The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1875-08-13
ANDREW JOHNSON.

"reminiscences of the Late Ex-President-
Some Notes of Interest About the I'm
parchment Trial.
~. b. McCullagh, in st. Louis Globe.l
One day. think it was very soon after
the reassembling of Congress in Janu-
airy, lS67-word was sent to me in the
reporters gallery that President Johnson
would like to see me that evening at s
o'clock. Well, of course 1 called at the
White House that evening. / was
scarcely seated when Mr.. Johnson asked
me if / had not written letter to the
Cincinnati Commercial about Senator
Drake. He had seen or heard of it, and
he wanted to get a copy of it, to have it
republished in the National IntelH-
9encer, since defunct. The letter re-
ferred TO was q review of Mr.. brakes
early career as a pro-slavery Democrat
III Missouri, provoked by rebuke
which, as Republican Senator, he had,
very soon after his admission to the Sen
ate, administered to Wilson, Fessenden,
and others for their timidity and con-
servatism. Johnson's personal interest
In the matter arose from the fact that
Mr.. Drake had introduced resolution
censurlng him (Johnson) for one of his
reconstruction messages. 81 would
like to have that letter printed in the
Intelligencer on the same day that Drake
makes his speech in support of his reso-
luton against me. On him, want
to let the people see the kind of men
who are calling me traitor and rene
gade." L promised to comply with his
request, and in due time the letter found
its way into the HnteIigencer. 1t made
Drake very mad, and called him into the
Senate one morning with hatfull of
manuscript by way of personal explana-
ton, but the facts were against him, and
he never afterward shook his finger at
the old Republican Senators to tell them
they were timid.
The impeachment scheme had not
then assumed very important proper
tons, but 1 think Mr.. Ashley had
already offered resolution of impeach-
ment; at any rate Mr.. Johnson seemed
to know what was coming, and he talked
freely and bitterly against his enemies,
whom he denounced as usurpers, and
rebels, and traitors, all in league to
subvert the Constitution. The elections
of the previous fall-1e66-had gone
largely against him, and his Philadel-
phia Convention had proved great
failure, but he attributed great deal of
this to the treachery of the Democratic
party, whose leaders, he said, were
afraid he wanted to be n Democratic
for 1868, whereas, according
to his own declaration, nothing was fur
ther from his purpose. "Six months in
this position" said he, "would disgust
anybody. You hear nothing from morn
ing till night but the Cry of Office
ofiice-otfice. It's the old cry of Beef
-beef--beef,' that Patrick Henry talked
about in Revolutionary times" Having
listened rather than talked to Mr.. John
son for an hour or more, as l rose to
leave asked him if might use the sub
stance of his talk for letter to the
Commercial, and he replied, with care
less cheerfulness, in the affirmative /; |
Sc that is, " said he, I" if you put me down
right; but the id newspapers are as
bad as the politicians in misrepresent-
ing me. L don't want you to take my
side" said he; 81 can fight these fell
ows single-handed; but put me down
assured him / would do so,
md l afterward got his own word for it
hat the promise was kept. He was
greatly pleased, and soon-in less than
,wo weeks, 1 think-he sent for me
lgain. 81 want to give these fellows
this was always the term he used in
speaking of Congress, pointing in the
Erection of the Capitol as he spoke
hell" said he, "and / think 1 can do
t better through your paper than
through message, because the people
cad the papers more than they read
messages.
JOHNSON AND GRANT.
When, very early in 1868, Gen.
irant, after the Senate had refused to
auction the surrender of Stanton, re-
igned the position into the hands of Mr..
Stanton, there was no measure OF de-
unciation of Grant by Johnson. L had {
card him abuse Thad Stevens, Sumner,
nd all the rest of the Republican lead
RS, but his language was mild and dec
roua compore6 with what he called s