The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1865-10-21
THE PRESIDENTS poLTSY.

Aiou III tIldt we can gdtAer IL appears
that President Johnson intends to rid his
hands almost entirely of the actual work
of " reconstruction in the South, and let
it devolve upon Congress. He has con
tented himself with putting in motion the
machinery by which the "rebellious "
States shall reform their local govern
ments under the Union, elect their Rep
resentatives, and choose their Senators in
Congress. The question of the admission
of these Congress must, in either House,
determine. This is. at least, in something
like conformity to the Constitution, which
declares that leach House shall be the
Judge of the elections, returns and quail
heations Of its own members"
We opine, however, that it is not
any sacred regard for the Constitution
which actuates the President to this
course. He is well aware that upon this
question of the admission of Representa-
tives and Senators from the Southern
States, the party in power is almost GER
tain to divide, and become, against each
other, the most malignant of warning fac
tions. To avoid actual responsibility and
escape the maledietions Of both factions.
whatever may be the final result. he holds
aloof from any interference in the matter.
In this he may be cunning, but certainly
not frank, We're his motives good, the
lneoplc would approve theman as they may
his course; but when they are satisfied
that it is as an aspiring politician and not
as an honest public servant and v%irtuous
!, statesman he adopts this policy, while they
may accept the act they viii not applaud
the actor.
If it is to replace himself in the affec.
!, t;ons and confidence of the Democratic
, party that President johnson is pursuing
, his present policy towards the Southern
| States, he will most signally fail. The great
| mass of Democrats all over the Union will
not again receive and repose faith in the
/, man who sought to make himself foremost
and most notorious in the days of Widest
, ~licence, among the many odious and infa
a nous public men who bent all their enc
| gies to the destruction of the republican
: form Of government the Revolutionary
| fathers founded, and who alike violated
and trampled upon the Constitution ant
laws, and outraged every impulse of hui
: mainly, right and Justice, both toward.
their ceuntrymen in the South and theil
brethren in the North.
Whether he can succeed in his apparent
! purpose of gathering to his support ant
building up a formidable party devoted tt
5 his own political fortunes. from the fac
items into which his policy will undoubted
: II split the present Abolition party, re
mains for the future to decide. We thinI
he will fail as signally as John Tyler fail
E ed in a similar effort. He may have a
: his heels those who still class themselve
e as . War Democrats, !" and the ~aconserva
!, tive Republicans" But these two ar
simply organizations of of6ce-seekers an,
! political eharlatans-neither birds no
beasts, but bats-ready at any moment t
! abandon any sinking cause and rush t
y
the ranks of any victorious one. MI
johnson can depend upon the adherence
t of such factions to himself just so long a
: he can dispense favors to them, or hav
the almost certain promise of being abb
= to do so, but not one moment longer
y There can never be but two really grea
y opposing party organizations in the cour
try. One of these will be the Democrat
party. 1t alone, of all the other partie:
has withstood the test of time, the disser
sions of the designing, selfish demagogue
q within itself, and the most terrible assault
of its implacable foes. It is the only part
# which has risen from the prostration
lie repeated defeats, accomplished by fraud
he or t~reachery, and again bore itself cree
= united, firm in its faith, and confronte
and triumphed over its enemies. The d
i feats of other parties have proved the
t death knell. This is the certain fate whic
L awaits the Abolition party But the Fl,
dra will appear with another head: and
er is under that the opposing hosts of D
mocracy will mainly gather, IfMr. JohI
son can manage to create himself the ne
W h~ead-piece of the Hydra, he may find b
hind him a formidable army of adherent
But this is his only chance. lie can new
ve again be the accepted, recognized lead
Mt of the Democracy.
as We have diligently searched the last nur
#. Der of Mr., O'Meara's Confederate Democra
" and fail to find a word of revilement abo
Secretary Stanton. We must be permits
- $500 p