Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1875-08-25
ANDY JOHNSON.
Tribute 10 the Dead statesman by the
Late Secretary OF the Treasury,
Hon, Hugh A'CullOch.
The Failures OF the FX.President at.
tTibuted TO His Chronic Distrust
Of POlitleians-Bis DeyO-
tiOn 10 the Union,

To the Editor of the New York Tribune;
LONDON, August 2.-I have been
panied by noticing in the London Times
q c8tla dispatch announcing the death
of Andrew Johnson. | hope l may be
permitted to offer his memory a tribute
Of respect. | knewsMr Johnson init
mateIy for four years, and had perhaps
as much of his confidence as he gave 10
any member of his cabinet. My i'm
preston, however, was that his expe-
rieuce as a politician had made him dis
trustful, and that he never gave his con-
fiienc5 unTeseTvedly to sDy one outside
Of his own family. This distrust was
one cause Of the unpopularity, rot to say
fsilUre, Of his administration. Had he
cODtiied in the leaders OF the party
which brought him into power, and
gone with them, his path would have
been pleasant one; or IT, discarding
them, he had called to his aid the lead
els Of the opposition, with whom, on
most questions, he was in sympathy, he
would have shared with them the re-
spoDsibiitieg Of a most difficult position,
and received support which he needed
scously, perhaps distrGstful OF his fellow
men, but conscious Of the Iectitude of
his intentions, he attempted the impOs-
sibility Of administering properly the
government ia the most trying period
Of its history without party to support
him. Distrust was one Of his faults, and
in becoming President, not by the choice
of the people, but by the death of Mr..
Tfnanlr1 md syoTiah on aocOI1nt Of l, ia
being 8 Tennessean notwithstanding
the evidence he had given of his fealty
10 the UDiOn), with suspicion by many
Of the extreme men Of the north, it was
perhaps his greatest fault. Another fault,
and very dangerous one in the
Chief Magistrate, was an irresistible
propensity 10 make speeches and to in
dulGe in inVectives unbecOmiEg his
crest office, aud frequently unjust to
those whom he attacked, or against
whom ne undertook to defend himself
he never cOmprehended the power OF
silence. Then, too, he was combative
His whole life, from the tailOr's bench to
the senate, had been filed with the COM
bats in which he had been engaged,
single-handed, with powerful southern
ali5tOcraCy bent upon preventing his pO-
liticsl and social advancement. This
cOmbatiVeness h carried into the eXecu-
tive mansion. 1t had become part Of his
nature. and he could not rid himself Of
it. He seemed never to be happy un-
less he had some one to strike at or to
denOupce. Such were his faults, and
they were gTievCu5 ones in the highest
officer OF this government, but great as
they were, they were counter balanced
by many Of the nOblest qualities. He
was 3 man of convictions, and unaltera-
bly, true 10 them. Lacking quickness Of
apprehension, he was slow il reaching
conclusions, but when he had reached
them he adhered to them with uncon-
qderehle teuacity. No brayer man,
morally or physically, ever lived. SEN
sitive TO pain, he possessed an indomit-
able will, that enabled him to endure
pain without 3 murmur. During bis
occupancy of the executive mansion he
Was the victim q most painful disease,
and although his agony was, st times,
most excruciating, it was indicated
only by slight contraction of the
facial muscles. / said to him one
day, upon observing this peculiar mus
cular contraction: "Mr. President, you
are not well.n "NO," ne replied; "no,
Mr.. Secretary. l could not suffer more
if an animal were gnawing at my vi
tals;" and yet he continued at his work
ss if in perfect health. He was Of the
same material that martyrs were made
of, and had he lived in their Gays, and
been sentenced TO the stake, he would
have died as they did, without Tecanting
his opinions, or giving expression to his
agony. A bitter enemy, he never struck
foe after he considered him vanquish-
ed. In his family relations be was af-
feCtiOnate and indulgent; fond Of chill
dren, he was as gentle and kind in his
treatment of them as a woman. Not
WithstandiDg his distTUst CT men, he was
full of generous emotions. Never ab-
sent from his post, he was one of the
most indeIatigable workers. He was
orderly in his habits and tasteful in his
dress, and although deprived Of the ad-
vantage of what is called good society
in early life, he hsd the bearirg and ad-
dress of u gentleman. The White House
was never more what the mansion Of
the President ought to be than when it
was occupied by himself aud his mod
est, unpretending, but really accom-
plished daughters. SDgmatized by his
opponents as an inebriate, he was not
Incorporate In the use of liquors. For
some six weeks after he became Presi.
dent, he occupied a room opening into
mine, il the treasury department, where
saw him every hour from nine o'clock
in the morning until five in the after
noon, and for nearly four years there
was not q day, both in sessOnable and
unreasonable hours, that | did not meet
him, and although frequently saw him
under excitement, which stranger
might have regarded as indi-
c&tBg intoxiCati1n, never saw
him under the influence of liquor.
The reports OF his inebrlety,
which were circulated broadcast over
the country, and believed perhaps by a
majority of his cOuntrymen, were au-
daciOus calumnies. Mr.. Johnson was g
man OF vigorous intellect. What he
lacked in culture he made up in robust
strength. His annual messages with
the exception Of his fduE pas in regard
to the payment Of the government
bOnds), and his other messages to con-
gress, are admitted to have been among
| the ablest Of our executive papers. Of
! his patIiotism-his hearty devotion to
the Union-there can be no question.
! He gave illustrative proof OF this in
| Tennessee, when to be an OutspOken
| Union man was attended with danger
that few men, however brave, dared to
| encounter. During the dark day 5 Of the
| war his was about the only cheering
voice that came up from the south. l
| TeCOilect with what enthusiasm he was
| received when he cam to, Indiana to re-
! bike treason and strengthen the faith OF
the supporters Of cur government when
its existence was in peril. He lived
long enough 10 make friends of thou
sands Of his enemies, and the welcome
that he received when he ereturned TO the
senate, of which he had been for eigh-
teen years a conspicuous memb Der, and
before which he had been tried as q
criminal, was as creditable to his former
| opponents as it was honorable to him.
self. His love Of the Union found fit,
ting expression in his dying request
that the flag Of the Union should be his
winding-sheet. Peace to his ashes, and
honor to his tneInory.
HUGH M'CULLOCH.
Killed by Savages.