Dodgeville chronicle. [volume] (Dodgeville, Wis.) 1862-current, 1869-03-12

In sixty days ninetenths of the yolun-
teers would have returned to their homes
without leave had they not been ordered
home for dismissal There was an intense
desire to be disbanded; and 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 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 at
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 "was a stupendous mistake" and
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-b be forgotten Incl
dents of Andrew Johnson's reign is his
famous journey "round the circle, y
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 q two-thirds
vote of each house of Congress, to over
ride an Executive Veto the power it gives
to majority of the House to impeach,
dEu tWO-tulIu6 vi tu6 OtudC6 w COuNlCt
and depose, a President, and the power it
gives to Congress to regulate the jurisdic-
tion 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 Of ten States
have been subjected to tyranny like that
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
worse man than his worst enemies sup
posed, and his last end is, if possible,
worse than the first He, probably, ex-
pected 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 their
authors, and Johnson's last appearance in
public will take its place with them in
national estimation.-C Chicago Tribune