Middletown transcript., 1868-03-21

to pfeces, eAd domestic slavery he treated a. Is.
tablshed upon the good faith of the common
country, sacred and invioable. He travelled in
this groove, without the variation of hair 8
oreadth, until the disturbances that quickly fol-
lowed Ne. Lincoln IS accession, and then-to the
disgust Of every one Of his former friends and as
soetates, to the grief and horror Of the South
which had trusted him--he suddenly changed the
opinions Of his whole life, abandoned Democracy,
ssrayed away from States Rights, forgot the
properly rights o. ms people and became to all
appearances, the most violent of Abolitionists
and the stoutest supporter Of the extraordinary
solecisms-now so forcibly illustrated day By
| day-that n voluntary union could be maintained
| by armies, that the free consent Of the governed
could be procured by force and that conquest
was the true restorer Of harmony and fraternity
These opinions he pursued to their bitter conse-
quences. Against their opponents he waged
merciless war. Stung, perhaps, by his failure to
divide the Southern people exchange their course,
he became, as it were, morose yindictive and ex-
treme to an excess. After endorsing every vio-
lent srtide Of power he consented to bear the
sceptre Of an nsurped authority TO his native Ten
nessee, and he went down, as Saul started for
Damascus, "breathing out threatenngs and
slaughter" The sunburst from heaven was not
| yet to CLEAN in his face nor was there yet an
Ananias at hand to restore his natural vision.
Indeed, It almost appeared, at the time, that Mr.
johnson actually F" nursed his wrath 10 keep ii
warm" against all men of Southern prociivities
and all who doubted the lawfnlness or policy Of
the war, and courted their hostility At any
rate, he succeeded in acquiring il 10 the fullest
measure. Between him and them there was n
deep gulf fixed, and the fires of Tophet were not
| ferccr than their antagonistic wrath. In proper
ton as he encountered this deadly hatred, he ad-
vanced in favor with the dominant party of the
hour, and they rewarded him for his violence by
| the gift of the Vice Presidency. 1t so happened
in the mysterious dspensations of Providence
/ hat ffar cn,.r .xf
great question was agitatng the minds Of the
| people how the wounds which the nation had re-
ceived could be healed, Mr.. Johnson was called
| to the Presidential chair. The Radicals with
shout of acclamaton, proclaimed him their lea
der and believed that he would be their servant
' A period of fearful anxiety and sick
ening suspense followed. Radicals swarmed
about the new ruler and literally took custody
| Of his person.
But the cruel doubts that perplexed the people
were soon TO end. The bright light at last en-
wrapped the President on the roadside, and the
scales fell from hiseye He soon gave evidence
that his oath of office had annihated his politi-
cal prcjudices, and that he designed to be the
| President of the whole country, and not of
faction. He indicated his determination TO sus-
| tain the Constitution which he had sworn 10 sup
port. In a manly and courageous spirit he casi
behind him the animosites engendcred by the
strife. He buried from his sight, as the mere
ehcrvescences of passion in times of political fury
| both the hatreds which he had cherished himself
and those which he had inspired in others. He
| addressed himself to the great task of softening
public asperities, of smoothing over the r.lvaees
Of battle, of preventing the anomaly of practi-
cal continuance Of War, when Peace hid been
achieved. In this line Of conduct, wherein he
has nobly persevered, gladly DECLARE my con-
viction that Mr.. johnson reached a degree ofmor-
| al grandeur that has illumined the acts of few
public men in modern story. The victory which
ha
ly more illustrious than any achievement by the
arms of either bellgerent From the almost lu-
dicrous rout at Bull Run TO Lees solemn surren-
der, no issne of battle provoked n more trying
struggle, nor ended in more decisive success
than this moral contest of the President with him
self. Upon this single incident We may safely
rest his personal claims upon our gratitude and
admiration. lie had achieved a conquest over
himself-and it was long ago written that he who
conquers himself is greater than he who tlkcth
city.
II was then that the President set in motion his
famous policy for the restoration of the Union,.
upon the basis .ofthe declaration of the Cl enien
resolution Of 1861, by which the purpose of the
war was defined and all idea of its being waged
for conquest was repudiated. Finding state of
interregnum there was no interrcgnum as TO
State Governments] in the South, he assumed the
power to set up provisional governments to last
only for the few months that would be necessary
to restore 10 each Seate her municipal autonomy
and perfect in each new State system. was of
those who thought il would have been more reg
ular to let the State governments go as they
stood. But the Prcstaent's plan was quick one
If irregular, it was admirably adapted to achieve
the main end of any rational plan-the speedy res
fordtion of the Union-to accomplish which much
greater irregularity might well have heen endured
by the people, and, in fact would baye been cheer
fully acquiesced in.
Had Mr.. johnson been left aone in carving
0f tt,,.x nuln 90 "A a
sension which now prevail, instead of beholding
one set of States in possession of all their rights
with representation in Congress, and another sci
Of States grovelling in the dark, crushed by mill
itary power, and ground down by tyrannical
rule instead of having the most powerful States
in effect swallowing up the weaker, we would
to-day have been permitted to behold all the
States again admitted under the Constitution
with peace, wealth, prosperity, and happiness
increased a hundred fold. That hour was not
to be. The Radical party was not satisfied with
seeing the South prostrated, and subjected 10 the
deepest humiliation, but forgetting the magma
nimity Of IA brave conqueror the very character
OF their manhood was TO be crushed, and the dis
tinctive mark of liberty--thc franchise was to
he taken away, and conferred upon those who
were utterly ignorant Of lis nature and fits use
The speaker, after adverting to the political
reaction as indicated by the elections in Monta-
ma, Connecticut; California Maine and Maryland
continued For this bencficent result we are in
debted, under divine Providence, to the patient
endurance, the manly fortitude and the courage
Gus action Of our own people. 1t was
the nerve and constitutional attitude of Mr.. john
son that rendered this victory possible for u.s.
Thankfully do join you in doing him full honor
for this and his other great public services-and
willingly do draw the veil Of charity over ear
lier errors in consideration of the heroic conduct
by which he has redeemed them. If, in times of
great temptation, he yielded too much to the
promptings of passion, he has yet, in the face of
most reckless and wicked persecution. nobly
achieved an enduring fame among those who have
deserved well of their country"