Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1869-09-14
from the Paris tTenn.) futelligencer,l
Andrew johnson


demanding tho services of Mr.. johnson again
in the Senate, we most respectfully deny. It
may be SO in East Tennessee-it is not SO in
those portions of West Tennessee with which
We are familiar, and our acquaintance in this
section of the State is reasonably extensive
Mr.. johnson, it will not be denied, utterly
failed as an administrative officer. His first
important act, one which finally became the
Illiad of all the woes in the unreconstructed
States, was the rejection of the Sherman. ohm
ston treaty. Had that treaty been promptly
ratified by President johnson as it came from
the enlarged brain Of General Joseph e. John
ston and General Sherman, indorsed by Gen.
eral Grant every State would have been at
once admitted through its Senators and Rep
resentatives in Congress to footing of perfect
equality back into the Union with all of their
normal privileges secured to them, and every
citizen would have been restored to his former
civil and political status of citizenship, thereby
escaping the dangers of confscation and in
dictment for the charge of treason.
Those stubborn facts cannot be denied
The unfortunate aud unwise rejection of that
treaty opened wide the gates of controversy
afforded unlimited opportunities for dema-
gogues to make little cheap reputation for
themselves, and in fact launched the Southern
States upon a bOundcss sea of anarchy, from
which they haye not yet recovered, wasting
their wealth. unsettling the foundation of So
clcty, producing a social upheaval which has
disgraced the country with n black cviliza>
tiou, brought blight and mildew upon the
industrial interests OF those States, affecting
in large degree the whole country, and to-
day has established in three of the once SOW
ereign States of this Union military camp
from which all laws proceed as by military
orders and the rights, property and lives of
citizens are made subject to the decision of
unconstitutional and unauthorized military
commissions and the final approval of mill.
tary satrap.
Mr.. johnson wrote fine constitutional mes.
sages-drawing largely upon the old Jeffer-
sonian principles Of constitutional, republican
government, but they were of no avail. His
rejection of this celebrated treaty let loose the
restless winds of anarchy and wild disrnay-
aud although he issues regularly his bulls of
condemnation and vanly cndeavored to hush
thestorm his own want ofsagacity had aroused,
he was poweress and came we'll nigh falling
its most distinguished victim. A single vote
saved him from Punishment from the Presi-
dental office. Had his impeachment have
been followed by his conviction, he might ap-
lands great poet in his beautiful metaphorical
arosrophc to a gifted young bard of the same
country:
Sn the struck Ea gle stretched upon the plain,
"No more through the rolling cIouds to soar gain
Viewed his own feather upon the fatal dart
That winged the shaft that qGivered in his heart"
s.Kcen werc his rangs, but keener far tc feel,
lie nurscd the pin:on that impelled tie steel;
While his own plumage that had warmed his nest,
Drank the last iife-drop Of his bleeding b. east"
Mr. johnson is u man of great power on
the hustings before the people, and has ranked
iavoraby among the men who have controlled
affairs about Washington for the last eight
years. But we beg to say that these men
both morally and intellectually fall far below
the days when Giants shivered lances upon
the gladiatorial floor of the Senate
Mr.. johnson has iron nerve in defense of
himself, but in defending the Government
from the inroads of revolutionists, anarchists
and despots, his remonstrances were like dart
ing straws against hurricane. He lacked
decision and promptness, and waited, until
like the lion caught in the net of the trapper
bound hard and fast, to break which his
mighty strength was Intellectual. Had he
acted boldly and promptly he could have
spoken peace to the distracted land. We give
him credit for desiring peace, but he utterly
failed to grasp the situation and firmly and
successfully grapple with traitors who were
Senatorial clowns and Representatives, who
fearlessly proclaimed their policy 10 be outside
of the Constitution. How could Mr.. John
son, sworn to support the Constitution, ex~
ecute law which he knew TO be unconsti-
tutiona? Think you old Hickory or the
gallant Clay would have done SO? Capable,
patriotic, and ever SO popular as his friends
claim him to be- have not the burdens of
State been long enough imposed upon him
Should he not be allowed retirement and
peace in the evening of life?