The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1869-11-03
Defeat of Andrew Johnson.

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candidates against linn and on tl,A
last ballot, by vote Of 55 to 81,
Henry Cooper, brother of~his late
private Secretary, was elected Sen
ator from the 4th of March, 1871
The new Senator has filled a judi
cial appointment under Andy
Johnson when governor, and is a
lawyer of fine abilities. He win
doubtless give satisfaction to a
large majority of the people of
Tennessee. 49,
The position Of an ex-Prcsident
is an exceedingly awkward one. -
1t is generally conceded that his
political career is ended, and that
it would be undignitied to hold any
other office under the government.
Hence very few have sought a po-
litical Office after their retirement,
and none ever obtained one except
John Quincy Adams, who was a
representative in Congress from
Massachusetts, for nearly fifteen
years after leaving the Presiden-
tial chair. Mr.. Johnson's attempt
has been q futile one, and it is not
likely, in the present state of feel
ing against him, that his future
will be different from that of his
predecessors. He may be consid-
cred as politically dead aud bur-
led.
The election created no little ex-
element. owing to the peculiar cir
cumstances under which Mr.. John
sons name was brought before the
public. BY his course during the
war he had embittered the South
ern people against him, and, by
his course while President he had
still more embittered his new
friends in the Republican party to
whom he owed his election to the
Vice Presidency and his accidental
promotion to the Presidency. Be-
causefrom a State-rights democrat
and a supporter of Breckinridge he
had become a malignant enemy of
the Southern people, their oppres-
sor even after Mr.. Lincoln had be-
come merciful toward them, and
had stood forth as the chief actor
in the disgraceful murder of an in
nocent woman, the Southern peo-
pie conceived for him a hatred
which they have not yet had char
ity enough to overcome. Because,
for some reason Or other, he man
aged to thwart some of the plans
of the Radical party, which were
even too outrageous for Andy
Johnson himself, all even more
bitter hatred towards him has been
engendered among the great ma
jority of the Northern people. He
has managed, therefore, to fall be-
tween the two great parties into
which the country is divided, nei-
Their of which claims him or has
any confidence in him, but either
of them would take him up and
elect him to any Office under the
government, il thereby any dam-
age could be done to the other
The Republicans were eager to ell
ect to the Presidency a South
ern man and lifelong democrat,
whose loyalty and unionism had
been endorsed by Mr.. Lincoln HIM
self. The democrats were glad en-
ough to seize hold of renegade
from Republicanism and to set up
Andy johnson as a barrier against
the unconstitutional encroachments
of the Radical party. Both par
ties have supported. Andy johnson
not because theyIove Andy John
son bit because they loyg them-
selvey and hate their e9smies. =
q
Those democrats in Tennessee and
out of Tennessee who desired to see
Andy johnson in the Senate, de-
sired him not because they would
rather have Andy Johnsql in the
Senate than any other man. but
because Grant and the Radicals
would rather have any other man
than Andy johnson. OF this num-
Der we do not hesitate to say that
we are one. Moreover, we, sup
ported his administration not be-
cause it was altogether a proper
one, but because it was the best
we could get, and much better than
the Radicals promised to give us.
We hope we are understood now
on the johnson question. 1t is not
likely that we shall ever have an
other occasion for defining our pc.
,;t;n,, ~, fI,a cphioct this side Of