Year: 1866

Hon. JoHS w. LEFTwIcH, member Of
Congress for the Memphis district in a


recent letter 10 one Of his constituents, thus


speaks Of the honesty and firmness of the


President


l have designedly said but little Of An
DREW JoHNs0N, whose deeds speak loudly
enough in his behalf, and will be renem-
bered with admiring gratitude as long as
republican institutions are 50 remembered.
He mest be seen occasionally, under ap-
parently the most adverse circumstances, TO


be fully appreciated. When his stoutest
hearted friends are most depressed with
gloomy forebodings, sight Of his ever calm
and hopeful countenance inspires conti-
dence in his success that cannot be explained
even by those who experience it.


Only to-day l heard Radical, though
very clever member Of this and the next
Congress, say to him: "1our honesty OF
purpose is all that prevents US from over
coming you;" and closed a very pleasant
interview by saying: 81 am sorry TO see you
looking 50 we'll"


His unwavering faith in the people, in the
face of the sorest disappointments, and even
treachery. is so sublime that it evidently
partakes more Of the Christians faith in the
Justice Of Omnipotence than he is himself
aware Of


Strange to say, his nOblest qualities are
assailed with most vindictive malice, and no
arguments are used against him with such
perverted ingenuity as the false charge OF
inconsistency.


His acts and expressions during the war,
when he was literally under fire, are con-
trasted with his present conduct as evidences
Of this inconsistency. Shame on such sophis-
try; and a deeper shame on people who
boast of their intelligence, and whose credu-
lity is so easily imposed upon.


Why not charge the war department with
Inconsistency, for disbanding an army, only
because it was no longer needed?


Why not charge Congress with inconsls-
tency, for not continuing to vote supplies to
an army not now in existence2


Why not arraign the sanitary commission
on the same charge, for discontinuing their
ministrations Of mercy, though the hospitals
are empty or the soldiers for cultivatlng
the arts of peace now, who were then ex-
posing themselves at the front? Any of
these charges would be as legitimate as the
one Of Inconsistency against ANDREW JOHN
SON.


Did he now act, or feel, or speak, as when
the rebel cannon were laundering around the
capital Of his State, he would indeed be
criminally inconsistent; but when with the
return of peace, he rises to the sublime dig
nifty of the occasion, how wicked and con-
temptible the complainings Of those too sOr-
did to rise with him. -


Tennesseans know full well how he ruled
with an iron rod during the existence Of the
rebellion; and though he has since manifest
ed the God-lize attribute of forgiveness, they
also know that, under similar circumstances
he would again grid on the dread panoply
of war, and hurl defiance at the enemies of
his country.


The rumors occasionally going from here
to the effect that he will modify his views,
have no foundation in fact, but are industri-
ously circulated with faint hope to induce.
him to do so. Indeed, he cannot change
while the Constitution remains the supreme
law of the land; for his determination to sa-
credly observe its teachings is as uuchange- |
able as the laws of the Medes and Persians.