[131] McPherson, History of the Reconstruction, 240-1.
[132] Blaine, Twenty Years of Congress, ii, 222.
[133] McPherson, History of the Reconstruction, 127.
[134] McPherson, History of the Reconstruction, 129. This manner of indicating his disinterestedness caused great offense in some quarters. See the account below of the Pittsburg convention of soldiers and sailors of September 26.
[135] See Blaine, Twenty Years of Congress, ii, 237-239.
[136] McPherson, History of the Reconstruction, 130.
[137] McPherson, History of the Reconstruction, 131, 132.
[138] McPherson, 135. The following is a good example of the manner in which Johnson lowered himself to the level of the disorderly element, who made a bedlam out of some of the meetings he attended. The extract is from the Cleveland speech: “Who can come and place his finger on one pledge I ever violated, or one principle I ever proved false to? (A voice, ‘How about New Orleans?’ Another voice, ‘Hang Jeff Davis.’) Hang Jeff Davis, he says. (Cries of ‘No’ and ‘Down with him!’) Hang Jeff Davis, he says. (A voice, ‘Hang Thad. Stevens and Wendell Phillips.’) Hang Jeff Davis. Why don’t you hang him? (Cries of ‘Give us the opportunity.’) Have you not got the court? Have not you got the Attorney General? (A voice, ‘Who is your Chief Justice who has refused to sit upon the trial?’ Cheers.) I am not the Chief Justice. I am not the prosecuting attorney. (Cheers.) I am not the jury.
“I will tell you what I did do. I called upon your Congress that is trying to break up the government. (Cries, ‘You be d—d!’ and cheers mingled with hisses. Great confusion. ‘Don’t get mad, Andy.’) Well, I will tell you who is mad. ‘Whom the gods wish to destroy, they first make mad.’ Did your Congress order them to be tried? (‘Three cheers for Congress’),” etc.
[139] Tennessee, Texas, Georgia, Missouri, Virginia, North Carolina and Alabama were represented among the signers to the call.