New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1868-05-22
ANDREW JOHNSON And THE RADICAL
REPUBLICANS.


the man whom it last elected Nlce-Presldent.
Here are its precise words:
Tbe entire course OF events since the war closed has
been CoOred and shaped by the attempt OF the huca
leaders 10 obtain control Of the Republican party ana 10
anras' mon n their own principles. and bend wholly
and entirely TO the accomplishment of their purposes
states until this could be forced and fastened upon them
the Acknowledgement Of enough of the southern WHITES
10 make this possible and the retention OF power IN hel
own hands by these means, were the main oJectS a'
which they aimed"
To this arraignmcnt, We replied, in sub
stance, that
|. Mr.. johnson, in February, 1865 after his
election but before his Inauguration as Vice
President avowed to friend his desire that
the old Democratic party should be resusc-
tated and restored TO pOwer-ot course, upon
the downfall of that which had elected him.
ii. Before he had been two months Pres-
dent, he had been formally waited on 10y
deputation representing the Democratic Bour-
bons Of Washington, had exchanged compli-
mentary speeches with that deputatlon' and
had been thereupon significantly recognized
and commended as Democrat by their Wash
ingtOn organ.
I'LL Those now known as " Conservative
" Republicans" having obtained control OF our
Republican State Convention of 1865, framed
johnson platform and nominated their own
candidates, tried to obtain some sort of in
dorsement thereof from Johnson, but failed.
". In our canvass that Fall, ontgomeTy
Blar-the original " Conservative Republican
-stumpcd the State for the Democratic ticket
he being widely known as fresh from the
White House, and on the most intimate terms
with Johnson.
" b,I OF hapu i'm
of course had done nothing to provoke or
ALLEVIATE johnson. He played vigorously at Re
construction throughout that year (lSGj), with
no one playing against him, and very little open
dissent from his views by Republicans. And,
when the XXXIXth Congress met, near the
close of that year, we do positively know that
such pronounced Radicals as Senator Chandler,
John Wentworth, &c. confidently expected to
cooperate with Johnson to the end.
VI. Throughout the long session which fol-
lowed, Congress did not even propose UNI
"yersal Negro Suffrage nor Gin facO Negro
Suffrage at all. The plan of Reconstruction
matured by it left the Suffrage question wholly
10 the States respectively, only providing that
those States which denied the Elective Fran
chise to any class OF race should not count that
House or in the Electoral Colleges.
VII Johnsons violent outburst against Con-
grcss and Z" the Radicals generally on the 22d
of February, in swinging round the circle
&C. occurred while Congress was thus urging
Reconstruction on principles which did not
require Impartial Suffrage.
Such are the positions from which we ar
gued that The Times was wrong in blaming
- -,tI, LII,
that johnson had made it himself, with
deliberate intent, and in pursuance of a settled
purpose to push his personal fortunes at the
expense of the party which elected hum. Are
| they not strongf
The Times endcavOrs TO shake them, rs fol
| lows
l. 1t do MT know about the Stanley Matthews
stOry-has seen no evidence supporting 1t eX-
| cept newspaper statements OF little weight
Col. Matthews is no myth but most respect
able and responsible gentleman, holding Il high
Office in Cincinnati. where he has lived long
and is widely known; and his testimony OH
this point WAS drawn out by and duly ratified
before the Ashley impeachment Committee.
III. The Editor of The Times denies that he
| visited Washington i'll 1865 TO evoke some sort
of expression from Johnson in favor OF our
| Republican State Ticket. We stand corrected,
so far IA the visit is concerned. He adds No
"effort was made by anybody. so far as we are
"aware, TO obtain from him any letter concern
"ing the success of the Republican State Ticket"
We think him mistaken on this point; and
here are our chief reasons:
Our State had been exceedingly close in the
preceding election. The Democrats had placed
IL. bn bal
prominent Republicans. They stoutly claimed
(as The Times admits) the President as really
on their side, and eager to give his patronage
| to those who should aid them to triumph. His
exchange Of compliments with the BOurbOns
aforesaid, the mission of Montgomery Blair, the
tone of the Democratic press, all tended 10
countenance their claim. His favor was prob
ably worth 10000 votes to whichever party
should secure it. Is it credible 1--WE had written
possIble) that the managers OF our State can
yass did not seek to know whether the Presi-
dent was with or against them-m0re grateful
for his elevation to the cOmpatrots of Abra-
ham Lincoln than to those of Wilkes Booth
We cannot beheve it.
Ill Mr. Johns on has now been more than three
years President His messages, letters, speeches,
&c, uttered during those years, would fill a
large volume. Can any one recall single one
of these utterances wherein he evinces graft
tude to the Republican party for his elevation,
or avows any sympathy with its principles,
pride in its achievements or devotion to its as
cendancy9 If not, was there ever more
pregnant negative than that afforded by his
silence9
". The Times takes no notice of our ayerments
that the XXXIXth Congress did not, at its
long session, exact Universal Negro Suffrage"
nor I'm fact) Negro Suffrage at ALL Yet that