Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1869-04-21
PUBLIC LEDGER.
M H M II HIS
"wednesday Evening. April FL. 1859.
The Breakwater.

We we're fully in hopes to be relieved
from further exposing ex.President
Andrew johnson before the people OF
this State; but from the faint sounds
that occasionally issue forth from his
weak supports, some doubt may have
been left in the minds Of few only, who
think, after all Andrew Johnson's treason
TO the South was not SO heinous; that
he stood as breskwater to de-
fend the Constitution and the rights
of the people; that after all he had
done, he may be somewhat excused,
from the fact that he put himself in OF
position to Congress and maintained his
position for the Constitution in spite OF
the combined opposition of all parties,
and by this N eans checked Congress and
thereby saved the old chart Of our liber-
ties. There was no greater mistake ever
made than this by our people-the lew
who NAV entertain such an idea--and
when we assert this it is only necessary
to refer to the past for proof of what we
say. There may be differences Of opinion
among honest men when future policy
is to be discussed, and when nothing more
reliable than the human reason is at
hand from which to form our con-
illusions, but question of past history,
when facts are acknowledge by all
TO be true, there can be no discussing and
no falling out over the record, for 1t
stands proof positive as its own vindica-
ton.
A morning contemporary, in looking
around for some rock of the past against
which he might place himself-some act
OF Andrew Johnson's while President
that he might maintain q successful
defense, goes of in the following strain :;
"What should we have done? what
would have become of US if we had sue
cumbed, or his place been occupied BY
one less resoute, or more tractable and
willing to swim with the current wherever
il might q Dat him p This is the idea that
Mr.. johnson would make us believe, and
thereby forget the many wrongs heaped
upon this people. That he stood as
breakwater to the Constitution
ia perfectly absurd. That he stood or
cared for the rights Of the Southern peo-
pie in his fight with Congress, cannot be
maintained by his advocates. The past
four years in the history of this country
show to US the exact relation and the
powers of each department of the Gov
eminent as has been assumed under the
new regime.
We fnd the Executive officer Of the
Government. as had been the practice in.
augursted during the war, assuming abb
solute sway over that part Of the con-
quered country called the South. The
first act of Mr.. Johnson after the war
had terminated, as has been stated in a
former article, was the reconstruction Of
the Southern States after his own ideas,
regardless of law or the Constitution,
and without regard to the rights OF
property Of individuals and the old rela-
tons of the States in the Unisn.
This was the beginning of the split
between the Executive aud Congress.
Right here the war opened which re-
suited in the overthrow of the Executive
powers and the triumph of the Legisla-
ture. Andrew johnson had his own pc
culiar notions as TO what should be done
to get the States back after fighting four
years, saying they we're never cut Of the
Union. Congress thought differently,
and the war was started and waxed hot
between the two; then every means was
used by the one side or the other
by which to gair success. An
drew johnson endeavored to make an
ally Of the poor, down-trodden South,
who be supposed was willing to accept
help from any quarter, and in return
shower blessings upon the supposed ben
efactor. But with all the shrewdness o.
the Executive demsgogue, he was puI
down by the strong hand of CoBgress
shorn Of his powers and reduced tc
nothing more than clerk in the depart
ment which be was supposed to 81 as ths
Chief Magistrate. How then was THU
man to stand as q breakwater to tbs
Constitution without power2 he nigh
veto and protest against the unconsIiiu
tional acts OF Congress, but what coult
he do. and wherein did he accomplish
anything whatever2 Congress, as is vel
known BY all, from time to time passes
laws over bis positive veto anC
had the requisite two-thirds majority Il
make any and every amendment to th'
Constitution it saw it Then, wherein
does the obligation exist that we, the
people of the South, should now fee
ourselves under Andrew johnson. Nay
We say none. But on the contrary
we owe him 8 lifelong hatred, an.
should ever execrste bis treisonabl'