Clarksville chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 186?-1872, 1868-03-20
A GRAPHIC PEN PICTURE.
Andrew johnson Physically, Mental.
ly, Morally and Politically Consid.

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Andrew johnson Physically, Mental.
". Morallv and Politically Cousid.
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oiou'
The following descriptIou of the persoaals.
manner and ,tvle of pre,,d.n. Jobns,n and
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0,s~' ~""'' ''' VI ni' '"en~i n'AAe "p anu
character, by the accomplished correspond
ent of the New York World, will be inter-
estin0 esnsc;a,,v N Tenn.s.e. resaer, and
.u,S
"me senerAi'y reeei'eo as 'iViu' ~ " II
In tns main, Just:
While his integrity of aim Is unquestloned
by all persons who have impartially studied
his career, his sagacity and tact have some
times been questioned by those who estimate
his worth most highly. Frank by nature,
and impulsive also, be is nevertheless slow oi
thought and deliberate in action. do not
mean by this 10 suggest that he ever hestates
in deciding upon q constitutional question
or political principle. Upon these points
his decisions are given with such readiness
that they seem to spring from intuition. His
hesitation Is rather in respect to the men
and measures necessary to carry o principle
into effect and though there may be fair
difference of opinion as TO whether his pub
lie measures have been usually the wisest
that could be adopted, 1t is certain that he
has occasionally erred in his judgement Of
men.
Such errors Of judgment sometimes result
partially from peculiar fact. The President
is unfortunate in impresslnR many people
who have occasion 10 converse with him
with certain distrust that might easily lead
some men who had at first approached him
with manifestations of real sympathy, to
change their opinions of him, afterwards,
and thus lead him to be deceived in regard
to them. The experience of career full OF
bitter conflicts, the recollection of having
been betrayed again and again BY false
friends and counsell0rs; and, more than all,
the terrible anxieties Of bis present Office,
have gradually led him to infuse into what
was an undsmonstrative demeanor before q
certain repelling severity. His visage, in
repose. is mask. His manner is quiet un-
assuming, unpropitious. 1t conveys to a
stranger the mere bold intimation, II listen;
proceed with what you have to say" Yet
an accident the slightest turn Of a conversa-
tion-may enable person of quick percep-
tions to break through this crust of reserve
and obtain some indication of the man be-
meath 1t. The manifestation may, as re-
marked before, excite an uneasy feeling Of
half distrust; for gall is not more bitter than
the subtle, singing significance that Mr.
johnson, when in sort of passive rage, has
the knack Of giving to siugle word. The
immutabilities of life are not more uncertain
than his responses to an office-seeker,
or any person, high or low, whom he has
not learned to trust. His impetuosity strug.
, Cling out on q sudden from behind its veil
startled and bewilders bis auditor. The one.
sided glimpse of the mans nature thus re.
yealed, is 90 different from the manner of the
man that 1t Is not easy to decide which is
real and which is false. And this, too, even
when his words more strongly contrasting
with the expectation derived from previous
glance at his morose features, are kind and
reasoning,
It has been said of Mr.. johnson that he
has chronic look of being bored. He /,
tbored. With a patiepce that few Other
Presidents have possessed he allows himself
to be bored every day and every evenings BY
scores of people who have not the shadow OF
reasonble excuse for pesterine him. Hun
dreds of little matters that the President
knows nothing about. and has nothing di.
rrctly to do with, are submitted for his con-
sideration. Hundreds of grievances that he
cannot alleviate, appeals for humble positions
in some one of the Executive Departments
that he cannot grant, empty compliments or
assurances, which visitors offer as poor ex-
change for the time they occupy, arelistehed
to without groan or sigh from the victim
II is marvellous that even in the midst of the
confusion and care of the last two weeks
Mr.. johnson has found leisure 10 listen to
these applications with the same impassive
countenance and manner which it Is his
habit 10 preserve. One strong trait of his
character is exhibited In this. The people,
great or little. but particularly the masses OF
the people, are perennially interesting to him.
He has not only not forgotten, but is freshly
conscious all the while. of his having risen
from an humble rank. His faith in the body
Nc litic ia founded upou sympathetic knowl-
EDGE of the impulses which control them,
land which be believes is not in the power oi
anv set of politiciaps TO permantly turn
aside. He loves to preserve this kno Wedge
by constant communion with them; and to
MANY obscure persons who present themselves
before him and impress him fayorably with
their deserts he demeans himself more win.
uiuglv than he does others, except his imme.
diate person and political friends, in loftiel
and more sipuous walks of life.
When the President turns TO receive a Wis
I;tor be annears to he about five feet ten inche.
b;gb His frame il massive and st, onR.-
Ms head Il set On broad shoulders, that lool
as if thsy were fit to bear, and had borne
beavv Iosds ue Is dressed in black, and h
!? black velvet vest renders noticeable the spot
! less shirt front and collar that he wears
' His salutatiou is perfectly courteous, and ha
| no further signi6ance.
a In those hours when the voice of the poll