New Orleans Republican., 1868-12-12
THe pAEsIpruT,s 1lssskeg,

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The length of this document, we con
4 fesss discouraged US st first and led us tc
dread perusal and review of it; but the
Times has dissipated much OF this By
characterizing 1t as the words of trutf
and soberness'; and the Crescent has ex
cited our curiosity-not an idle curiosity
by assuring its readers that there is {
degree Of interest, at once sad and pecu
liar, with which rejecting minds will BIZ
likely to peruse the last message of Presi-
dent Johnson" What the Times means by
truth and soherness we shall not attempt
to decide; but we can not believe it means
any reflection on President Johnson's
character for sobriety and truthfulness;
nor can we believe the Crescent means any
reflection when it says, "there is degree
Of interest, at once sad and peculiar, with
which rejecting minds will be likely to Pc
ruse the last message Of President Johnson.
II this is the last message Of President John.
son, and tits good one, we can not see
why there should be anything "sad and
peculiar" about 1t. But If, on the other
hand, President johnson, differing
with most of the great and good men who
have filed the Presidential chair OF this
nation, since the formation of its Repub-
lican form of government persists in set
ting up his own will against the will of the
people rand continues defiantly to make
war on them by making war on Congress,
why, then, there is something really sad and
| peculiar in his conduct, and something to
excite suspicion in the minds of the people
that he is lacking in truth and seberness-
those great essentials in an honest ruler of
free people. If it is his pride to be soon
siEtent," only in resisting the will of the
people, and persistent in having his own
way against the laws of Congress, why then
he is guilty Of great public wrong-a
wrong that must arouse the severest con-
demnation Of the people from which he
can not hope to escape. His own peculiar
friends may praise him and try to bolster |
him up, but their praise can be OF no SER
vice to man who persists in doing |
wrong in the interest of frac- |
ton Of our people against the interests
of the whole. President johnson then is
for all Of the useless excitement
during the last three years in this country
on the subject of the reconstruction of the
States that were in rebellion. If he had
have bowed to the will of the people upon
his subject much of the bad feeling that
las been aroused by politicians would have
oeen avoided and the country would have
ong since been at peace. All of the States
would have resumed their functions as
States, and would have had their represen-
atiVes in Congress looking after their in
erests. In that case his countrymen could
ave thanked him upon his retirement
rom office for his wise and statesmanlike
Onduct, but now they have to condemn
Iim as vain-glorious and false, and look to
he President elect, General Grant, for
hat peace which the nation had q right to
expect when General Lee surrendered at
-. ..-H
The Picayline, like the Times and Cres-
e,a, leans toward the President in his fight
gainst the oft expressed will OF the people,
nd damns him with faint praise. 1t says,
He has history to record, character to
indicate, and a Constitution to defend" !
lis history will be written in the history of 6
le country, and will be recorded in this I
ay: President johnson, having gained the i
onfdence of his countrymen by profess !
lg veneration and profound respect for i
lem and their institutions and laws, as b
lopted by them to meet the order of = =
rogress and civilization, was chosen Vice c
resident of the United States at time
hen the enemies of liberty were making il
ar upon the country with view v
breaking down the Government and es- e
blishing on its ruins government in the d
terest of slavery. The men who were II Il
gagged in this infamous work procured 81
e death of the President, the illustrious "
d good Lincoln, and through the diaboli- Il Il
act Andrew johnson became President. Il
was not expected that he would side -
tn the enemies of bis country; but he O
4 so, and attempted to establish himself 81
their interest, dictator, invested with =
cry power-legislatiVe, executive and pl
iicial, civil and military. But the peo- M 3,
1
who were able to put down huge re- st
lion were able to stihe the efforts of a "a "a
uld-be tyrant, and send him to that re- m m
ement he deserves.