New-York tribune., 1869-03-05
PRESIDENT GENT AND EX-PRESLDENI
JOHNSON

JUHNSUN.
The farewell address of ex-Presdent john
son and the inaugural of President Grant
ought to be read aloud by every ireside III the
country. Having proposed Reputation to Con-
gress in his annual message, Mr.. johnson IS
silent as to the obligation to pay our national
debt in good faith. President Grant is explicit
and emphatic in insisting that we can and
will pay the uttermOst farthiDg; that we
can easily do so from our vast and daily aug
menting resources, and that our national
honor, our lasting reputation. as well as our
true interest, imperatively require that we
should so pay. This declaration is worth
countless millions to the labor, commerce, ana
prosperity of the Republic. Mr.. Johnsons
proposal of Reputation would have damaged
us incalculably if it had not been promptly
rebutted by Congress. We have heard the
last impeachment of American Honesty, ana
the last assault upon American Credit, from
the Presidential chair!
Mr.. johnson harps necessarily upon his devo-
tion to the Federal Constitution, and winds up
by proposing more radical change than has
ever yet been made. President Grant simply
urges the ratification by the States of the
whether he likes the laws or not, he will obey
and enforce them. Mr.. Johnson assails Con-
gress upon every conceivable ground
even for the failure to try Jefferson
Davis! Over that proceeding Congress
had no control whatever. The President
makes and directs District-Attorneys, and Is
charged with the execution of the laws. The
audacity of this attack Outdoes its intrinsic
absurdity Jefferson Davis was in his hands,
ms President from the time he was captured in
the pine woods of Georgia, and it was for him
to see that he had a speedy and impartial
trial. Congress had nothing TO do with the
matter, one way or the other and made no ef-
fort to assert our authority. Mr.. Johnson's as
scrtion that he might have kept our vast vol
unteer forces embodied long after the Rebellion
was suppressed and even employed them
in the prosecution of n foreign war, shows hlm
to be grossly ignorant rs well as concelted'
The President has no power to make war. The
Constitution confdes that to Congress. Any
attempt on the part of Mr.. johnson to have
retained our volunteers under arms when they
were no longer needed, would have rendered
him even more dctcsted than he now is. This
expression of his supposed authority only shows
how sadly he undertakes the intelligence and
republican spirit of his countrymen.
-Itis blessed consolation that Andrew John
son has ceased to disgrace his country in n
public station. He will continue to he the low,
INSCRIPTIONS demagogue he has already so
often proved himself, and is still capable Of
considerable mischief. His power for evil can
never again be tithe of what it was. For
three years he has done all that one bad
man could do to keep the country
in turmoil, TO strengthen the spirit of
Rebellion, and to excite a war of races The
most he can do henceforth is TO defend rs
local demagoGue the wrongs which national
calamity so long enabled him to enact ms Pres
ident. Let us thank God that we are so easily
and so happily rid of him, and that we can
turn our faces with hope and trust to the glad
auspices of future harmony and prosperity
afforded by the accession and the inaugural of
President Grant.