Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1875-02-23
Andrew Johnson Back In the Sen ate.
From the Nation

From the Nation
When johnson himself now takes up the old
articles aud reads them his grim features must,
10 spite of bis want OF humor, otten be lighted
up by the broadest OF broad grlus, and unless
he has 10 bis seven years retirement lost some
of his old fire, be will, when Congress next
meets, treat the Senate to a speech 10 sub
stance somewhat as follows 81 felt when |
was under accusation that my enemies were
making themselves ridiculous, aud that | had
done nothing wrong, and that, though | was
perhaps not one OF the greatest or most decor
Gus men who ever sat 10 the Presidential
chair, nevertheless not only was [ not the mon
ster that was painted, but worse men might
come after me, and without being prosecuted or
denounced 1t is true | advocated plan of
reconstruction OF which the party did not APP
prove, but it was one which Lincoln devised,
aud which he, had he lived, would have car.
rlcd out aud which it is now plain an honest
aud patriotic man nj ght very we'll have sup
ported. You have carried out your own plan,
aud you are actually Boosting of its failure, and
trying TO prove to Us every day that it has re-
suited IN leaving the South in the worst posi-
ble condition. You confess that it has deprived
the negroes Of all protection for life or property
and has impoverished the whites; aud you
must admit that worse result than this
mipe could not nave had. You said | was
corrupt; but while | was u office | never
accepted a gift, and | never put u relative
10 any place OF trust or profit, or used the
public service 10 promote my private To-
terests or those Of my family. | par
doncd, doubtless, some very bad criminals
but no criminals of my pard0niDg ever found
| their way Immediately attcrward into Govern
ment Offices. | never offered prisoner undor
trial the hospitality of the national mansion 10
which lived nor had | ever the auiaci!y,
nuch as | despised Congress, 10 nominate for
high civil function man who it had just lcgis-
lated out OF Office for gross corruption. My
views on the national finances may not have
been sound 10 all respects had not the ad-
vantage OF all the discussion which the subject
has since undergone, but put the Treasury IN
charge OF an experienced fnancler-uot Of al
ordinary politician who advocated and car
ried out as long as he was allowed the very
| policy Tor which the WlseSt OF you are now striV
| ing The treasury was never made Ia my day
the headquarters ola ring OF lotormcrS aud pee.
ua;or=, and. though you thong hi was regard
less 81 law, | never permitted such c tremcud
| Gus ASSUMPTION OF power a. Issue Of paper money
! Tor political purposes. oy single mac and ID de-
hanct Of tie opal0n OF Committee o. the Sen
ate. Nor did | ever take the iu0dS belonging
TO the foreign service ol the g0verCman from the
hands OF great banking house, aud give them to
" al street airenlurcr with small capital and
les credit. 1t is true told Emory that the Law
directing orders to pass through the general of
| the army was unconstitutional, but | never
shered tie general Of the army com plete!y aud
sent orders without any regard to him, DOR did
any army officer, with my permission. ever IL
terterc With the organization OF State Laglsa-
ture or issue rltupera;lve proc!amatlOnS direct
cd against whole classes Of citizens. Moreover.
although l was not successful in bringing our
differences with Eog!and 10 a happy termina-
ZION, l honestly stIoVe for that end as we'll as
| Knew how. selected for TIE English mis-
sion one of the most distinguished lawyers
in the couotry, who had half century of
honorcd private character behind him, and
VINO though he doubtless was over-guShiDg
10 his relations with our enemies, came back
without leaving stain on bis Oame or that OF
his country. No Spectator or adventurer ever
dared TO approach him with any scheme for the
spollation OF inspecting foreigners, and, so far
as he was known in the society of the capital
to which he was accredited, he was known for
learning aud ability and for an il!u>trious pro-
tessional career: and if he did not conclu1c Il
treaty, neither did his successor | made, Il Is
true, some foolish and vitupcra;iyc speeches;
but you had in Congress plenty Of meu as
foul -mouthcd as |, whom you honored or
laughed al; and if you expected mc to become
polished and sei-rcstrained, choice in my Ian
guage and 10 my company. you we're more ex-
acting toward NE thai you have been since To-
ward Others. My tongue may have been loose
aud my temper had; but can at least say Tor
mySeftha the affairs Of State were the sub
jects of which most loved to talk and thiuk;
that for forty years they had been my main in
terest; and that my own comfort or qualification
or enrichment was never allowed to prevent my
absorption 10 them; and that my friendships,
such as they were grew neither out OF toys nor
lust DOR wine, but out Of sympathy and agree
ment about public concerns.