The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1875-04-01
The Ex-President's Speech.

Approved March 5, 1875. sS@ COPY.
The Ex-President's Speech.
Senator Johnson is not an orator nor
everprctended to be. He does not make
great speeches. But he is a stern, un-
bending republican, an earnest and true
patriot, champion of local and popular
rights, who recognizes the Federal Con-
stitution as the bUlwark of these rights,
a statesman of wide and varied expert
cnce, and a man of unimpeachabie per-
sonal integrity. Add to this the fact that
he has been President of the United
States and we have an explanation of the
curiosity with which his speech was ex-
pected and the deep interest with which
it was listened to. There are some bitter
old grudges between him and his sue
cessor, growing out of the War Office
quarrel in 1867; for, leaving out of sight
the ugly question of veracity which has
never yet received an explanation that
does credit to Gen. Grant, there is this
undisputed fact: That Grant abandoped
his friend at critical moment and
went over to the enemy, carrying his
sword with HIM. Whether it was be-
trayal or not, it is certain Grant would
never forgive man who should treat
him in the same manner. Still, with
these unsettled scores against the man
who holds the high office which he held
in 1867, the Tennesseean's speech seems
absolutely devoid of personal resent
ment. 1t is a stern arraignment of
the Presidents Louisiana policy, and
there is an allusion in it 20 the Presi-
dents most unfortunate habit of accept
fty ,.rh, In al
greeable to the Presidents feelings; but
it is not personal attack. There is
nothing in it that may not be pardoned
to a man of plain speech as Andrew
johnson is; even if the gifttaking allu-
sion has a stinging personal application,
there are high reasons of public policy
why it should be made. This miserable
business of giving and accepting pres
cnts at Washington has grown to such
proportions and has had such evil effects
serves. This Mr. Johnson 6as done, n1>a and id
the country will thank him for 1t.
The speech was on the Louisiana ques-
ton, and it was directed mainly to the
Anthony resolution decided on in the
Republican caucus. That resolution is
as follows:
Resolged. That the action of the President
in protecting the Government in Louisiana
of which William p Kellogg is Executive
and the people of that State against domestic
violence and enforcing the laws of the United
States is approved.
The absurdity of considering such an
| important subject as this in special eX-
| ecutive session of the Senate, after Con-
gress had adjourned, was sharply exhlb-
| tied. The resolution ought never to have
| been proposed; the Senate had whole
session of Congress to consider the
| Louisiana question; nay, 1t has haG two
wears to consider it, in connection with
the other house; yet it ignores 1t all this
time and takes it up now in special
session only for the purpose OF soothing
the President with an Endorsement OF
his questionable conduct. 1t was, in
fact, violent dragging of a lapsed sub
iect before one-half of Congress for the
personal benefit of the President. The
Sheridan mission to New Orleans the eX
President presented in a new and inter
esting light. 1t will be remembered tha
the President, IN sending Sheridan tC
New Orleans, directed him to observe
secrecy, gave him very vague author
ity, partly military, partly political, ant
allowed him the privilege of defining tn
limits of his department. There wa
something singular in this secret investi
turc of an army officer, a special favorit
with the Executive, with the eXtraordl
nary authority which that officer mad
| so startling a display of Immediately Oh
, his arrival at New Orleans; 1t was a
, though Sheridan had been commissions
to proceed to the South and mark out a
/; empire for himself-to set off a satrap
/. in Louisiana, Missouri, Arkansas an
+ Alabama and hold it at the pleasure {
e his chief This strange action, in COZ
nection with the Presidents change
: policy on the Arkansas question and III
: attempted passage of the Force BILL suG
= gest to Mr. Johnson's mind some gener;
i scheme, and he boldly declares that tn,
r scheme is a third Presidential term, to
! achieved by military control of the vo
$ of the Southern States at the next Pres
Dental election. Nor does he stop hel
: "a third term means an empire, and Til
I. he avows was to be the end of the pic
;. the traces of which were disclosed
/ Louisiana, Arkansas and Washington.
OF course the organs of the Admin
n tration will open on the Tennessee be
IS ator for this bold charge of revolutional
Y designs against their chief; they VI
r affect to laugh at his lamentatlon oV
e the degeneracy of our poiltics and
n mock at his imperial Interpretation
: the Presidents Southern policy. st
n the speech will do a world of good; it
: warning to the country and an ammo
/, ance to the Administration. Even if Il
d view it takes of public affairs is unmea
d urably gloomy it will be accepted as Il
e forecast of a statesman of great eXpe
d ence and sagacity, whose cToakings ha
lie often turned out to be intelligent prop
e ecies, and it will arm the people with
'e vigilant distrust of that Executive init
Of ference in the South that has produc
= nothing but evil, and which others /
I. side Andrew Johnson couple with thin
a. term scheme.-St. Louis AepubLtcd
:, March "a.
Sc An old bachelor thus impeaches woi