The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1875-08-02


nd he was. laboripg under the resentmentsI
scited by the treatment heshad met from
is own people. Heseized the helm WITH u
n improper feellngsof vindictIveness to-
Yards people who, having become su'9eci
O his rule, should have been indeed the oo'
ects of bis protection and care, az s
among the1t first acts Of Mr.. JoHssos was
,is famous $40, 600 amnesty prse!amssien re-.
auiring all persons, worth :S2o,ooo ana up.
wards to sue for pardon, without which thelf
oronerty was copfisested TO the State. That
Act was done under the feelings we nave ae'
sscribed, guided by that aversion 70 ~ha' pe
called aristocratic society and tendencaes
uh;ch he had cherished more or less earnest
10 anr;np his whole life Public men VINO
served with him in Congress always e1.
: nresrsed the opinion that Mr. JOHNSON nad
sometimes rather obtrusively displayed ms
str,ct,v democratic notions In public and pri-
yate life. he declared during the war tnat
rich men had made 1t and ought 10 suner LOT
=
it, 30 -. ...*,-,r.E, -: -. -. .
CHARTERED in the White House with some
verv had aud malignant advisers, including
sr ,sros. PRESTON KING, FoRsEY, and others,
ond seldom relieved from the influence OF
excessive stimulation, ANDREW JOHNSON
seemed to dream while the South suffered
and the North was raging with passionate
passion of war frenzied by the assassination Of
L1ScoLs-tbat deed done by maniac, which
the South was most cruelty and un]ustiy
charged with some knowledge of or partlc''
patton in. ..
TIE $40, 900 amnesty proclamation was mar.
assinp the South through ruthless and DIS.
honest officials, who may truly be called ROD
bers The cares and excitements at WASH.
;npton were exercising The President, ana
had advisers we're misleading him. Inc
tr,a, and execution of the -assasslns per.
m,lted little peace in the capital and much
Jess in the heart of the Federal Executive.
The murder of Mrs. SURRATT, the cries and
moans of the heart-broken daughter that
we're shut out, FROM Mr.. JoHNsoN's
ears by the hearlless men who had
him in hand, the measures which roooeo
the poor woman of all chance OF Elk.
ecutive clemency these things in tune
racked his mind, increased his excitement,
and no doubt caused him to drift away from
a clear sense Of his duty, and certainly from
the true inclination of his nature, which had
always appeared to be in the line of human
ity and kindness. He was temporarily alien
ated from all his southern sympathies, and
for time little that was creditable TO the
land in the way of justice was done.
But the State trials we're ended, the con-
victs executed, and there was time Tor
return to thoughtfulness. President JOHN
SON profited by it. His natural sentiments
returned-he saw the injustice to the South,
aud attempted to right wrongs and redress
grievances. Now, however, came the time
for Republican policy. The men. in power,
impressed with the fact that they owed their
places to the malignity and vindictiveness OF
war, bad no disposition to relax the rigors
of the policy of resentment and persecution,
and at once we're in antagonism to the policy
of Mr.. JOHNSON, which policy was in the
line of clemency and restoration. he
saw that he himself had gone too far
and was DESTROYS of making repara-
ton. He was for restoring the States
to equality and withdrawing all the
agencies established fol- persecution. The
Republican party took alarm and charged
Mr.. JOHNSON with desiring to make himself
President. They subverted his policy,
pressed forward their own cruel measures,
and finally trumped up pretexts for an Inn
peachmentof the President, which was tried
before the United States Senate, and narrowly
failed. It required two.thirds vote to con-
yict. and the vote stood thirty:fve for convic'
ton, nineteen for acQuttal. So we see how,
at time of great excitement, intelligent
men, under the spirit of party, may be
found to approve a measure Of which it is
mild to say that 1t was wrong and without
apology. A less causeless prosecution could
not be made. Most of our readers are fa'
miliar with it, and it would be out of place
to enter into particulars.
Mir. JoHNsoN's position was one Of inability
to do anything TO carry out his good inten.
tons. He was officially paralszed Tbwart'
ed by Congress, he could only administer their
bad laws with as much genteness as was
possible and thus be fingered out his term
until GRANT succeeded him, when he retired
TO Tennessee.
There be renewed his active political life
He was twice candidate for Congress and
once candidate for Governor, and defeated
at each election. He was elected by the last
Tennessee Legislature to the United States
Senate, and took his seat in that body at the
extra session in March last. 49, s.: .v.a.
Towards ANDREW JOHNSON the feeling OF
the southern people has been variable and
although they cannot be said to hold bis
memory in very high esteem, we are sure
that they entertain for the man no unkind
sentiment that may not be buried in his
grave. For his m1nly and statesmanlike
policy in opposition to the ultra Republican
party, "that ruled through terror and in the
name of liberty" not only all southern peo-
pile, but all advocates Of peace, equality, and
justice, must hold his name in grateful re-
membrance. .-.... ,....-..- I
Mr.. JOHNSON was public man Of very de.
cided opinions and very open and frank con-
duct. ae was possessed of very remarka-
BILE iuteKect. With the smallest literary adj
santages, by mental force and strong charac-
ter be WOE bis way to the highest honors of
the Goverament. He passed through a