The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-03-01
LETTER FROM WASHINGTON.
The Last Days of Andrew JOhnson's
Administration.

| cease to occupy public attention, and pass to
| the province OF history. Indeed, they live 80
| fast In Washington that many now speak of
his administration as If It already had passed
| from the living present. Mr.. johnson manages,
however, to keep the fact of his official exist
| ence before Congress by Pumping veto mes
| cage down upon the two houses every day or
| two. With him the ruling passion is most GER
| tainly strong in death.
1t is difficult at this time TO give q candid
| review OF Mr.. Johnson's acts. From some quiet
standp point in the future. the historian may be
| able to discern something worthy enough in
itself to lift his administration above the gene.
| raj contempt in which 1t is most surely held at
present Even his friends, whilst defending
| the honesty and patriotism OF his Intentions
admit that in all great essentials he has been O
failure. Self opih donated, obstinate, and ego
tistical, he would not listen TO the advice
those most worthy OF confidence. Even his
Cabinet were not his advisers in the proper
sense of the term Some Of his most memorable
acts were performed without consulting, or even
informing, his constitutional advisers. He
was fit subject for the small men who
gathered about him-hatterlng his vanity
feeding upon his patronage. and coun-
! selling him to his ruin. That Mr.. johnson
| is no judge of men was proven at every step dur
| ing his term OF Office. The want of this one.
J great quality had much to do with his unfor-
mire even his most bitter enemies admit Had
his firmness been displayed in promoting the
| best interests of his country, his name would
| have been placed high among the noblest and
most illustrious of his predecessors. But,
| exerted as 1t was against the men upon whose
| shoulders he was borne into power; exerted
| against the great cause in which he had for.
merly labored, and for which the nation had
suffered. it became almost crime. Had he
nod frun IN thn mo- ln tod
true to the spirit OF freedom and justice that
came out of the war triumphant
| he would have passed from power
| with the benedictions of a liberated race
and and tn the blessings Of grateful people: But
voice of personal ambition, turned his back
upon his friends and the great unfinished work
| before him, and in his vanity bega n to lay the
| foundation stones for a new party VIII ose leader
he should be. and whose work would be the
undoing Of all that had been accomplished by
the sacrifices and sufferings OF the people. The
hope was delusive one: he reached to pluck
the coveted prize and tell from his high estate,
and lost the golden opportunity of a lifetime.
| The sublime work that his hands might have
done will be accomplished by another. To his
illustrious successor viii be. given the unfn-
ished task, and with 1t the glory of establishing
ring foundations OF freedom and justice. ~
And thus Andrew Johnson passes out Of power
the tread OF the coming man. And in this rest.
less sea of political strife and excitement the
%iH'' viii he be % surrounded. @ by Whom advised % %
| And no one is able thus far to give saIisiac.
publican party EXPRESS eniire oonfaenee enc % in
General Grant, both as to his devotion to the
principles upon %hich ne was Is, elected. @ and In
| Yet Notwithstanding all this, there is the most
intense anxiety as to whom he VIII select as
| representation. Your State Is divided, and
scarcely knows what she wants. 1t is evident
| that some OF your public men desire ex-Gover-
nor Curtin. and it appears equally evident that
others don't and If report be correct. Grant
embarl asses the former. II also appears tnat
the party that does want the x-Governor do not
any other man who is not q political leader"
In this also. they are unfortunate enough to
partially for :great political leaders"
Those gentlemen who come here Cabinet
people, and yet think It would be difficult for
| many OF them to show their credentials, AS Is
there is a great rush of business, aud doubtless,
| in the hurry, needed legislation will be passed
over 70 be @ ne ex 81 sesso1 he OF Inc
day or two since when the Copper Tariff bill
was passed by q very close ., vote over the Presi-
friends of protection and for those interested in
this important source OF national wealth. which
TO the increased costof production, attributable
chiefly TO the operations OF the general tariff
and the imitation ofour currency.
This pill places copper on nearly an equal
footing with our other interests. sucn as iron,
steel, lead, eic. Had the Presidents veto been
sustained, and NO legislation obtained in the
extra session, this Important Interest would
have been virtually consigned to the tomb OF
in the production OF copper over eight millions
of money, which would have been lost. or have
remained unproductive for years TO come, had
This needed protection been refused. And yet
TO sustain the veto. To say the least 1t was
discouraging to see the representatives of q
great protective tariff State voting not only
against suffering interest of the country, but
directly against alargeinvested capital belong
Ing 10 their own constituents. Among this
of tSe State ali Hwh wsrs e true M nasea snS
arm. In the senate. where the bill was
passed by a splendid vote. General Cameron,
true to his sntecedents and the interests OF The
| great Commonwealth he represents in part,
| labored and voted for the bill, whilst his col.
league (Mr. Buckalewl voted against IL. WHAT
| ever the enemies of General Cameron may say,
they cannot with truth assert that ne does not
| labor earnestly and vote consistently for every
measure that will In any way promote the In
dusirial interests OF the country, and especially
| among those who labored for the passage OF
| the bill was Judge Kelley, whose services can.
not be overestimated: The Judge Is an inde-
| fattgable worker-perhaps no man In Congress
| accom- mplishes more-and as the especial friend
| and advocate OF the great industrial interests
| OF the country, he stands In the very front rank
There is no man in Congress who has more
| facts at his command, or VINO is 80 ready aud
| powerful In debate upon the important Ques
lions relating to finance, tariff. Internal re-
| sources of the country ETC. etc. 1t should be
l source OF pleasure and pride TO Pennsy lvanians
| that they nave as q represeD tattve gentleman
| who is so thoroughly able TO defend her great
| more than to any other, belongs the credit OF
| veptilatipg the fallacies of MIR. Commissioner
Wells. HIS speech in the evening session on
Mr. Moorheads amendment to strike ont the
salary of the Commissioner after June next
| was q most powerful and convincing argument,