Anecdotes of public men; by John W. Forney.

IINCOHERENT VICE-PRESIDENT. 177
in the Senate chamber. I do not desire to see the curtain rise
before a scene that both parties seem willing to expunge-the
Republicans, who apologized for it when it occurred, and the
Democrats, who regretted it after Johnson joined their despairing columns. But I can never forget President Lincoln's face
as he came into the Senate Chamber while Johnson was delivering his incoherent harangue. Lincoln had been detained
signing the bills that had just passed the old Congress, and
could not witness the regular opening of the new Senate till
the ceremonies had fairly commenced. He took his seat facing
the brilliant and surprised audience, and heard all that took
place with unutterable sorrow. He then spoke his short inaugural from the middle portico of the Capitol, and rode quickly
home. Bitter maledictions were immediately hurled against
the new Vice-President. I hastened to his defense to the best
of my abilities, believing the affair to have been an accident.
Threats of impeachment were common in both parties, especially among the Democrats; and the crusade got so fierce at
last that I found myself included among those who had helped
Mr. Johnson to his exposure. But no voice of anger was heard
from Abraham Lincoln. While nearly all censured and many
threatened, Mr. Lincoln simply said, "It has been a severe
lesson for Andy, but I do not think he will do it again."
In a little more than a month, Lincoln was in his grave and
Johnson his successor. Both have had their trial before the
same people. The verdict on each is irreversible. What was
at first a parallel has become a contrast. And this contrast
grows stronger with every hour, and will stand through all time
as a warning to the nations.
[September 3, I87I.]
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