The Wilmingtonian., 1885-10-31
MS pATRIoTIsM EuLoaIzrp.

nave, besides these thoughts which oe-
cur TO me hurridly, recoIlections of CONVEX
satlons with Lewis D. Campbell, of Hamil-
ton, Ohio, some three or four years since,
and just before his death. Mr.. Campbell
was one among the three or four leatling
Republicans Of that State. He was the
candidate Of the Republicans in Congress
for Speaker one term, and for four terms
was chairman of the Committee of Ways
aud Means. He was peculiarly astute and
skillful politician, understanding the mo-
tives of men and knowing how to play upon
their weaknesses, if necessary, for party
purposes. No man stood closer TO Andrew
johnson than he did. He knew him in
Congress- he was his adviser in Tennessee
when he was Governor of that State during
the Civil War, and be was constantly in
consultation with him from 1851 till The end
of his term. 1t was at Mr.. Campbell's
house-a low, roomy, comfortable struet-
ure in the centre of the little city of Hamil-
ton-tbat johnson made his home when
driven out of his native state. With Lewis
D. Campbell had frequent conversations
respecting the great men he had known.
Andrew jackson ne frequently spoke of.
lie admired bis courage, his just views of
the constitution, his patriotism.
1t was to Lewis D. Campbell, thus in
formed as to the secret history of the ad
mlnistration, chat once addressed the in
quiry:-
'Did you ever see in Mr.. johnson any
tendency or desire to make a dictator of
himself, as was charged by the opposition
prints ?''
sNeyer," rejoined he. s'IIe never varied
in his course. He had resisted the rebellion
in the South upon the basis of the eonstitu-
tion, and he held after the close of the war
that the States were still in. They could
not tear themselves away in any manner.
He did not, however, believe that they lad
lawful government at the ending Of hostili-
ties, and he was disposed to deal harshly
with the leading meu. He was not, though,
SO severe with the military officers as he
was with the civilians. l do not believe
that he would have done anything with Lee
or Beaulegard if he had had the power but
he would have punished JEFF Davis. Toombs
and the members of the Confederate Cabi-
net. He never made any move toward do
ing anything against any Of them, however,
except avs: f-s..tisah ~ lid he ever contemplate
..... any ...ut utsslo against Comfy. He saw the
| upwisdom OF what they were doing, But
knew that his own views would ultimately
prevail. So they have, but we have lost
fourteen years Of peace that we might have
Mad
"Hf never contemplated struggle
against Congress-" I submit that Camp.
oelfs knowledge of his man was far supe-
rior to Grants. They were in sympathy
with each other, while Grant was the last
person whom the President would have TAX
en- into his confidence. There are Doubt ess
letters in existence which will substautiate
this much more fully than am capable of
doing, but think no honest citizen ought
to allow any one who did SO much for the
Union as Andrew johnson, to have his fair
name blasted by the single conversation of
an enemy, uttered years after his death,
when all the circumstantial evidence and
the denial of the one who knew the history
of the time most thoroughly stand against
it. Johnson's fault was that he refused to
pursue the beaten foe at the South with re.
lentless enmity. He would not be the Ro
bespierre or the st, Just of the Mountain,
but would rather repress the violence of the
multitude"