The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1869-03-10

THE RETIRING PRESIDENT.

auureSS W tie pcOluc giving Ill isCSounb
of his stewardship. The events of his
stormy administration are Of such re-
cent occurrence that any recapitulati6n
of them at this time would be wholly
unnecessary. We presume that no one
has a doubt that it has been decided
failure. Entering upon the office in
consequence of the mast startling event
known to history since the assassina-
ton of Henry the Great, he commenced
his administration by a most egregious
blunder in the rejection of :, the Sher-,
Johnston. plan of settlement, fol-
lowed Immediately by a still greater
act of stupidity in the abrogation oftbe
Southern State governments; and from
that epoch his administration has: been
constant struggle: his well-meant eff
forts to repair his own mischief having
failed by means Of the incorporating
hostility of his own party, which has
had control of the government for the
last two Presidential terms. tskss III
Mr.. johnson is the third President
who has come into the Office by the
death of the regularly elected Presi-
dent of the United States. Mr.. Fill
more's administration was really quite
successful one. Mr.. Tyler's and Mr..
Johnson's in some respects bear q
striking resemblance to one another
Both were elected by one party and
had to look to the other mainly for
their support. Both managed to lose
the confidence of their own party and
both failed to gam fully that of the,
other. Nevertheless John Tyler sue
ceeded in carrying through many great
measures of public policy and his adj
ministration shines forth now as among
the most brilliant since the organiza-
ton of the government. Time has vim
Dictated his greatness and the honesty
of his purpose. On the other hand
Andrew Jonson has accomplished moth
ing. Moreover we believe that he has
prevented much from being accom-
plished which otherwise might have
been accomplished at the hands of any
other person. Mr.. Lincoln, for in
stance, who possessed the confidence of
his party, could have settled the re-
construction question much earlier,
and we believe in manner more con-
sistent with the interests of the South
and the principles of humanity. |
But we are willing to concede to MIR.
JoEnson's honesty of intention and we
highly appreciate his hard struggle to
save from the waves of Radicalisn and
some few fragments of the
wreck of Constitutional liberty. His
failure must be set to the account, in q |
great measure, of the degeneracy of
principle and the progress of corruption
in American politics and among Amer
lean politicians. There are many rea-
sons why the Conservative people Of
America should ever feel grateful to-
wards him. ]
Andrew johnson is q more than Or
tinary man. His career has been an
eventful one, and shows what will and |
energy can accomplish under free
government. When he was first raised |
rom obscurity to a seat in Congress in
he year 1913, VIC remember hearing a
gentleman, predict that he would yet
% President of the United States. As
representative, Senator, Governor,
Vice-President and President he has
been able TO sustain himself creditably
against such disadvantages as seldom
'eset a public man. A less sextraordi-
nary parsonage would have succumbed
lnder the accumulation ofso many diff
iculties.
The Southern people will hardly ev-
r forget tile course Mr.. johnson took
It the commencement of tho war.-E
They cannot but believe it uneonsis-
ent with his former principles and
Professions. That he has endeayored
honestly to repair the damage, they
re willing to admit, and are disposed,
charity, to charge to him, as little as
'ossible,, the odiums of failure In his
will receive the respect,
and good will of the Conser-
'atives of all parts of the country. |,
IL
NOVEL CAsE.-The Court of Claims
It Washington is engaged in novel
nd wholly unprecedented case.E One !.
# the last acts of Congress at the close !
# the summer session of 1868 was to
'ass bill regulating the proceedings
n this court, in which was clausej,
living aliens who are citizens or sub
ects of any government which accords
o citizens of the United States the
light to prosecute claims against SUCH !
government in its courts the privilege
+ prosecuting claims against our gov
rnment in this court. Certain French 8
itizens have brought suit against the {
United States, and demand hearing
n the Court of Claims. The court di-
ected Judge Peck to ascertain whether
he Frenclf courts give our. citizens
UGH privileges as these persons claims;
e is sitting as special commissioner to
ear evidence from those conversant
18th French law and practice. Meas
res have also been taken t0 pet an y