St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1868-12-18
tn. Presidents UeSsd0e.

EES TfSStUCNI y -HSSSQIP.
We could give our readers President
Johnson's last message, (be thankful it is
his last but to the exclusion of nearly all
the other reading matter. So we print
what we think the most of our readers
prefer. There are points, however, III
this last message of Mr. johnson, which
we think it best to allude to- He opens
with his customary attack upon the re-
construction acts of Congress, and so bit
ter is his hostility to this ''body hanging
on tie verge CT the government" that
the senate interrupted its reading, and re-
fused to hear it through until the second
day:
But perhaps the most noticeable fca-
ture Of the message is that relating to the
public debt, and the original manner in
which Andy proposes to repudiate ii.
This is tie way he proposes TO contiScatc
the interest due the government crcdi-
tors,
1t may be assumed that the holders Of
our securities have already received upon
their bonds Il larger amount than their
original investment, measured 10y gold
standard. Upon this statement of facts
it would seem but just and equitable thai
the six per cent. interest now paid by
the the government should be applied To-
the reduction of the principal III semi-a an
nual instalmenis, which in sixteen wears
and eight months would liquil;,le the en-
tire national debt.
Then followed this precious passage:
One hundred millions are annually cx-
pended for tie military force, large
portion OF which Is employed in the cx-
ccution of laws, both unnecessary and
unconstitutional. An army OF tax-gath-
erers impoveri>hcs the nation, and pub
lie agents, placed 10y Congress beyond the
control ct the Executive, divert from
their legitimate purposes large sums OF
money which they collect from the peo-
pie in the name of the government.
OF the Presidents reputation scheme.
the Boston Journal well says:
Even the few who have continued TO
think that Andrew Johnson is not bad
man, but ouly man OF strong preju-
dices which have been thwarted 10y Con-
grc>s, particularly on the question of re-
construction. must give him over now,
when they read his PROJECT ior di-po>ing
of the national debt. 1t is true. il il IA
Their difficult to make out how his plan
could be set to work, for il Is practically
as absurd as it Is vicious in a moral point
of view. But the substance AID the ill.,
tent are plain enough. Mr.. Johnson il
for saying substantially TO the national
creditors: "1hc Governments agree
mcnt with you is of 40 sort Of conse-
quence, neither is the purpose for which
you lent your money: you have already
got it back again i'll the shape of interest,
and that's enough; 90 about Your bust
ness, then, while the remaining interest
Is reserved to wipe out the debt 1t IL
the language Of a hiLhwayman intro
luced, for the first, and we trust, for the
L
betrays an utter disregard Of the first
principles OF honesty, Il total insen-ibIitv
TO the solemn crisis through which the
nation has but just passed, and an in
aptitude even for the appearance of pro-
priety which is usually retained by men
who have given up the semblance of ev-
cry other virtue.
1t is to the credit of JuhnsonS admins
tration that he stands alone in this dis
grace. Secretary McCulloch's report
declares emphatically that ''alleviation
of the burden of the public debt is to be
obtained-not i'll Il decrial of the nation
al credit-not in threats OF reputation
not in a further issue of irredcemablc
boud>-not in arguments addressed to
the fears of misunderstanding in Il clear
and explicit declaration by Congress that
the national faith, in letter and spirit,
shall be in,iolably maintainel-that the
bonds of the United States, intended to
be negotiated abroad as well as at home,
are to be paid-when the time for pay
ment arrives-m Mat currency uhtch IS
alone recognized as money in the dealings
of nation with nation" This is the true,
the only doctrine, which is recognized by
the people of this country, and it is SO ir
resistible, that this monstrosity of John
sons will become only the final monu-
ment of his folly and malignity.
GRANT THREATENED.-Ther are re-
ports of threats of members of the ku-
kluX klan to assassinate the president
elect. One story is that band of over
hundred Of these rutfians have solemn
" sworn that Grant shall not he inaugu-
rated. These reports may he wholly
sensational, but every precaution should
be taken to prevent the success of any
such desperate attempt. The madness
that still appears in a large class at the
South may eliminate in another Booth.
a Washington dispatch says it is ru
mored that Caleb Cushing has gone to
England at the request of the govern
ment, to counsel Reverdy johnson.
We hope the rumor will prove true, and
that the first advice that Gushing will |
give MIR. johnson will be to pack up his