The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1868-04-02

ihter uO---thhh no man ~ ever found 10 be
wholly good On wholly wise. Il is not "a
mortals q be ever. right, either in their mo-
tiyes or their deeds, and we have TO take
the weaknesses Of human character along
with its merits and its strength. In this,
as IN most other affairs between men, we
shall lind that the necessity of accepting the
bitter with the sweet is not the least inexor-
able necessity in the philosophy Of life. But
| shall also be equally frank in saying that,
upon the general average, his recent career
challenges seserest scrutiny as TO its homes.
~, has been marked by lofty and capable
conduct and such as TO stand firmly and
blush not in presence Of the records Of any
Of bis predecessors.
Touching the character and position of
Mr.. johnson, the subject naturally divides
itself into two parts--his personal career.
and the policy which he has endeavored 10
put in force, and which now seems 10 wit
ness the dawn Of final success at the hands
OF the people.
Andrew johnson WAS born in the South,
and was raised among the Southern people.
As citizen OF Tennessee, he was the 10.
cipient Of every Office in the gift Of that
State and after filing the position or Gov.
ernor for several years, he was elected 10
acPtNSshs shS otaio IA ahc ctHhte VI VIC
United States,
In both State and Federal politics he had
ever been an open and unilinching Southern
Democrat The resolutions Of 'p8 ne held
10 be Gospel. the doctrines Of States'- Rights
and strict construction he regarded rs the
main props OF the system, without which il
would incontinently fall 70 pieces and do.
mestic slavery be treated rs established upon
the good faith ofthe common country, 81.
crod and inviolablc He travelled 10 this
groove, without the variation Of hairs
breadth, until the Disturbances that quickly
followed Mr.. Lncoln's accession. and then
Ito the disgust Of every one Of his former
friends and associates, 10 the grief and hor.
ror Of the South which had trusted him--he
suddenly changed the opinions OF his whole
life, abandoned Democracy, strhyed away
from States Rights, forgot the property
rights Of his people, and became 20 AT 40
pearances, the most violent Of Abolitionists
and the stoutest supporter Of tho extrytor.
binary solecismH--now 80 forcibly illustra.
ted day by day--ihat a voluntary nnios
could be maintained by armies. thai the free
consent OF the governed could be procured
BY force, and that conquest was Inc true
reslorer Of harmony and frnternity. These
opinions he pursued 20 their bitter couse.
quenccs. Against their opponents he waged
nerciless war. Stung, perhaps, by his taiL
ure TO divide the Southern people OF change
their course, he became, as Il were. morose
vindictiye and extreme 10 an axccss. Aftsy
endorsing every violent stride Of power, no
consented TO bear the scepire Of al usurped
authority 10 his native Tennessee, and he
went down, as Saul started for Damascus.
'brcathing out thrcaieninga and slaughter. y
The sunburst from heaven was not vet 10
CLEAN IN his face, nor was there vet an
AnaniaS ut hand 70 restore bis natural vision.
Indeed, IL almost appeared, At the time.
tapt Mr.. johnson actually ''naraed his
wrath 10 keep il warm against all men Of
Southern proeligities, and all who Doubted
the lawfulness or policy Of the war, aud
eouried their hostility. Al any rate. he
Sueceeded in acquiring il to the fullest meas
IRE. Between him and them thore was a
deep gulf hxed, and the iires Of Tophet werr
not fiercer than their aBingonistie wrath. In
proportion as he eacoSoted this deadly IA
tired, he advanced in favor with the dotnii
pant party Of the hohr. and they rewarded
him f0r his violence by the gin Of the Yiec
Presidency. II 70 happened, IN The mys,e.
riouh dispeamtiona Of Providence, that after
four years Of bloody war. when the great
question was agitaiing The minds of the peD.
pie how tho wounds which The nation had
received could be healed, Mr.. johnson was
called 70 the Presidential chair. The Rad,
Gals, with a shout ofacolamalion, proclaim
cd him their leader, aed believed thai Ne
would be their servant. A
period Of fearful anxiety and sickening aus
pcnse followed. Radicals swarmed about
The ncw ruler aud literally took custody or
his person.
Bat the cruel doubts tina, perplcxcd the
people were soon 10 end. The bright light
at last enwrappcd the President ON the
roadside, aud the scales fen from hia eyes
He soon gave evidence that his oath OF oiIier
bad annihsated his political prcjudicea, and
that he designed 10 be tha President Of the
whole cpnntfy, aud not OF faction, lie
Indicated bis determination u, hnstain the
Constitution which he had sworn 10 suppor,.
In manly and courageous spirit he cast be.
hind him the pnimosiiies enrcndercd ty The
strife. He buried from his sight, a. Inc
mere esieryeseences Of passion ia times Of
political fury, both tho hnireils which he
had chcriahea himself aud those which he
had nsaifed in others lie addreaaed him.
self to the great task Of s9fieninf public az
pcrilics, OF smoothing over the rsvarcs Of
battle, Of preventing the anomaly OF 4 prae
tical continuance Of War, WHOM Pence hnA
been aehieYed. In this line OF conduct,
wherein he has nobly persevered, gladly
declare my conviction that Mr. Jobnson
reached degree Of moral grandeur thai has
iilumined the acts OF lew public men In
modern story. The victory which he
wrought over his own preindiccs was inf.
nltely more illnstriousthan any achievement
by the arms Of either brllierrent From
the almost ludicrons rout at Ball Ron N
Lees solemn surrender, no issue of battle
provoked more trying struggle, nor ended
| ~ more decisive success, than this moral
contest Of the President with himself In.
on this single Incident we may saicly real
his personal claims upon our gratitude and
admiration. Ho had achieved n conquest
over himself-aiid il was long ago written
that he who 'conqaers himself X greater
than h6 who taketh city.
u was then that the President SGT IN mo.
ton his famous policy for The restoration ~
the Union, upon the basis ofthe declaration
OF the Crittenden resolution Of 1861. by
which the purpose ofihc war wns defined
and oil idea OF It's being wagcd for conquest
was repadiated. Finding q state of inter.
regnnm there was no intofrcgnuin as 20
state Governments in the South, he assum.
90 the power TO SGT up provisional govern.
menls, 20 last only Tor the few months. that
would be necessary TO restore 10 each State
her municipal autonomy and perfect in each
q new State aystem. | was Of those who
Thought i would have been more regular 10
let the State goyernments 20 on As thew
stood But the Presidents plan was Z
quick one, II irregular, il was admirably
adapted TO nchieye the main end Of any M.
tIonal plan = TIC speedy restoration Of nle
Unionr--to aecolpplish which a much great.