The Plymouth weekly Democrat., 1869-07-08
Andrew JOhnson'S Visit TO Washington
His Opinion Of Grant.

Washington Correspondence OF the N Y. Herald.
ExPREsDENT JOHNSON arrived here
this evening and was waited upon soon
after reaching the Metropolitan hotel by
YOUR correspondent, who found the Ex-
President comfortably quartered in one of
Shelly's best parlors, and looking quite
fresh and hearty. Andrew Johnson, plain
citizen, received yOur correspondent with
the same cordialitv and kindness that dis
tinguished him SO highly while an oc-
cupant of the white house:
"Glad to see you, slr," SAID the Ex-
President, at the same time handing q
chair to you correspondent, and sitting
down himself. "Sit down, sir"
Correspondence came to pay my
respects, Mr.. johnson, and, at the same
time, to learn If there was any particular
object in your visit.
Johnson-Nothing public, sir. 1 have
some private business TO attend to here,
and have also son a; Georgetown Col
lege, the only son left to me now. l came
to see him and attend the commencement
of that college.
COrrespondent-I believe, Mr. johnson,
you ere the first Presiders since the time
of John Quincy Adams who has revisited
the capital after retiring from the white
house. :.
Johnson Qaughing) REALLY, cir, don't
know how that is. My attention was
never directed to the point before. 1t may
be so, however.
Correspondent-Wel Mr.. Johnson, to
change the subject, what do they now
think of this administration down IN Ten
nessee?
Johnson-I don't know that you ought
to ask such a question. People would be
very likely TO attribute an unf4vorable
opinion from me as prompted by improper
motives. You know very well, sir, for
you were familiar with my views while
was President, what my estimate of Grant
was, and | don't know of anything that
has since occurred that has caused me to
change my mind the slightest know
Grant thoroughly. | had ample oppor-
tunity to study him when l was President,
and / ar convinced he is the greatest
farce that was ever thrust upon a people.
Why, the little fellOw-excuSe me Tor
using the expression, but can't help pity
ing him-the little fellow has nothing in
him He hasn't single idea. He has no
policy, no conception of what the country
requires. He don't understand the phi
losophy of single great question, and IS
completely lost in trying to understand
his situation. He is mendaciOus cunning,
and treacherous. He lied to me fragrant
ly, by Cd, and / convicted him by my
whole Cabinet; but that even would have
been tolerable were it the only instance,
but it was not. He lied on many other
occasions | tell you, sir, Grant is moth
ing more than bundle of petty spites,
iealousies, and resentments. And yet they
say Grant is q second Washington. Only
think of it; when you compare him with
Washington or Jefferson where is he !?
Why he is so small you must put your
finger on him. He, a little upstsrt, a
coward, physically and intellectually. to be
compared to George Washington. Why, it
makes me laugh. / have more pity for the
man than contempt, for | have no spite
against him. But fear for the country
when such man il likened to the Father
of his Country. Why, just look at the
inaugural of Washington. He speaks
about his fear and trembling in accepting
the Presidency, even after all his expert
ence and success. But this little fellow
Grant, al upstart, mere accident OF the
war, creature without the ability to COM
prehend the philosophy of single great
question, SAYS in his inaugural, =" [ know
the responsibility is great, but | accept it
without fear" Ia that like Washington
or Jefferson? Pshawl It's monstrous to
think of Grant, l tell you, sir, has no
ideas, no policy. Why, Washington con.
sidered that mans greatness was meas
ured by his morality, by the standard Of
his soul. And have always considered
that the more soul a man had, the more
he developed the soul or intellect within
him, the more Godlike be became. But,
sir, Grant has nothing. Physically, and
mentally, and morally he is a nonentity.
Why, sir, his soul is so small that you
could put it within the periphery of a
hazel nutshell and it might float about for
thousand years without knocking
against the walls of the she'll That's the
size of his soul. Just look at the man sit
ting at Cabinet council. He has
no idea, no policy, no standard, no
creed, no faith. How can he guide
the people? How Can he impress any
great improvements or moral ideas
upon the people? He has no object
to look forward to, no leading aim to draw
the people toward any particular end. He
sits there with his Cabinet. One member
has bought him house in Philadelphia,
another has given him $50, 600, another
has given him a carriage, and so on. 1t is
degrading to the Office Of President of the
United States to have such man there.
They talk about his generslship. Well,
he was mere incident of the war. Men
aud arms were supplied in abundance, and
his forces were so massive that they Sim
ply crushed out the re- ellion. 1t would
have been done had Cant never been
born. Therefore he mere incident.
But the little fellow n IS come to think he
Is somebody really. J Int help plying
him when | think hoYe well l know him
and what an infinitessiu al creature he real
ly is | often think that about the fi.test
place for Grant is st some place In the
country where there STe cross roads.
have been az those places and have often
noticed the scenes At one corner per-
haps there is a small blacksmith's shop
AT another corner of the cross roads there
Is grocery store, AID at another a house
where the squire meets to settle cases.
Well, have often noticed at such juno
ton OF several roads that when the
squire's business is over some fellows will
propose horse race, and to give interest
10 the thing barrel of cider and perhaps
half gallon of whisky will be sts.ked on
the result. Now Grant is just suited to
such situation. His ideas are of the
cross roads order, and he has not a
thought above that.
CorrespOndent-W do you think of
the general situation now?
JohnsOn-Well, think we are tending
to despotism or anarchy, unless a proper
direction is given to the disOrderly ele-
ments at work. We are threatened with
an aristocracy of bOndholders. A moneyed
aristocracy, they say, is the most detesta.
BILE but credit arlsiOcracy, which is