The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1868-12-17
The Presidents Message.

The Presidents Message.
A. johnson has given to the coun-
try his last annual message. Com
mcnt upon it is unnecessary only for
one purpose, and that is simply to
show and express to the world how
utterly at variance with the scnti>
mcnts of the loyal, patriotic masses
OF the American people are the views
he presents in this paper. We con-
confess that we do not come to the
Investigation of this remarkable doc
ument in very amiable mood. Had
the worst enemy of the Government
attempted, by sorhistry and falsifca-
tion to belittle and disgrace the ma
ton and destroy our credit and all
confidence in us as people in the
eyes of the civilized world, he could
not have INDUCED In more insulting
bitterness and Misrepresentation than
has Mr.. johnson in this message.
Indeed, to an intelligent American
reader this parting message OF his
accidency bears upon its face so plain
~ the venomous splean and wanton
maledictions Of disappointed, am
eitious and unscrupulously bad man,
that it cxcites no other feeling upon
It's perusal than that of supreme
contempt and disgust for its author.
10 what lower depths this man
might sink if his lean of power were
extended it were vain to conjecture,
Most willingly and gladly were such
thing possible, would the people Of
this nation, by an overwhelming
vote, cxpungc from our history, thit
mans drunken, maudling exhibition
of himself at his Inauguration OF
Vice President, his bacchanalian har
rangue on the ed of February, his
infamous Swinging around the Cir
cle," and, indeed, well nigh all hit
acts while tho Chief Executive of thu
Nation, and including as last but no,
least, this arrogant, insulting ant
falsifying message.
In the outset, he reads Congress ,
lecture impudently asserting that tn,
laws OF Congress upon the subject o
reconstruction, after fair trial O
three years have failed and prove,
pcrnicious, and asks Congress to re
peal those laws. Now it is better {,
speak plainly of this allegation Q
the President, and say as we do, tina
Andrew johnson, when he penne,
these words, asserting that a fai
trial had been given to the recon
truction acts he knew it was false.
The people know it is false. an,
impartial history will record it a
false, and it will be recorded that /
Is false in that he, Andrew johnson
sought to and did prevent to a CO,
tain extent the faithful execution q
these laws. 1t is useless to recouu
how he did this, His acts in this d
rection are as plainly visible to thi
people as the sun in a cloudless sk,
and they will ever confront this bra
zen falsifier of truth.
But Andrew Johnson, as hi
browning act Of infamy, openly
plainly, as the Executive of thi
great nation counsels the most fla
grant reputation of the national i,
debtedness.
Did this counsel come from A
johnson as simple citizen of Ten,
essee it might be allowed to sink int
oblivion with kindred advice froI
Vallandigham and Dean, and thei
co-laborcrs Of the late Confederac,
and still later of the New York N,
tional Democratic Convention. Blu
being put forth in the Annual Mes
sage Of the President of the U. S.,
is both deeply humilIiating an
mi nrions to the country. Rebellio
has been overthrow; traitors hav
been vanquished and the nation pre-
served. The great lover, absolutel,
the controlling power in effecting a
this was the credit of the natior
the faith Of its people and the advc
Gates of liberty and FREQ government
IN all lands, in the stability, honest,
and integrity of our country. Trai,
ors and rebels know this and the,
desire to destroy this credit as tn
only thing now left them to do il
their efforts to destroy the nation
If there be any other reasons for A
Johnson's advocating his theory Q
paying the Bonds by simply payin,
the interest as credit on the princi
pal until the whole principal is thu
llquidated, than the reason we hav
given above, we fail to see it.
Sensible.