Year: 1866

L
sons Annual Message. The Sacramento
Union makes the following comments upon
the document:


The annual message of Andrew johnson
might well be his first effort as public man.
1t is Incompatible in one respect: it is the
coolest defiance of a whole people by pro,
fessed republican on record. If the author
OF this marvellous document had been bred In
the purple, had graduated in the school OF
Metternich, or had been trained to answer a
popular appeal with a fusilade, he could not
exhibit more sublime conceit of his superl
ority to the common herd of mankind or a
more profound Indifference to the deciara'
tions of public sentiment; but under such
conditions the performance would lind many
parallels in the Old World atmosphere OF
despotism. This johnson, however, the on
spring of the lowliest life in free country
has been trading on Democratic eapi'ai LOT
the past thirty years Seeking office, be was
always an "hGmble individual" one of the
people, loving the dear people with his whole
heat, respecting the voice OF the people as
the voice of God, and having no earthly am
bition but to serve the sovereign people iai'n-
fully and to carry out their wishes wherever
they might see fit to place him. His last
series of electioneering harangues, when as
President he trayersed the loyal States and
addressed crowds of citizens in defense of a
certain line of policy he had devised, TEEN
with such expressions of undying faith IN the
virtue. intelligence and patriotism OF the
people. Let the people speak, and he would
be content to obey whatever might be the
command of those whom he so deeply loved
and highly esteemed. They spoke, and with
laundering voice. They declared their
opinion of the man and his policy with a
vehemence that appalled, even the stoutest Of
the Presidents adherents in the North. Yet
this eminent Democrat, in the first elaborate
paper on the state of the country he was
called upon to issue after the contest, resumes
the advocacy of his policy where he stopped.
shows no consciousness that an election has
been held, and coolly recommends Congress
to do that which the people have declared
and arrogance of concert we take this to be
quite unequaled by anything in the annals of
Executive assumption.


The condition of our foreign relations is
not generally believed to be serene and com.
forting. That portion of the message which
discusses the subject, and which was proba-
oly contributed by the faeile pen of the
Secretary of State, is calculated to convey a
more agreeable impression. True, it is ad-
mtted the French have not been written out
of Mexico also that Napoleon says he will
not leave until Spring, and has made no
reply to n remonstrance sent by our Govern
ment to Paris but then it is hoped the En-
peror will reconsider his naughty breach of
faith, because there is nothing but this Mex
lean obstacle to retard the restoration of the
traditional friendship between the French
and the Americans. 1t is, moreover, con-
ceded that no adjustment of the question of
the Alabama claims has been reached; but
we ought to recolect that our English
friends have spent great deal of time in
changing their Ministry, and the new Cabi
net, composed of Derbyites, evince a disposi-
tion to discuss the matter in friendly way,
so that we may reasonably hope, in the
course of human events, to hear of favOra-
BILE result. Meantime, the Fenians are not-
fed that they will not be allowed to ruffie the
smooth arrangements of the Secretary by
getting up raids on our Canadian neighbors,
for the President is determined to enforce re-
spect for the neutrality laws. If the treat
ment of the question of reconstruction be
arrogant in the extreme, compensation is
offered by the message in servile Difference
to tie whms and wishes of foreign Powers
unknown to American diplomacy before
Seward came into possession of the State
Department The President atones for defy
ing the American people by making an obse-
quious salaam to England and France!


The usual summary of department reports,
which embodies facts of Importance to the
whole country. is followed by Peckfnifian
appeal for the restoration of fraternal rela
tions, the preservation of harmony between
the coordinate departments of the Govern
ment, and the perpetuation of free institu
tions We call this Pecksnifian, because the
hypocrisy of it is both deep and transparent
The man who has been the chief obstacle to
the restoration of peace appeals to the guilt
less to cease making trouble. The man who
endeavored to suppress the legislative de
partment of the Government, and thus de-
stroyed the possibility of harmonious CO.
operation. prays that the departments may
henceforth labor together for the good of the
whole country. The man who has done his
utmost to restore tyranny in the South, and
make the freedom won by the war curse to
the colored race. prates about perpetuating
free institutions. 1t is enough. The message
is fit expression of the spirit and character
of the Administration long since ceased to
represent the best elements of the nation
What the President says is of far less impor-
tance. Just now, than what the Congress of
the United States does.