The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1868-01-09
Johnson's Opinion of the De-
mOf.rGCV. IA

&raF 4AA0SA IVY saN&
The exposures of Mr.. Raymond, OF
the New York Times, as TO the OBJ
lects, purposes and ends Of the celc-
bmted Philadelphia Convention OF
1866, are particularly mortifying to
the Democratic" party. They dis
close Andrew Johnson playing the
part of ringmaster, and bow at the
crack OF his whip the ''Denocrat'c' /
clowns performed the most cxtiaor>
binary teats, and uttered the most
ghastly jokes. The arm-in arm en-
trance Of, Massachusetts Couch with
South Carlina Orr will not soon he
forgotten. ~ Johnsor's subsequent
declaration that when hei,ad OF tha.
performance the tears flowed unrc-
strained from his eyes 4! Wah might
Andrew Johnson laugh until l,%
Tears ran like the oil down .Aaron'r
heard, at the successful manner III
which he lad h.,m boozied Al,e De-
mecracy. Mr.. Raymond in his rev :
clatiors say~ all ai, ea9 a
II declined, therefore, TO- be a can
tdidate for the conventional con.
scented finally to 60 into IL only at tli.
urgent personal solicitation, andon the
very st,ong political representations
OF the President and Secretary Of
State. l gave them, as my reasons
for not wishing TO go, the certainly
that under the call the convention
would he in the hands Of mon who in
the South had boon in rho rebrilion,
and who in thu, North had opposed
the war; that it would bc hostile III
temper and in principle to the Union
party, OF which was no, only .
member, but in which I held an Off
cial position, and that I could not
consent to act against it's interests.
ITO this they replied that if the
members Of the Uuion party refused
to take part in tho convention, il
would necessary fall into hostile
hands and be used by the Democrat.
&c party to endorse its principlcs snd
aid it's fortunes; but they were con.
fi,ient that if Republican friends Of
the admin tralion would go into the
.comvention, they could guide its ac-
tion and secure adoption OF Nation.
'al, Union and Republican principles
NJ they had affirmed by the Baltimore
Convention OF 1864 and carried out
Ny President lincoln Prcsiden,
I johnson said he was very anxiou:
that the convention should not be
lett to cHure to the benefit of tht
/ Democratic party. He knew tina,
party thoroughiy-it bad been dis
loyal to the country willie engaged
in. war, and did not onipy or dSscrv.
the confidence of the peopla. Th,
Union party, which had carried til,
country through the war, was thu
party 10 restore the Union now tha
the war was over. lie thought it.
leaders in Congress were going to cx
tremes and Mere entering upon /:
j policy which would prevent the efree
tive extension Of the party to tn,
Southern States, and that Il convcn
ton of this sort, watch would demon
stratc the readiness ofSouthcrn mcr
to accept the principles Of the Unior
party, would have Il good effect O.,
the party itself. and lead TO the adop
ton Of more moderate co,,nseis ane
9nt ap nd }a t4e SECTIONAL lie sharse A.
ted tho convention to take pret.iscl,
/ tho grounti " tIicsr I trssu tssison rs
speech made Il few days before il
Congress on Restoration and tlis
! Union party, every word of which
met his approval: and hc felt quit,
sure that il | would 90 into the con-
vcntion, and write an address en-
bracing those views, il would b
promptly aud heartily endorsed BY
the convcnt!on,
/ y. These views were strongly on
posed By the President end Mr.. Sew
ard in conversation which lastee
for an hour. ! asked them itit wa.
designed or desired to lay The foun.
da,ion Of II new political party. The
President said certainly not Tho
Union party purified the extreme
men, and .adhereing to the conscrva'
tive constitutional ground it had al
ways held, was the party wllici
ought 10 rule he count and restore
the Union; ond it it would act wiseI,
in this matter, il could retain power
. and adm mister the government fol
twenty-five years 10 como. | asked
if it was desired that the convention
should snpp,rt or aid in any way ths
success Of the Democratic party IN
the coming elections. The Presi'
dent said certainly not as party
All he desired was that the conven
ition should exert strong moral in
fiucnce upon the Union party, anc
induce the nominat,an and election
to congress Of moderate men who
were for restoring the Union on con
stitusional principles, aud who would
admit Southern men into Congress
provided they co Id take the oati
required by law. 1t was only in ca
scs where the Republicans shoult
nominate extreme Radical that hs
should desire the election OF Demo
Gratis in their. stead"
The Democratic party, which In
1866 and 1867 thus accepted the dis
graceful position assigned them by
Andrew Johnson, who endorsed the
Philadelphia Platform. and made Il
campaign in defence Of it, may read
in the letter OF Mr.. Raymond how
they were regarded BY the Prcsiden,
and the base uses to which he euc-
ceedcd in suhjecting them.