Reminiscences of Sixty Years in Public Affairs, Vol. 2Boutwell, George S. (George Sewall)
History
Reminiscences of Sixty Years in Public Affairs, Vol. 2
Boutwell, George S. (George Sewall)
Boutwell, George S. (George Sewall), 1818-1905; United States -- Politics and government
Some conclusions are deducible from this survey. First of all it is
to be said that he never assumed to be a member of the Republican
Party. Next, I do not find evidence which will justify the statement
that he was a disbeliever in the right of a State to secede from the
Union. It is manifest that he was not an advocate of the doctrine of
political equality as it came to be taught by the leaders of the
Republican Party. When he became President, he was an opponent of
negro suffrage.
This record, though not concealed, was not understood by the members
of the convention that placed him in nomination for the second office
in the country.
This analysis prepares the way for an extract from the testimony of Mr.
Stanley Matthews, who was afterwards a justice of the Supreme Court,
and who was examined by the Judiciary Committee of the House of
Representatives when engaged in investigating the doings of the
President previous to his impeachment. Mr. Johnson was appointed
Military Governor of Tennessee the third day of March, 1862. Colonel
Matthews was provost-marshal at Nashville, where Johnson resided during
his term as Governor. In that term Matthews and Johnson became
acquainted. When Johnson was on his way to Washington to take the oath
of office, he stopped at the Burnet House in Cincinnati. Matthews
called upon him. Matthews had been a Democrat until the troubles in
Kansas. In the conversation at the Burnet House Mr. Johnson made these
remarks, after some personal matters had been disposed of. I quote
from the testimony of Judge Matthews:
"I inquired as to the state of public feeling on political matters in
Tennessee at that time. He remarked that very great changes had
taken place since I had been there, that many of those who at first
were the best Union men had turned to be the worst rebels, and that
many of those who had originally been the worst rebels were now the
best Union men. I expressed surprise and regret at what he said in
reference to the matter.
"We were sitting near each other on the sofa. He then turned to me and
said, 'You and I were old Democrats.' I said, 'Yes.' He then said,
_'I will tell you what it is, if the country is ever to be saved, it is
to be done through the old Democratic Party.'_
"I do not know whether I made any reply to that, or, if I did, what it
was; and immediately afterwards I took my leave."
The larger part of this quotation is only important as leading up to
the phrase that is emphasized, and which may throw light upon Mr.
Johnson's policy and conduct when he came to the Presidency.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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