New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1868-04-30
ANnRBW sPBAKs ans PIECE.

has its origin in tenderness for the accused,
IS found in the old adage that man who =
- Thss w '' r. mas & fool for client.
Z ..eIs reason to believe, however that
Mr.. Andrew johnson has sueceede1 IN
eyading this regulation, and has managed
to uspeak his own piece" before the Court
OF Impeachment, using for that purpose
the lungs and lips of his counsel, Judge
Nelson, We believe there is but one man
in the United States who could have written
the speech made by Judge Nelson before
the Senate on the twenty-third and twenty
fourth of April, and that one man is A. J.
Who else but he could have given to the
world that pleasing picture of the early
DAYS Of Andrew, and traced his career from
village alderman to the highest office in the
nation? If Judge Nelson did write this
speech himself, he cribbed almost the
whole of it from Andrews own orations,
delivered last summer when upon that
pious pilgrimage to the tomb of bis papa
the poor but honest town porter, sexton,
and constable. But the probability is that
Andrew wrote the speech himself, and that
Judge Nelson simply spoke it for him In
this view of the case it possesses an addi-
tional charm. 1t may be looked upon as
an autobiography, a farewell address, and
funeral Grafton pronounced over the
grave that yawns to receive the speaker.
Thus the production is unique from the
circumstances attending its conception 4;
and it is even more unique from the matter
which it contains. No one can read it
without emotion, and as a campaign doeu-
ment for the Democracy it is werth its
weight in ten cent stamps.
The Grafton commences with the frank
confession that it will treat chiefly Of af-
fairs (which have but little bearing on the
impeachment" The impeachment is but
one small incident in the eventful career Of
the great man of whom this eulogy was to
be pronounced, and to it but slight atten-
ton could be given. The muse was called
to sing of higher themes. Mr.. johnson had
been aspersed. He had been stigmatized
as a traitor, criminal, an abettor Of muir
der, assassination, aRd robbery, and as a
bufoon bandying ribald epithets with a
jeering mob. ave have borne it long
enough!n exclaimed Judge Nelson, or Mr..
johnson speaking through Judge Nelson's
lips, 1--WE have borne it long enough, and
we must vindicate our character If the
illustrious A. J. has done these things
nay, il he be guilty of one 1.-THE Of them,
said he, then is this noble man
"A monster OF such frightful mien
| That to 0e hated needs but to be seen."
He should be pointed at as a monster
to be banished from society to Tennessee;
his name should be used to frighten chill
dren with; and there should be placed
"A whip in every honest hand
Tolash the rascal naked through the world"
With this burst Of eloquence yet ringing
through the Senate chamber, Judge Nelson
hastened to PROFOUND his first conundrum,
Who is Andrew johnson p and as the
Senate appeared inclined to give it up, he
proceeded to expound it for them. " Who
is Andrew johnson? Go to the town Of
GreenviAe, little village in East Tennes-
see, and you will see poor boy entering
that village, a stranger, without acqurint.
ance or friends, following humble nae
ehanical pursuit-in point of fact tailor
scarcely able to read, unable to
write; Industrious in his pro-
fession CO, honest and faithful in
his dealings, and having a mind such as
the God in heaven implanted in him."
This loas Andrew Johnson But the CO.
nundrum who is Andrew JohnsOn?2 was
still to be answered, The people of Green
vile we're by no means green, since scarce
ly had he set his foot upon her. soil, . ere
they discovered in the strelling tailor the
evidences of future greatness. If in this
seduestered hamlet the inhabitants still
retain their extraordinary discernment Of
character and appreciation ef senias st is
good place for young men who feel within
them the assurance that they are born to
greatness to go to. If they are received
as Andrew johnson was, they will
have nothing to complain Of He
was seized and caressed with parental
fOndness, embraced as though he had
been iayerite child, and patronized with
liberal and unbOunded benefcence." This
was extraordinary conduct, but it should
be remembered that Greenville was an ex
traordinary town, and that Andrew was al
extraordinary boy. That fact is plain from
what happened afterward. His good for
tune did not turn his head. From alder
man to legislator; from legislator TO Sen
atCr; from Senator to Congressman; from
Congressman to Governor; from Governo
to United States SENATOR these were tn,
steps in the ladder of fame up which b
swiftly climbed. Mr.. Nelson did not paus
to state at what period Of this rapi,
career A. J. learned 10 write-bn
that The did--acquire this Accomplishment
there is, unhappily, but too nue.
evidence. In old times 1t used to be sal
tina. education should not be given to th
poor, since If they did not know how I
write they could not be tempted to comm
forgery. Had Andrew not acquired thl
dangerous knowledge, il would have bee
better FOR him He hen could not haE
written bic veto messages, and better stil
could not have penned thar fatal order 70