The Portland daily press., 1868-04-14
The President Described by Himself.


Inc Washington correspondent of the
CINCINNATI Commercial has had more of
those famous conversations with the Presi-
dent. Mr.. johnson has for reporter friend
who is extremely partial to him, but neyerthe
less these conversations are so deformed by
gross vulgarisms, SO full of petty spite and
unmanly recriminations, that we wonder
Butler does not insist on working them mp in
to another article of impeachment as a COM
panion picture for the tenth and eleventh ar
ticles. ~ g-s.- a 4
Our first extract, giving Johnson's version
of tine Cleveland speech, shows that, unlike
many men who have risen from humble life to
exalted stations, the President still retains
all the lower instincts of a boor aud black
guard-a man who feels Inundated if he is
outdone IN an eAofaloEo of biliingssete. -,
As for the Cleveland speech, he said: "I
dld not intend to make any speech there at
all. My intention was to come out mi re-
Spouse to the call of the peoplecand excuse NV
self and then retire. But as soon as apnear
ed some people in the crowd commenced TO
hoot at me, and question me, and badger me.
and thought "a go in and silence them. /
have been in political life long time and am
naturally eombative. don't propose to be
hooted down by anybody, and especially /
didn't propose to be Hooted down by a marty
OF mer sent out for that purpose, as these fel-
lows were at Cleveland and elsewhere. SO
they weDG for me and went for them, and
we had it hot and heavy for a while. They
would listen to me for while, but kept inter-
ruptlng me TO prevent me from saving any-
thing j was determined they shouldn't sue
ceed, but that since they didn't wan. to let
me speak Id speak any how. And / kept on
until got the better of them and after a
short time they listened to me in perfect ST.
ience. If used any rough expressions they
were put into my mouth by my enemies. i
said a good deal then that L might not have
said if they had not provoked me to it, but 1
did not say all might have said either"
The greatness of his soul and the generosity
of his heart are indicated by the manner in
which he makes poor old Gen. Thomas
'Thomas seems to be a queer old gentle
man." continued the President. she has act
ed very strangely in parts of this matter. But
the fact is, he got little refreshed over his ap-
pointment at first. You know how it is with
these military men-how much style they like
to put on, and how much fuss they like to
make, and how they like to show their author
lty. Wen, Thomas felt very big when he got
to be Secretary of War. Stanton had treated
him pretty sharply on some occasions and
here, he thought, was good chance for him to
show himself bigger man than Stanton. He
was so much elated that he ran around telling
everybody what he would do. Well, now if
ne meant to do anything very bad he wouldn't
have talked so freely about it. Men generally
don't mean what they say when they brag as
much as he did. But so far from NV author
Izing him to use force, l sent for him that
morning, while his appointment was being
made out, and talked to him in this very
room, to caution him to proceed quietly. When
his commission and Stantons removal were
mi do nufT xlt,ft tI,ax.. Al II.
and said to him, Now, this thing must be
done very carefully andvery regularly. Here
Is your commission, and here is Stanton's re-
moval. You'll keep this and show it to STAN
ton. He (Stanton) will get the notice of his
removal, You had better take somebody with
you when you go to the War Office, to use as
awitness in case there is any trouble' He
went over to the War-Ofic and talked to
Stanton, and came back to me in few min
ntes very much rejoiced. He said he had seen
Stanton, that it was all right, and that he
would get possession OF the War Office just as
soon as Stanton could pack up his papers. He
felt that he was Secretary of War and mem
Der OF the Cabinet, and all that; and never
saw man more elated over position in my
life !" Ia - 54A 1t.tA s.a- 47,h EE-'-'
When the subject of "tbe circle speeches
was under consideration, the President re-
ferred to the charges of intoxication made
against inn in strain of querulous iault-find-
ing, though he does not distinctly deny the
correctness of the rumors concerning him;
The President seemed to feel quite vexed
over the reflection that he was the only one
who was accused OF hilarity ON that circle
trip. Its very strange" said he, "that some
men will be abused like the devil for drinking
glass of whiskey and water, while others in
equally Important stations may almost roll in
the cutters, aud not werd is said about it
1t is so of different men in Congress-. Some