The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1868-03-12
Andrew Johnson Condemned Out of His
Own Mouth,


johnson, which, although written rather
10 the spirit Of friendly counsel than Of
hostile criticism, is, iu eject. one of tha
most merciiess exposures of Executive
Ialthiessness and Inconsistency e7er read.
it quotes Mr.. johnson own utierances
on various occasions, to show what Con-
grcss now thinks right, is much more
moderate than what he once thought
right, and points out to him the cosse,-
! qnent propriety of federation. If such
ext acts as he presents should be collect
/ cd, with extracts from the Presidents
/ later speeches, such as that Of the I'D Of
February, two years ago, and those made
/ IN swinging round the circle in the,
iail OF the same year, our posterity would
regard the collection as one of the most
remarkable psychological curiosities Of
any sge. It would seem incredible that
the same man could be the author Of such
! opposing sentiments, and the mental pre-.
cess by which such metamorphosis was
wrought would be regarded as one of the
unsolvable mysteries of human uature--
The letter Of Mr.. Cooper is long, and we
have room for the following striking cx-
tracts only:
have thought it strange and unac-
countable that you should so severely
censure the large majority in Congress,
for adopting so mild form Of measures
as means for the guarantee for repab-
llcan form of government iu the States
so lately in rebellion measure. so much
more mild than those so forcibly recon-
mended by yourself, when you said
Treason against the Government is the
highest crime that can be committed, an
those engaged ia it should suffer all It's
penalties )" and when you declared that
| treason must be made odious that trai-
tors must be punished and impoverish-
ed.
lou say ''they must not only be pun
Ished, but their social power must be de-
stroyed. If not, they maintain al az
cendancy, and may again become numer-
Gus enough for treason to become respect
able"
You go further, and say that "after
making treason odious, every Uniou man
should DC remunerated out Of the pock-
cts of those who have Inflicted this grcas
suffering upon the country"
Again you say: 81 hold it solemn
obligation in every one Of these States
VII ere the rebel armies have been beaten
back Or repeled, l care not how small
the number Of Union men, if enough to,
man the ship Of State, hold it to be a
high duty to protect and secure to them
a republican form of government until
they again gain strength. They must
not be smothered by inches"
In calling a Convention to restore
States, you ask: "Who shall restore it
Shall the man who gave his influence and,
his means to destroy the Government p
Is he to participate in the work of reor-
snnizing the government who brought
this misery on the State % IF this be so,
then you say in truth that all the pre-
cious blood of our brave soldiers and Of
fcers will have been lost, and all our bat
tie fields will have been made memorable
in vain
You ask, "Why all this carnage 2" It
was that treason might be put down and
traitors punished. Therefore you saw
that traitors should take back seat in
the work of restoration"
You say "the traitor has ceased to be a
citizen, and in forming the rebellion be-
came public enemy"
lou further say "ke forfeited his righc
to vote when he renouuced his citizen
ship. and sought to destroy the Govern
ment"
You say 'these rebel leaders must feel
the power of the Government; treason
must be made odious, and traitors must
be punished aud impoverished +"
You have said "their great plantations
must be seized and divided into small
farms, and sold to honest Industrious
men"
You then add, "The day for protect
ing the lands and negroes, Of these uu--
thors of the rebellion is past"
You say "yon have been deeply panied
by some things that come under yourob-
servation." You say, I'VE get men in
| command who, under the influence of fat
terry, fawnng, and caressing, grant pro-
lection to rich traitors, while the poor
Union man stands out in the cold. =
You add, "Traitors can get lucrative
contracts, while the loyal man is pushed
aside" indulge the hope that such
practice will no longer be tolerated iu any
branch of the Government.
In relation to the reconstruction Of the
Government, you have wisely said "We
must not be in too much of hurry
You add, ut is better to let them recon
s,ruct themselves than force them in it.
In conformity with yolr own wise re-
! concentrations, the majority of Congress
have devised and adopted an amendment
to the Constitution that randers 1t con-
vently practicable for all the rebe States
TO reconstruct themselves. aud come again
! into the possession of those rights which
thew have forfeited by rebelion-a rebef,
lion that has cost the lives and lin bs of
untold thousands, aud thousands OF mil
lions of debt that remains yet to ho wrung
from the toiling labor Of our people.