The daily gazette., 1877-12-21
POLITICAL TREASURE TRovE.

found good deal of matter that, if
not really important, throws a good
deal of light upon the ex-President's
character aud show to some extent the
manner in which his famous policy
was shaped by extrinsic influences.
Here is an immense couglomeration
of letters and kilograms, several col
umns of which are printed as samples
from men of high and low degree in
public.life, whose close connections
with johnson were either never
known or have since been entirely for
gotten. In February, 1856, a conf
Dental friend of Oliver p. Morton
telegraphed that the latter was ready
to accept position in the Cabinet of
"His Accidency," as he was then styl-
ed. About that time johnson was
quite toast with influential Republl-
cans, although his policy was already
clearly foreshadowed. Colonel For
ney telegraphed his congratulations
from Phila delphia and Slmon Came
ron from Harrisburg, in view OF tie
Pennsylvania election in the autumn
of 1866, while Charles Summer fired
a solemn protest from Boston at the
White House. On the 22d of Febru-
ary, 1856, Henry.J. Raymond, of the
New York Times, telegraphed, "En-
thusiastic popular sentiment here is
Overwhelmingly with you," and Wll>
liam FL. Seward, who was lin New
York, capped this dispatch on the
next day with the sanguine statement
that "The country is safe; the admin
istration is established; its enemies
are nowhere" The historian Ban
croft was ELUSIVE in his praise of
johnson and his policy; he seems to
I have kept on the blind side of all the
administrations that have come along
in his time. James Gordon Bennett,
the first of the name, wrote conflden-
tial letters purporting to disclose the
political situation in New York. He
did not hesitate to cay that Mr.. John
son occupied "a position in this coun-
try only equaled by that of the first
President after the Revolution of 1776
but with future far beyond the past
in breadth and volume" He virtually
placed the Herald at the disposal of
| the administration. From all quarters
came messages of cheer aud and in
| functions to stand firm. No wonder
that the Tennessee tailor was encour-
aged to go to the length of antagon-
izing his party and becoming an habi-
tual vetoer in carrying out a policy
that seemed to have such q strong
backing.
| 1t is curious to note how many of these
posthumous papers are devoted solely to
the claims of office seekers. There is q
vein of humor running through many of
the letters that was by no means appar>
ent to the writers. There was very little
civil service reform talk ten or twelve
years ago the men who wanted offices
for themselves or their friends talked
business without shame-facedness Ia
1865 j. Madison Wells, the now famous
Returning Board tactlcian, was a prom
inent character in Louisiana, although
he had not risen to the dignity of max
/ ing Presidents. He came right to the
point in telegraphing; 81 deem it to
the interest of Louisiana that shall be
appointed Provisional Governor. A
uniform system of reorganization is, In
my opinion, nationally indispensable"
Another Louisianian, who was not at all
backward in coming forward, was Judge
W. I'll. q. King, who was made Collector
of New Orleans by President Hayes and
has now given way to Etfiingham Law.
renee. Judge King heard that "the
government was IN Immediate need of
proper person to represent 1t at Mexico"
and was willing to accept the place and
"depart at three hours noUice in reve>
nue. cutter" Mr.. G. w. Chamberlain
| telegraphed all the way from Denver,
Colorado. that his position as United
States District Attorney was worthless,
and that he wanted to be Chief Justice
of Wyoming or Utah, being "competent,
honest, and your friend" Mr.. Tilaen
had not taken the civil service reform
fever in '67. He begged the appoint
ment of one Pierce as Collector of the
Third New York District on the ground
that eit would help us greatly in Kings
tory, said 81 want Francis A. Thomas
O'Callaghan for Assessor; please nomi-
nate to-day" Mr.. John Welsh, of this
CITY, very modestly bespoke the appoint
ment of General Burbridge, of Ken
lucky, as Commissioner Of Internal Rev
enue, in behalf of "the Conservative
johnson men of Philadelphia Brick
Pomeroy offered one hundred thousand
volunteers to fight for "the President,
who is the government. W. e. Cndnu-
Ter, of New Hampshire, best known in
late years as bloody-shirt waver, was
on the same platform with "Brick," and
took occasion to whisper by wire that if
one Willard were appointed Postmaster
at Concord he would esteem it great
personal favor.
A United States Senator now dead
wrote that his State was close, but that
zone district at least could be carried for
the policy" if the President would ap-
point to unimportant offices two young
men whose parents would, in considera-
tion thereof, disburse Sfour thousand
dollars for the good of the cause. Andrew
Johnson's disgust was recorded upon
the envelope in the words, "four thou>
sand dollars offered for twoappointments
TO Office" johnson indeed seems to
have kept his head pretty well in the
midst of the bombardment of prayers
and threats. The Jefiersonian require
ments of a ofice-holder are elaborated and
perhaps better stated in all Endorsement
upon a telegram of General John w.
Morgan, of Ohio, objecting to certain
appointment. The answer in the Presi-
dents own handwriting, was: sour
dos;,.a 10 to annoint pond faithful com-