The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1885-04-10
BLAINE ON ADREW JOHNSON.
Excerpts from the Second Volume Of .Blaine's
''Twenty Years in Congress-"

in Congress, furnished by the pub
Usher, w. T. Grant, appears in TIL
Neto York Tribune of March Is:
The character and career of Mr.
johnson were anomalous, and in many
respects contradictory. By birth ht
belonged to that large class in the
south known as ''poor whites s"-a elias:
scarcely less despised by the slave.
holding aristocracy than were the hu,
man chattles themselves. Born in
North Carolina, and bred to the trade
of tailor, he reached his 18th ycal
before he was taught even to read,
In his 18th year he migrated to Tennes-
see, and established himself in that
rich upland region on the eastern Dor.
der of the state, where by altitude the
same agricultural conditions are de-
veloped that characterize the land
which lies several degrees farther
north. Specially adapted to the cereals,
the grasses, and the fruits of southern
Pennsylvania and Ohio, east Tennes-
see could not employ slave labor with
the profit which it brought in the rich
cotton fields of the neighboring low
lands, and the result was that the pop
ulation contained large majority OF
Whites.
While Mr. johnson had been, during
his entire political life, member OF
the democratic party, and had attain
ed complete control in his state, the
southern leaders always distrusted
him. Though allied to the interests
of slavery, and necessarily drawn to
its defense his instincts, his prejudices,
his convictions were singularly strong
on the side of free people. His sym
pathies with the poor were accute and
demonstrative-leading him to the ad-
vocacy of measures which in wide
and significant sense were hostile to
slavery. In the early part of his career
as a representative in congress, he
warmly espoused, if indeed he did not
originate, the homestead policy. In
support of that policy he followed a
line of argument and illustrations alb
soiutely and irreconcilably antagonis-
tic to the interests of the slave system
as those interests were understood by
the mass of southern democrat leaders.
STANDING BY THE UNION.
In all the threats of disunion, in all
the plotting and planning for secession
which absorbed southern thought and
action between the years 1854 and
1861, Mr.. Johnson took no part. He
had been absent from congress during
the exciting period when the Missouri
was overthrown; and
after his return in 1857, he
co-operated generally in the measures
deemed essential for southern inter-
ests, he steadily declared that con-
sistent adherence to the constitution
was the one and only remedy for all
the alleged grievances of the slave
holders. 1t was natural, therefore,
that when the decisive hour came, and
the rash men of the south determined
TO break up the government, johnson
should stand firmly by the union.
Of the twenty-five senators from the
eleven states that afterward compos-
I'd the confederacy, Johnson was the
'nly one who honorably maintained
lis oath to support the constitution;
he only one who did not lend aid and
comfort to the enemies of the union.
lie remained in his seat in the senate,
oyal to the government, and resigned |
year after the outbreak of the war |
in March, 1862, upon Mr.. Lincoln's
Urgent request that he should accept
he important post of military COVER
or of Tennessee. His administration
f that Office and his firm discharge of
very duty under circumstances of
.reat exigency and oftentimes of great
eril gave to him an exceptional popu-
arity in all the loyal states and led to
is selection for the vice presidency
4 1864. The national calamity had
ow suddenly brought him to larger
eld of duty and devolved upon him
he weightiost responsibility.
The assassination of Mr.. Lincoln
aturally produced widespread de-
ression and dread of evil. His posi-
on had been one of exceptional
,rength with the people. BY his four
ears OF considerate and successful
ADMINISTRATION, by his patient and
ositive trust in the ultimate triumph
the union-realized at last as he
ood on the edge of the grave-he
I'd acquired so complete an ascen-
,ncy over the public mind in the
yal states that any policy matured {
I'd announced by him would have 1
zen accepted by vast majority of /,
s countrymen. But the same degree |
faith could not attach to Mr.. John 8
n; although after the first shock of t
Q assassination had subsidized there t
rs n general erous revival of trust, \
at least of hope, that the great !
)rk which had been so faithfully t
osecuted for tour years would be f
ithfully carried forward in the same s
fly spirit to the same noble ends. v
le people of the north waited with n
gorable disposition and yet with j
lancing judgment and in exciting
'od. They had enjoyed abundant il
portunity to acquaint themselves a
tn the principles and the opinions a
the new president, and confidence S
his future policy was not unaccom- W
MED by sense of uncertainty and, C,
Iced, by an almost painful suspense rt
to his mode OF solving the great CT
,blems before him. AS has been al W
dy indicated, the more radical re- al
Dlicans of the north feared that his 81
tn and rearing as southern man of
| his long Identification with the p,
'por;ers OF the slave system might th
id him to the most sacred duties of tn