The Morristown gazette. [volume] (Morristown, Tenn.) 1867-1920, 1875-08-11
The New York Sun ON Andrew
Johnson.

4 4.
education, he might have been a NOR,
useful man, but his career would proba
bly, have been less peculiar; His great
Characteristic was energy; his great faitf
Democracy. There was nothing elsc
that he was fond Of, unless it might have
been a good bottle of old Robertson
county whisky, as he was of the prfn'
eiples of the American Constitution and
the American system of government.
These principles he adored, and his
mind dwe1t upon them constantly. He
never made a speech without proclaming
| their sublimity, and scarcely ever en-.
gagged in personal conversation without
referring to their unequalled benefits.
In thia country any man, though born a
pauper and bred tailor, might be
President. This was his continual
thought, and he repeated it continually
and although it became monotonous, it
nevertheless gave certain elevation and
life to his mind. Into whatever vagar-
/ les he led he never wayered from his
ideas, and even his surprising and semi
insane inaugural address delivered in
the Senate Chamber on the 4th of March
1866, bore testimony to his fidelity to
these fundamental doctrines of his creed.
The ineoherency and extravaganza of
that address so it was said-were due
to an iaordina.e dose of brandy taken
by mistake for medical purposes; but
among those who heard it, there were
some who listened critically, and to
them ii seemed to be pregnant with the
Inspiration of opium. This drug APP
pcared also to be the secret of some of
Mr.. Johnson's errors committed at other
times. One effect of opium-and the
use of this pe1nicious stimulant has now
become very common among people Of
every class-is to excite greatly the reas
soning faculties and the power of speech
and at the same time to overthrow the
judgement and let the mind loose from
it's control. This was sometimes mani
tested in Nr. .Johnson's career at Wash
ington, and yet such is our respect for
the Inherent manhood which he display
ed, that we cannot attribute to all those
conspicuous actions which a large por-
ton of his countrymen condemned with
fanaticaI vehemence during the four
years. which followed the close of the
war.
Whatever the blunders of his admin
istration as President, Mr. johnson
must; have credit for qualities of the
most precious and lofty character. His
sincerity was profound; his courage pas
sed safely through every test; his pat
riotism was unquestionable; and his
sense of the dignity belonging to his
Office was so great that he refused every
gift as something whose acceptance
would be shameful in a President. And
however great the detestation that sur
rounded him as he retired from power,
it has since been changed in most minds
into a feeling of respect. The admins
tration of his successor has in some most
important points, made his admirable by
contrast; and those who were loudest in
denouncing his tergiversations, now pay
honor to the fidelity which dared every
thing rather than be false to conviction
and which broke loose from the most
powerful party known in our history,
rathes than adopt a policy which threat
ened mischief in the future.
Mr.. johnson is often condemned be-
cause he desired to conciliate the South,
although at the time of his inauguration
he favored a severe retribution toward
the leaders of the States lately in rebel
lion. The Inconsistency is evident, but
the daring which did not fear to be in
and which dared to obey the
sense of duty rather than proceed in
course which reflection had shown to be
unwise, is much better than consistency
With all his defects of mind and temper,
Mr.. johnson will long he honorcd in
our annals, and though we have lost
greater men, the country, in all the list
of its distinguished sons, has never been
called to regret one Drawer, more patri-
otto, or more thoroughly American.