Columbia Democrat and Bloomsburg general advertiser. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1850-1866, 1865-12-16
The Presidents Message.

! 0f Commerce, is one Of the most important
ever presented to tho consideration of
Congress and the people, The President
recognises the responsibility which rests on |
him aud does not fail to indicate that re
cognitiou. 1t is q pleasure to read his
clear, striking sentences, the undi'guised
utterances of man who thus appreciates
his position aud duties. The style Of tb G
message places it very for above anything
of its kind for many years. 1t is able,
vigorous, aud, as it approaches the concIu.
sion, rises to eloquence seldom equaled,
perhaps never surpassed in any American
State paper. 1t will take rank among
the noble documents Of our history, and
we may be pardoned the expression of a
hope that it is the Inauguration Of return
10 that style of message which has not lor
long period been in use at Washington,
but which will be acceptable to all cuItiva-
ted men who admire and cherish purity
and elegance in the English language.
degree satisfactory to patriotic men. We
look with sincere pleasure on the repeated
references to and quotations from Wash-
iugton. 1t is manifest that Mr.. johnson
has fixed his eyes on, and learned well
the lessons Of the early days of the Union.
He means 10 be disciple and follower Of
the Fathers. lie takes the Constitution
itself as his guide-the guide which alone
can lead the nation to the high seats of
prosperity and peace which he points out
= before US, He teaches the doctrines of
: good old days. There are points on
which perhaps he might have spoken to
our satisfaction, but chooses 10 remain ST.
, lent. Ho is doubtless the best judge of
: the propricty of silence or speech on such
points. As a whole, the tone of the mes
sage is likely to be acceptable to conser-
vatvo men, aud if they Go not wholly
agree with hia views on all the subjects of
which he treats, they cannot fail to rejoice
. at the firm determination indicated by the
President 50 lar as in him lies to preserve
both the Onion and the States which
torn the UuioD.
Upou the subject Of reconstruction he
draws the line very plainly between the
r duties OF the Executive and the duties OF
Congress. He informs the two Houses Of
Congress that be has adopted certain
general l,no Of policy, aud he gives the
reasons for it. lie does not say, but he
> leaves it to be inferred, that the whole
. subject Of military rule in the Southern
States is within his discretion, and that
he is attending to the proper duties oil the
, Presidency in that department. The re-.
7 orgauization OF State governments, the
l establishment of the several States Oil sol.
id foundations Of l-goycrnmeut-td these
and tue accompanying pro cedngs are to
f be the acts Of the people Of the States -
= The President makes known Oh what
terms and under what guarantees he pro-
poses to withdraw military rule snd per.
NIT the exercise OF self-goyernment With
& reference to representation in Congress, he
= submits that matter to the Houses where
it belongs. Ii is not within his depart
ment, and it is within theirs. II would
seem as if this was about al that is left for
. them to attend to.
t On the negro question he states dis
l trctly the doctrine that the General Gov.
ernment has nothing to do with the StQtUS
6 Of the negro in the States, but that this is
, purely within the control Of the people Of
| the several States.
, On the great question Of the day, that
= which throws the negro into the shade
(Mr, Sumner and Mr.. Stevens to the COB
;rary Notwithstanding, the finances, the
, revenue, and the debt, Mr.. Johnson
speaks words Of soberness and wisdom
: Such words coming from President
have good old sound that is pleasant to
our ears. We need not point out to our
> readers how thoroughly he expresses ideas
a and inculoates duties which we have been
0 for months urging as the necessary and
practicable steps toward redeemabIe cur.
reucy. Stop c4travagant expenses, check
the outgoing stream and show an income
o greater than the necessary disbursements
OF the government. This is the first great
t step in the right direction.
/ Upon our foreign relations the message
1t is suggestive, When we have the CORES.
pondence with France, to which alluson is
\ made, we shall know more about that
,. The course OF Great Britain is character
= ICED in a few strong sentences which are
is legiblo and Ineligible to all who know the
"a u language. In these few clear phrases he
~ ~ sums up the whole story of the long cor
70 respondence.
a. We shall not attempt any digest of the
-. ncsSooo Evnru ono will rood IL oorf,l ,