Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1875-03-25
ANDY J0HNSON'S SPEECH.


ANDY J0HNSON'S SPEECH.
The great expectations placed upon the
first speech of Andrew johnson in the
United States Senate since his reappear
ance in that body were not realized wher
the event took place. The Senate Cham
Der and galleries were filled, but the
speech was failure and disappointment
at least that is what the dispatches to most
Of the papers say. On the louisiana ques-
ton it was below the average of speeches
which have been made upon that subject,
while the virulence gifts attack upon Pres
ident Grant, its display of egotism and
bombastic admiration for the Constitu-
ton lowered it nearly to the plane of the
speeches made by the author while
swinging around the circle" The Tsi-
bune special from Washington says the
speech disappointed everybody, while
the editor Of that paper remarks: "Sena
''tor Andrew Johnson's first speech will
hardly meet the rather inordinate expec-
'tations created in the public mind by his
temperance in the Senate. As an ar
"gument in the Louisiana case it will not
"bear comparison with either of several
speeches made during the present SEES
"sion of the Senate by the Senators from
whom less was expected. The only
new point bearing on the resolution I'M
"der consideration is the presentation of
"the interesting precedent afforded by the
Tennessee case in 1866, when the Gov
"ernment, through Gen. Grant. instruct
led Gen. Thomas to decline an applica'
"tion for military interference in the or
"ganization of Legislature on the ground
"that it is not the duty OF the United States
"to take part in controversy between
1.-THE public authorities of State Mr.
"Johnson's views on the third term ques-
"tion and reflections upon the President
"and Gen. Sheridan will attract attention,
"but they lay the cx-President open to the
"charge of forgetting his promise to ig
more old personal questions in his new
Senatorial career"
This may be considered an impartia
criticism of Mr.. Johnson's effort. The re
Election however must occur to every re
publican who reads the speech, that if il
is worth while for Mr. johnson and Other
Senators and public men to treat the ques
ton of third term for the President as
one of serious and important character
it will be necessary for republicans, though
they believe President Grant has no wish
or purpose to continue in the Presidency
another term and that this third-term discus
sion is humbug and for sensation, to speak
out decidedly against it. Although it is
purely imaginative and fictitious, the con.
slant repetition of it may give it far more
weight than it is entitled to. The repub
lican party is totally opposed on principle
to giving third term to any occupant o
the Presidential chair. This implies NJ
want of confidence in President Grant
who is deserving of the highest honor and
respect for his public services in field and
cabinet; it is simply the recognition of a
principle as old as the government. APP
plying first to Washington and then to all
succeeding Presidents, and to continue
probably as long as the government en-
dures. The industry and perseverance
with which the democrats keep up the
third-term cry is evidence that they be-
lieve in its power to harm the republicans,
and makes it our duty to meet it with res
dilute and Incorporating denial, even
while we believe that such remarks as
those of Senator johnson concerning Pres
ident Grant and third term are utterly
without foundation, rest entirely upon fic.
ton, and have no purpose whatever ex.
cept to distract the public mind and work
mischief to the republican party.
The resolution approving the course 0
the President in Louisiana was passet
Tuesday by the strict party vote of 81
ayes republican, to % nays democratic
Judge Chrlstiancy of Michigan voted will
the republicans to the last. notwithstand
ing Thurman by ingenious amendments
and provisos sought to so entrap Senator;
who are opposed to certain phases of the
Louisiana case that they could not vote
for the pending resolutions. Booth alone
of the Independents, voted with the dem.
ocrats. There were three republican SEN
ators absent without pair. All absent
democratic senators were paired, so that
the vote on the final passage very nearly
represents the relative party strength in
the new senate.
The full report in our columns of the
meeting at Waterville yesterday,
shows that the Eastern Railroad succeeded
in accomplishing its object. 1t controlled
q l..