Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1869-03-12
JOhnsOn's ValedlctOry.

ANDREW JOHNSON has followed the sd-
vice, which Job rejected, TO course God
and die" His is one of those terrible
death-bed scenes of which we hear from
time to time. He died hard, breathing
maledictions upon everybody.
Those who have gone through the vale
dictory of the ex-President have discov-
cred nothing new. Thus we have his old
story, Of how he could have made him
self Dictator, told all over again. First,
how the war ended leaving him Com
mander in. Chief of an army of million
and half Of men (Union and Confed-
erates), and navy of unprecedented
strength that this army did not not want
to disband, but wanted to follow the mill
tary business permanently, and for imme-
diate employment asked to be led TO the
conquest of Mexico, and the destruction
Of the French Empire. He then declares
with JUNCTION that
"One of my first acts was TO disband, and re.
store to the vocations of civil life, the immense
host and to divest myself as far as could, of the
unparalleled powers incident to the Office and
the times"
The war was over before Andrew John
son became President The rebel army
had been capturel and dispersed before
he came into office. He had nothing
Whatever to do with disbanding the army
In sixty days nine-tenths of the volun.
teers would have returned to their homes
without leave had they not been ordered
home for dismissal. There was an intense
desire TO be disban6ed; aud had he at
tempted to declare himself Dictator, he
| could not have successfully commanded
the obedience of regiment or company
in the field. The disbandment of the
army was q consequence of law, which the
| President could not have resisted if he
had tried. Had he attempted the dictator
ship, the power" which he says was ut
his command would have disthroned him
instantly. When he declares that with
this force, and under the unlimited author
ity of the Civil Rights and Freedman's
Bureau acts, "it would have been no diff
cult task to direct, at pleasure, the desti-
nies of the Republic, and make secure my
continuance in the highest office known
to the laws" he grossly mistakes the facts,
| ignores the patriotism of the people
insults the army and navy, and writes
himself down an ass
In his dying imprecations he asserts that
the war twas stupendous mistake" aud
he insists that after the rebels had fou ght
until they found they could not destroy
the Union, and had confessed that fact by
surrendering to armies they could no
longer resist, the war should have been
forgotten and everything should have
been resumed exactly where it had been
broken off by the war. The country has
lively recollection that Andrew John
son, by proclamation, required the rebels
to comply with five distinct demands be-
fore he would even recommend to Con.
gress that they be allowed to have any
government but that of the sword and
that he distinctly notified them that, in
reconstructing those States, rebels must
"take back Seats" and let the loyal
people, no matter how few, have exclu-
sive control in the matter.
One of the never-to.be be-forgotten Incl
dents of Andrew JohnsCn's reign is his
famous journey "round the circle, "
during which he was continually pre-
senting the people with the Constitution
and flag, and imploring them to protect
and preserve the same. Upon his death
bed he lost reverence even for the Con-
stitution, and cursed that sacred instru-
ment most vehemently. The power it
gives to the people, through two-thirds
vote of each house of Congress, to over
ride an Executive veto the power 1t gives
to majority of the House to impeach,
and twothirds of the Senate to convict
and depose, President, and the power il
| AANOo W NOhSAOoo w AC6uAotC bhO Jul ioAAS'
ton of the Supreme Court in certain
cases, are denounced by him as fatal de,
fects in the instrument. Upon these de-
fects in the Constitution he calls down the
judgments of Heaven, and insists that
under them, the gentle people os ten States
have been subjected to tyranny like tina,
which produced the Revolution. His com
passionate sympathy for the rebels is only
equaled by his wrath against Congress
and the people.
: Mr.. johnson has turned out to be a
worse man than his worst enemies sup
posed, and his last end is, if possible
worse than the first He, probably, ex
pectod this valedictory TO live in history
like the Farewell Address of Washington
Benedict Arnold, when he took off the
uniform of his country, issued an address
TO the people of America. JEFF Davis did
the same. But these documents are re
membered only to the shame of theil
authors, and Johnsons last appearance il
public will take its place with them II
national estimation. Chicago Tribune.