The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1869-03-20
ANDREW JOHNSON.


President Buchanan, eight years
ago, was reported to have said that il
his successor experienced as much
pleasure in assuming the rcins of gov
ernment rs he did upon resigning them
to other hands, he would assuredly be
u happy man. No doubt cx-President
ohnson could say the. same thing.
Ills term Of office has been an event
ful one, marked by great events aud
exciting questions. Called suddenly
to the head Of national affairs ut u
most critical period in the history Of
the country, just at the close Of our
gigantic civil war, while the angry
passions of the people were yet
aroused, President Johnson had to
grapple instantly with the new AID
weighty questions springing 3ut OF
the mighty change wrought by the
sword in one half Of tic States Of the
Union. At tho very outset he resoly.
ed to carry orr the policy Of his i'm.
mediate Predecessor in regard to re-
construction ut least SO fur as il
could be done in strict observance oi
1.-THE Constitution, which he had sworn
to support. In accordance with this
Intention the President refused To
recognize the secession Of any State
holding that none were ever out ol
the Union, and therefore, the rebel
lion being ut m end and the authori
ty Of the Federal Government re
stored, each State was entitled &c
representation on the floors Of Con
grcss and in the Electoral College
The only condition required was that
none but 'loyal men," who could take
the oath, should be sent to Washing
ton. This was in reality the well de
fined policy of President Lincoln and
the radical Congress. But some o
the leaders finding a change Of base
necessary for party purposes, set ~
tho stultifying doctrine of the State,
being out Of the Union, and demand
Jed that the Executive should obey
them. In vain lac asked how til,
States got out Of the Union? I;cccs
sion ordinances had failed-the rcsor
to arms was crushed. How, then, die
they get out? The question was unau
swerablc, but Sumner, Philips, and al
THE bowling dcrvishcs Of fanaticism
insisted that lac must become thei
tool, or they would ruin him aue
land break down his Administration
lie refused TO rcccdc from his position
aud then began the warfare which
has followed President Johnson Will
unrelenting bitterness down TO thi
very hour. Step by step they have
worried him-denying his lawful au
Ithority in many instances, tying hi
hands and stripping him Of the pow
crs always exercised by the Prcsidcn
and hcsitatiug not To blackcn hi
lc1t',saetar, .itrcatcn his nic, and rcsor
TO impeachment for his overthrow
i Never was there n human being sub
|jcctcd to more fierce and terrible
pressure. But TO the cycrlastin,
credit of Andrew Johnson, be ii spo
ken, hc stood IL With uubcnding hero
ism, and maintained his position t.
the end. Without party at his back
deserted by those 10 whom lie had
right to look for support, aud bcse
by enemies on MI sides, it is difiicul
to imagine more unequal struggle
Yet he stood up and fought the Who'll
radical party, single-handcd and alone
with a stubborn courage in the do
fensc Of right which entities him /
the admiration Of the world.
We have said more in praise of An
drew Johnson than we intended, fo
he has never been 4 fayorite with II,
There Is u shadow over his life
dark spot on his official rccord-an il
Icffaceablc stain on his character
which can never be forgotten. W
Ialludc TO his completely in the execu
ton of Mrs. Surratt bv the blood
Thirsty murdercrs of Radicalism.-
THAT act, so cruel and monstrous, Dc
Ipriycd the ex-Prcsident of the sym
pathy Of thousands of warm, mani,
hearts, in his subsequent trials. Bu
''Let justice be done, though the heay
ems fall" He has fought a grca
fight, and his name will go into his
tory as statesman and patriot. -
Like Democrats, generally, we hay,
Itoo often thought with Eaton, of Con
neeticut, that he had "a happy facult,
of doing the right thing at the wrong
time" But it is as Republican, no
n Democrat, 'that we should judg,
Andrew Johnson. Regarding hin
from this standpoint, and all the cir
cumstances considered, with the rec
objection that he has fearlcssly upheld
the Constitutional bulwarks of oul
liberties, and stood like wall of firC
between the crushed and bleeding
South and her radical destroyers, W.
are constrained to award the need o.
praise where it is so justly due, and
say "Well done, thou good and faith
ful servant !"-,SonOma (Cal.) Demo
crdt.
RY TELE PIE