New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-08-10

=, coeoual Stctos may he maintained By military
80 n n proposition in such direct conflict with
A.. nature of our free system that trust no ext
rs,cy will again arise to make 1t necessary to
ss.srt H. Mr. Johnson's generation for the Consti-
.,t;on n well known II was his own boast and the
--ound of taunts on the part of his enemies. But
N. Constitution that he respected the Consti-
tutiou nth his o,rn notes and comments.
his SOUTHERN POLICY.
y,;s administration was q failure. His gravest
hunder was his rejection OF the terms of settlement
entered into between Gen. Sherman and Gen. John
.ton. That act the cause of innumerable
,roubles to hinse and it brought disaster upon the
.ountry. His own policy was alike unsatisfactory
a, the North and the South. lie undertook 10 re-
store the Southern States to the Union upon plan
utterly inconsistent with tho principles of
The government. The ordinances of Secession
adopted by the several States nothing
more than 40 many declarations of independence to
he main tanned if need DO upon the field of battle
When the conflict took place between the Govern
ment whose powers were seized and welded by tho
States that undertook TO maintain the Union, and
the seeding States. it was clear that the latter
tonight to win their independence. After pro-
tracted struggle resistance to the United States was
abandoned The Southern States had not
maintained their declarations of independ-
ence; they were still within the Union
Now. while individuals resisting the authority of
the Government might have forfeited their rights
II is clear that the States held their relations TO the
Federal Union unchanged. 1t was proper to restore
order and the military force of the Government
might well have been employed in protecting those
who recognized its authority. Mr. johnson, with
his boosted veneratOn ter the Constitution, treated
the States As conquered provinces. He appointed
Of ham a. a Roman E.nDfrsf
might have sent out prntor to enter
proyince. The States were regarded a. Terri
tories and they were permitted to enter the Union
and take part in the Government upon terms die
tated by the President and approved by Congress-
Congress composed of preso. aives from the VIC
torious commemorative. Mr.. Johnsons policy dd
not work we'll 1t must be admitted that he did not
display administrative ability. He was not states
man. He did not possess the large, liberal Ideas OF
trained statesman. He shone a meInber of the
House of Representatives. He was vigorous In de-
bate stronger i'll assault than in defense
HIS LAST DAYS
The last appearance of Dir. Johnson in public life
was impressive. Il WAS proper that he should reap
pear in the Senate. met him in travel few days
before he took his seat aid in extended CONVERSE
ton he expressed himself earnestly in regard to the
state of the country and way to hishten my re-
,pect for him. His speech delivered i'll the Senate.
while il did not meet public expectation, contained
some very fine passages. His opinions had under
gone a change. and the political doctrines which he
had adopted ia his earlier and better days were once
more recognized and asserted. His vindicatien OF
the right of local government which had been QUO
ragged in Louisiana, was powerful The spectacle OF
q State held in subsection by United States troops
reused him IA nothing had done since the war. tie
spoke with the fre of his youth aud borrowed th Q
indignant tones of Cato when he denounced the
usurpation Of Caesar Bid him disband his egicns.
Restore the commonwealth to liberty
This was his last utterance. The error in Mr.
Johnson's life his abandonment OF his people In
the day when they were threatened by the power OF
the Federal Government. He is not to be censured
for his earnest opposition to Secession, nor for Ills
unswerving desire to maintain the Union. He was
honest In his convictions and he asserted them with
courage He did more than this. He took part In
the hostile measures adopted by powerful Govern
ment against his own pe-ple. All this belongs
to history To-day, in all the South the people
feel that the Government of the United states is
their Government that the Constitution Is to be sup
ported and the flag Of the country respected and up
held In reviewing the career of the great man who
has Just been laid IN the grave while it is impossible
TO forget tho errors of his political life there is uni
ycrsally accorded TO him the tribute due to his
thorough honesty, his high courage, his true man-
ness. his prominent patriotism ard his extraord-
nary abilities HENRY W. hIlLiAAD.
Albania Ca. Aug. 5. 1875.