New-York tribune., 1875-08-19
ANDREW JOHNSON.
. A LETTER FROM EX-SBCRETARY MCUL-
IOCH.

UNION
70 ths Bdifor OF The TribWne.
SIR Ihave been paned by noticing IN The london
Times a cable dispatch announcing the death Of
Andrew johnson. l hope may bo permitted to
offer to his memory brief trbato Of respect. l
knew Mr.. Johnson intimately for four years, and
had perhaps much Of lis confidence as he gave to
any member Of his Cabinet. My impV sion, how
ever was that his experience a politician had
made him dstrustf,h, and that he never gavo his
confidence unrcservedy to any ono outside of his
own family. THIS distrust was of the un-
popularity not to say failure, of lis Administration.
Had be confied in the leaders of the party which
brought him into power and gono with Il n. his
path would have been pleasant or if, discard
ing them, he had called to his aid the
leaders of the opposition, with whom, on
most questions, he was in sympathy. he would nave
shared with them the responsibilities OF q most
difficult DOS. ton and received support which he
needed but seemed not to desire 1hus un'"h-
sciously perhaps distrnsful of his fellow-non, hut
conscious of tie rcctitudo of his Intentions he at
tempted the impassibity Of administering properly
the Government in the most trying period OF It's MS
tory without party to support him. DiStiuSt was
one of his faults and III becoming President, moi by
the choice of the people, but by the death OF MI
Lincoln and regarded, on account OF his beng
Tennesseean Notwithstanding the evidence he had
given of his foalty to tie Unon), with suspicion by
many of the extreme men of the North, ii was per-
haps his greatest fault. Another fault, and very
dangerous one in Chief Magistrate was All Tre'ish-
bic propensity TO make speeches and indulge in In
voctives unbcooming his great office and frequently
unjust to those whom he attacked. or against whom
he undertook to defend himself. He newer compre-
bended the power of silence. Then, too, he was
coIHbative His whole life, from the tailors beach
to the Senate had been filled with the conr'atS IN
which he had been engaged, sing!c-handed. with a
powerful Southern aristocracy bent upon preventing
his political and social advancement. This combat
iyeness he carried into the Executive Mansion. 1t
had become paS of his nature, and he5 5ouid not
nd himself of it. He seemed never to be happy un-
lass he had some enc to strike at to denounce.
Sqch were his faults, and they were gTicvous ones
in the highcs. off cer Of the Government but great
as they wene they were coWnterbalanced by many
of tho nobeSt qualities.
lie was a man Of oonyicticNs and una'crab!y
true to then. Lacking Quckncss of apprchonso!',
he was slow in reaching conclusions. but when no
had rcached them he adhered to them with uncon-
ouerNblo tenacity. No braves man, morally or
physically ever lived. Sensitive TO pain he pos
sessed an indomitable will. that enabled him to en-
dure pain without q murmur. During his occu-
pancy of the Executive Mansion he was the victim
of a most painful disease and although his agony
was at tunes most ekcruc,ating it indicated
only by slight contraction of the facial muscles.
l said to him one day, upon observing this
peculiar muscular contraction, Mr. President,
YOU are not well" "No," replied no; "no. Mr.. Sec
retary could not suffer more if an animal were
cnawing at my vita!s" and yet he continued at his
work as if in perfect health. lie was OF the same
material that martyrs made of. and had he
lived i'll their days and been sentenced TO tho stake,
he would have died as they did, without rccahting
his opinions, giving expression to- has agony.
bitter enemy. he struck foe after he consld-
cred him vanauisl,cd. In his family relations ne
was atleotionae and indulgcnt fond of chlarOn he
was as gentle and kind in his treatment of them as
awoman Notwithstanding his dstfust of mon ho
vas full of generous emotions. Never absent frsm
his post he was one of the most indefatgable work
ers He Was orderly in his habits and tasteful IN his
dress and although deprived of the aa-
vantage of what is called good society
in his early fc. he had the bearing aud
address of a gentleman. The White fiouse was
never more whs, he mansion of tho lresldont ought
to be than when it was occupied by himself and his
modest unpretendiBg. bat really accomplished
daughters !Stigmatizod by his opponents rs an in
ebyiate he was not htempercto i'll the use OF liquors
For some six weeks after he became President he
occupied room opening into mine. in the Treasury
Department. where saw him every hour, from IN
the morning until in the afanooa, and for nearly
four years there was not day. both in seasona@ae
ond unreasonable hours, that | did not meet him.
and although frequently SAW hlm nder eA' A'iteih*t
which stranger might have regarded as indicating
,ntoxicatOn. never hin under the influence OF
lisuor The reports of his inebrety. which were
circulated broadcast the country, aad believed
pe,aps by a majority ii his couutryIen, were auda-
cOus caiumDles.
Mr. Johnson was n man Of vigorous INTELLECT.
What be lacked ia culture lac made up I" ftSast
strength His annual messages with tho exception
of his faus pas in regard to tho payment OF the Gov
srnment bondsl and his other messages to Congress
are admitted TO have beon among the abest Of our
FYecutiye papers. OF his patrotism-AS hearty
devotion to the Inien-thcro can be no question lie
gave Illustrative prccf Of this in Tennessee, when to
be outspoken'C mon man Y1s attended with dan
gee that few men. however brave, dared to eRcouh-
ter During the dark days Of the war his was abewt
the oIiy cheering voice that came up from the
South recollect with what enthusiasm he was re-
ceived when he case TO Indiaaa to Te''u&e treason
and strengthen the faith of tae supporters OF the
Government Wien its existence was in peril. He
lived long enough 10 mako friends of thousands OF
his enemies and the wolcnnc that lac received when
returned to the Senate, Of which he had been for
eighteen years a cs1spicuoHs member. aud before
which he had been tried crimina, was as Grod-
liable his former opponents AZ it was honorable to
himself His love of the Union found fitting ex-
preston in his dying request. that the Flag OF the
Union s!ioald be his windng-sheet! Peace 10 ais
ashes, and honor TO hi, memesy!
London, Aug. 9. 1875. IlUGH MCCCHoCH.
THE SUCCESSOR TO ANDREW JOHNSON AP
POINTED.
CHATT ANOoGA Tenn. Aug. 1&-The Hon. ID. M.
Key Of this city hes been appointed by the Governor
10 fill the vacancy in the United states Senate caused