Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1869-10-09
THE APPEAL AND ANDY JOHN

~
SON.
The very weak support given BY the
appeal, of this city, to Andy johnson is
evidence of his want of strength through
out the State. Nothing can be said in
his favor-only that he, while President,
fought back at the Radical party. A few
weak heads have been made to believe
that, in the struggle for pre-eminence
over Congress, johnson was martyr
offered upon the altar of the Constitution.
There is one thing certain, that
whatever good or harm the war
may have done, it did not effectually
weed out all the fools. For the man who
could be made to believe that Andy John
son ever had the least regard for the Con-
stitution of the country is certainly very
little less than an idiot. Why, they say
that he made desperate struggle with
the Radical party to save the Constitution
after the rebellion, and from that arose
the hatred of the latter for him. Such
stuff cannot be crammed down the peo-
ple of the South, whose bad treatment has
sharpened their minds equal to a two
edged sword. They know what ell this
fight arose from, because ct the
time they were anxious and in
terested +" lookers-on in Vienna" 1t
originated simply as to whether Andy
Johnson's reconstruction measures
should be adopted in bringing the
South back again into the Union or
whether the policy of the Radical party
should be carried out. bath Of which were
in violation of the Constitution, because
il did not authorize the President or Con-
qress to do any such thing. But If any
power in the land had shadow of au-
thority, or could consistently with the
usages Of government do SO, then
all must admit that Congress was
the only department Of the Government
that could assume to legislste for con-
ouered and disaffected States. Would
the President assume the authority, who
was nothing mere than the executive
elected mainly to see the laws OF Con-
gress carried out and thereby play the
part of legislator, judge and dictator over
the South ? This then is the true gist OF
the case upon which caused the split be-
tween A. johnson and the Congress OF
the United States. And after this, the
Falstaff warrior finding that Congress
would get the better Of him, turns round |
and appeals to the men ofthe South To sus-
tain him in his iniquitous course. Un-
der the broad canopy of the heavens
could there or was there ever found q
greater piece Of impudeuce, save and ex-
cept the single case when Satan took onr
Savior up on high mountain and
showed him all the surrounding country |
and said to him: 81 will give you all |
this if you will but fall down and worship |
me, Satan" Andy johnson was about
that time very willing to pardon
few newspaper editors and promi-
nent politicians Of the South, for
be knew full we'll that matters
with him we're being brought to crisis.
1t is said, and with great truth too, that
with the former class he would, while
President, ad NIT them to his audience to
the exclusion of Senators and Represen-
tatives 10 Congress. Andy knew that
an effort would be made by the North to
put him under, and thence arose his
great affection for the Constitution and
the rights Of the South, which up to that
time he had lost sight Of. The Appeal
intimstes this morning that all who hold
on to the past must be rubbed out. We
would like to know Of its editor If the
friends of Audy johnson are not now en-
deavoring to make for him great name
as q statesman by what has been done in
the past by this old political cheat7 Is it
not to the light CT the past that we should
look in guiding our future s,eps2 Shall
we utterly ignore our past bitter expert
euce and draw no lessons Of wisdom from
it2 Would we forget the crime Of the
murderer, the horse thief or the midnight
burglar and assassin because, forsooth,
their acts we're committed in the past7 II
we are ia duty bOuud to do so,then will we
forget the dishonor Of Andrew johnson,
who, after pIedging his word sDd tbs
honor of the Government be then repre-
scented that General Lee and the confed
crate sotiiers should not be harmed sfter
the war so long IS they obeyee the iASs
in force where they might reside, thea
clanored for their execution. But, fer
slludisg to ihese great acts Of injustice
that some we're won't to do us,the Appeal
threatens to rub out ell Of our sort Well,
when it succeeds 10 doing so there will
be precious few Of the responsibility Of
Tennessee left. Those who remain be,
hind will be Confederate qusrtermasiers