listen
ing one cannot but be struck with th'
patient and polite attention which thi
Overworked and badly -badgered gentleman
yet continues to pay to each new ripple Oman.
of them interminable 'bores") in tn
unceasing tide of visitors who are candidate
for his attention daily. have seen Mr.. John
son very many times, and at all hours be
tween midday and IL o'clock at night, AM
have never yet seen in him the slightes
alteration of manner-the slightest indication
that his habits ever were or ever could b.
any different from those which, when in tn
Senate made him the standard for decorun
and propriety i'll that body. Thes
things | am almost ashamed to fin,
necessary to be said when writing
of the President of the United States; but S
high has party malice run, and so violent AM
vindictive have been the ISLANDERS which hav
assailed this officer, that in some quarters tn
effect of an explicit statement may be good
81 believe Andrew Johnson to be as devOu
and self-sacrfcing a patriot as ever lived,
said Chief-Justice Chase not many months ag
} to the writer, "but fatally wrong in some {
his views and cursed with some of the wors
! advisers" This was high testimony from
prejudiced source, and with that testimon
' this letter must conclude. c. G. HALPIN.
: Amount of coal transported on the Philade
| phia and Reading Railroad during the wee
4 | ending Thursday February 2l 1877