Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1869-04-17
PUBLIC LEDGER.
M lc M r H ISs
Andrew johnson Reviewing HIS
Record.


Record.
Ina speech delivered in Memphis a
few DAYS since, Andrew Johnson said:
| will now cay to you that l have moth
ING to ask from you. / have filled every
position within the gift of this people,
from the lowest to the highest, and don
think that there is any egotism in me
saving that this is without q parallel IN
the United States; and in all | have con-
scieutiously done my duty, from the
lowest cfiice to that of President Of the
limited States. The road which l have
travelled has not been paved with men
skulls, and | have not, marched through
Golpathas and potter's fields into office.
The bridges which have crossed have
not been planked with the lacerated
limbs of my countrymen; and thank
God that mothers. sisters and children
cannot say that the blood of their kindred
attaches to my skirts. Applause
That his road to Office has not been
paved with human skulls is probable,
and can be easily accounted for. Andrew
johnson never had the pluck or bravery
to win the admiration of his people to
the extent that they would bestow on
him the highest office in their
gift. That this man could be actuated
by the noble impulses that Gil soldier
breast is perfectly impossible. Suppose
we for a moment compare his record
with that of General Lees, or Count
Bismarcks 8, or Napoleon Bounaparte's s, or
such even as General Grants, do you
think, reader, that Andrew johnson
could approach the greatness OF these
epauletted gentlemen, for which he
processes to have so much costsmpt !
That Andrew johnson, the demagoging
politician, who has raised himself alone
by appealing TO the worst and most con-
temptible passions of the people, should
live in history with great military chief
tains, is supremely ridiculous. Instead of
taking up the sword like man Of honor
should, and marching 10 the front to
meet the enemy Of bis Gag and country,
he skulls behind the bsyonets OF his
fellows, and when an opportunity pre-
SCENTS, plays the petty tyrGnt upon some
poor, uusrmed, old and decrepit Confed-
crate. This is the history of the man
who was Military Governor of Tennessee,
and while performing his chiyalrous acts
in this State, BE slludes, among others, to
that of laying tax on the Nashville peo-
pie. This is bis language:
When the Federal forces took posses
sion of Nashville, and the forces in
rebellion fell back, the wives and
children of the men / have referred to
were destitute. was Military Governor,
and they came TO me for protection.
Many persons also came to me and
urged me to turn these wives and children
out of the houses which they occupied,
and put them in. | said mo, emphati-
cally no; and you will support them, or
at least contribute 10 their support
Loud cheers, and voice; 20, my
Andy ri / said, "you will not turn
them out Of these houses, but will raise
tax and compel you to contribute to
their support" Not one cent was to 60
into my pockets, but every dollar was
to 90 to the destitute persons whose hus-
bands and whose fathers were in the
rebel army. They said, you are aiding
the rebel cause" but / said, " that /
was adjusted only by a humane spirit,
and that these people must be sustained
and provided for" Now, there are GER
teia persons who are little sensitive in
regard 10 the manner 10 which acted
on that occasion, and ! have even re-
ceived some letters about it since came
here. Bat little remains for me to do
but 10 take care of my character and
uphold the honor Of my State.
When Andrew johnson says that every
cent of this money-the tax upon our
friends in Nashyille-was to go solely for
the benefit Of the destitute women whose
husbands and fathers were in the rebel
army. he simply, aud as far IS we know,
without mental reservation, tells an I'M
qualified falsehood. You know, Mr..
johnson, and It can be attested BY hun
dreds of Nashvillsns. that you usOd that
money for the benefit OF those Union
lists whom you said had been run away
from their homes by the Coufederates ;
and you dare not deny this well-known
truth. We suppose you had to make
these statements, from the fact that
IN swinging around the circle
IN Tennessee you expected to come ia
contact with large amount Of rebe
element, aud to smooth your past record
over with them it was thought polite Il
put this face upon it. But no lodging il
the record, Andrew johnson. Let pos
teriiy, who you nov profess to-speak 10
have 4 correct statement Of what really
happened. Aud tLea sgsin, these per
sons, some OF them who yoa practicsC
your little sets Of tyranny over sod
upon, had been yOar first and best
friends until them bet those you
spared not by any means, from tie fsa,
that they were some Of the parveRHs
negro aristocracy Of the place. that voc
had a poor mans dislike to, as you pro-