Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1875-03-27
sENAroR IORNsON,s spEEOH.

SENATOR JOHNsONs SPEECH.
We publish in full, this morning,
the speech of Senator johnson on
Louisiana affairs, and also give below
some editorial comments from the NeSe
York Herald, which will be read with
general satisfaction as indicating the
drift OF sentiment Eorth-the
quarter where such speeches
are, just nov, calculated to "dO the
most good" The views of the Herald
are all the more acceptable because its
own telegraphic report did Mr.. John
sons effort but scant justice; that
which we copy from the Congressional
Record was taken down verbatim by the
official reporters Of the Senate. As this
terrible excoriation of Grant is still the
leading topic of discussion with the
press of the country, and a very gen.
eral desire toread it has been expressed
by cur people, we have printed a large
edition to supply the demand.
The HeraId's article is as follows:
Readers of the comments of the
party newspapers on MIR. Johnson's
speech must have got a distorted view
unless they read the speech itself. The
partisan editors try to convey the i'm
preston that it was an incoherent out
pouring Of personal egotism and of
VitupeTation against President Grant,
whereas it was, In fact, a strong, per-
tinent argument, too diffuse, no doubt,
but bearing as closely on the question
as any speech that has been delivered
IN this debate, and great deal more
so than most of them. The conduct of
the President was the very subject
under debate, and it is prepOsterOus to
complain of Senator johnson for con-
fining his remarks to the question.
And vet he is criticised in tone as if
he had wandered from the business be-
fore the Senate and launched forth
into irrelevant invectives against the
President on an occasion In which they
were not related.
Neither is it true that the speech is
made up Of violent inEective and per-
sonal abuse. On the contrary, although
Mr.. Johnson's language Is explicit, it
was strictly parliamentary and deco
rous. The most devoted supporter of
President Grant on the floor, if be had
kept watch for that purpose, could not
have found an occasion for calling MIR.
johnson to order. He was vigorous
and earnest, for that is a part of his
character; but his hard hitting did not
consist in vulgar language and coarse
epithets, but in the force of his we'll
aimed arguments.
Another partisan animadversion on
this really good speech is its alleged
egotistical recitals Of parts Of Mr.. John
sons personal and official history.
This charge has a deceptive color Of
plausibility, but 40 substantial founda-
ton. Ht is true that Mr.. johnson sup
ports his argument by TWO references
to his own administration, but we
should pity the intellect of any man
who would venture TO say that they are
not pertinent TO the question before the
Senate. They are, in truth, the
most pertinent illustrations that
could have been selected by any
speaker. II he buttressed his
argument with precedents at all,
he was compelled TO take them
from his own administration, the only
part OF our history where they could
be found. The reason why other
speakers have not referred to them is
obvious They make against the Re
publican side, and the Democratic de-
baters avoided them from an unmanly
fear that citing Andrew johnson as an
authority would, IN some way, commit
them to his unpopular administration.
1t was, therefore. entirely proper for
Mr.. johnson TO call attention to them
himself if they really elucidate the
subject, and a charge Of egOtism on
this account is a shallow fippancy IN
worthy Of serious journalism.
The sneering ridicule with which
partisan wiseacres treat Mr.. JohnsOn's
prOfessed attachment to the Constitu-
ton is too contemplate for comment.
If he has raised any weak constitution
al ODJeCulOns 70 II6sIueuG OIdhI ,
course IN Louisiana, let them be ex-
posed and refutted; but it is sheer i'd
ocy or blind political bigotry to turn
appeals to the Constitution into de-
rlsiOn.
In our judgment Mr.. Johnson's Is
the best speech which has been made
in this debate. 1t is strong, plain,
practical, and altogether better fitted
to make an impression on the average
popular mind than the dry arguments
Of the other speakers. If it could be
widely circulated In Connecticut it
would have mere influence than all the
anti-Grant speeches made on the stump.