The Ouachita telegraph. [volume] (Monroe, La.) 1865-1889, 1875-02-05
THE ELECTION OF ANDREW JOHNSON.
from the New York Herald.]


Andrew johnson was member OF
the Senate when the war began, and
his course at that time was so popular
in the North that the Republican party
in 1864 made him its candidate for Vice
President on the ticket with MI. Lincoln.
When the assassination Of Lincoln
raised him to the Presidency Mr.. John
son adopted policy which speedily
brought him into conflict with the
Republican majority in Congress, and
resulted in a war between the lcgisla-
tive and executive departments OF the
government which had no precedent
in American history. He protested to
carry out the ideas of Mr.. Lincoln in |
respect to the South, but the country
preferred the ideas of Thaddeus Stevens,
and Mr.. johnson was defeatd and
escaped by one vote only verdict by
the Senate which would have forever
consigned him to retirement and made
him ineligible to Office. But though
he was not convicted upon the articles
ofimpeachmentpr preferred by the House,
Congress had the power to fetter him
by special laws. In the latter part of
his administration his usefulness as
President was almost paralyzed. The
country was governed by Mr.. Stanton,
General Grant and the Republican
| ASANOAo AAA OOAAS9tO w Z Hdtc Thought
that if Mr.. johnson had been a corrupt
man this unfortunate conflict would
never have occurred. Mr.. Lincoln
would have avoided it by his skill in
conciliating his opponents, and this
skill would have been employed honor
ably. But Andrew johnson possessed
no dexterity OF this kind he was blunt,
stubborn and defiant. He might have
controlled Congress by the improper
use of the patronage of his office, but
it will remain to his honor that he
refused to make a political market OF
the White House, and that even a
hostile Congress could not find Il pretext
to accuse him of personal dishonesty.
He was charged with public offenses
alone, and, though we do not think he
was entirely right in his course, it is
now generally conceded that the iInagi-
nary misdemeanors of 1866 were,in fact,
official merits.
Andrew johnson has fortunately
lived to see his vindication and to have
it confirmed by his election to the
Senate. Because the American people
know him so we'll, because he was
impeached and bounded as traitor
and chained and handcuffed by Con-
gress, the contest in the Tennessee
Legislature possessed a national interest
ana IS really national victory. He
is the bcstman that Tennessee could
have chosen, not merely for herself,
but for the Democracy North and
South. In the Senate he will be of far
greater use to the country than he was
in the Presidency, for the independence
which is inseparable from his character
will have better opportunity in the
duties of legislation than it could have
in those of the Executive. The Senate
needs men who have the courage to
speak the truth, and besides this, Mr..
johnson has probably protited by time
and experience. In his interview with
our correspondent he says he has no
rcvenges to crafty in his new sphere
OF power, and we trust to see this POM
Use faithfully fulfilled. He has reason
enough to be resentfui, but there are
greater reasons why he should he just
and impartial. His patriotism has
been vindicated by his State and he can
afford to be nagnaninous to General
Grant. Unusual interest will be felt by
tho country in his course in the Senate,
and we earnestly trust that the faults OF
his character will be obliterated and
forgotten in the splendid areer of use
fullncss which his election in the Senate
has opened.