The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1865-09-27

sis OF the policy of the Administration, and VIC feel
assured receive no tolerance at the hands of the
President. He. has taken his stand upon tho Con-
stitutbI and that alone as the true and exclusive
foundation of all therights and oil tho:duties of
the Government.
Duty to the President, North and South.
tfrom the Ne,o Fork IYorld, September 1911
1t is on all hands agreed that the next session of
Congress is likely to be the most important in our
annals annals More sh sagaqty and wisdom are re-
the war, than were needed in conducting the war
| itself Whetho}, reconstruction,. in the sense in
which President Johnson has initiated it: shall bn-
como an achieved fact, or whether the President
shall be thwarted and huiniliated, depends on the
action Of Congress in which strong determined
and influential faction will make vehement oppo-
sition to his plans. -
In question Of such magnitude and so far
reaching in it's consequences neither tho individ-
| uat Judgment and preference of Andrew johnson,
nor of Charles Sumner, Thaddeus Stevens. and
their coadjutors, are entitled to prevail nIes-
ton 80 lurge and yitaly affecting every public
and the general voice Of the country This Con-
gress was not elected with any reference to this
question: It needs instruction by the people; and
try, afford an opportunity for such general express
sion OF public opinion as ought to be deemed au-
Gals. when the session opens, will depend very
much upon whether the elections shall amount to
an unequvoeal endorsement of the policy of the
President. Ii 1T shall clearly appear that he is
supported by the people, that the popular tide
runs strongly IN his favor, tho negro suffrage
leaders will find but feeble following In view
OF the new Congressional election to take place
next autumn, members VIII not brave their con-
stttuents and the general sense of the country if
the elections this fall sanction the plen of the Pre-
sident.
But thore Is another set of circumstances which
viii prove even more influential than the North
ern m elections It depends, after all, mainly upon
ulnfl IL
shall be defeated and humiIiated and their section
be kept for q long period under the iron heel of
military authority Their bearing is, thus far, ad-
mlrablc. But II they should do anything, or allow
anything to be done, by which the explosive and
passionate Radicals could rekindle public indigna-
ton in the North and cause reaction their CON
thtion Will DC sealed tor a long time. The Presi-
dent is powerless against Congress-, unless
supported by public sentiment too strong for
Congress to resist.
The South is therefore bound in self-protection,
as wen as BY every motive of duty and patriotism,
to aid the President and their friends in the North
oy NE anogec'tona1'e character Of The men they
eject 70 congress, and the unequivocaf submissive
ness erlnced in their State management, If im-
medlately after reorganization they will get their
state Legislatures together, and ratify the pend
ing Constitutional Amendment, they will thereby
greatly aid their cause, AS they all acquiesce in
the destruction of slavery there can be no serious
objection to their taking this action, which will
hnaly shut tho door against the aspersions of the
1sadicas on their sincerity in submitting to eman-
cipation, and prevent the reopening of doubts as
20 HS colstftuttonat validity Their failure to do
this would, Of coursc, be no reason for the reec-
ton OF their representatives to Congress- but their
ratification Of the Amendment would increase thc
moral power OF the President and his control over
the subject.
Tho most important thing of all, in it's bearing
on the difference between tho President and tho
Radicals, is tho character OF the men elected by
the South to represent them in Congress. This is
not q subject for. ingenious reasoning and hair
splitting distinctions. The South must face the
facts If there be anything certain, it is that
members who have been Identified with the rebel
repealed, has the force of law, requires all mem-
bers Of each house to swear that they have never
rendered voluntary aid to the enemies of the Uni
ted States. at some future day, when confidence
is moro fully re-established, this law may DO re-
peaed; but certainly not at present, and probably
not until after the Southern seats are all filed.
The South must not be foolishIy blind to tho in
surmountable nature of this barrier. Even if the
Clerk OF the House Of Representatives shonld read
the names OF members claiming seats from the
oath is such that no active participant in the re-
belllon can take it. This fact 80 narrows the field
OF selection, that in some few Southern districts
competent mon cannot be found. u But it would be
peter to take man Ignorant Of politics, who had
boon conscripted, against his will in the Southern
army, than the ablest man in the South, if he has
been prominent in the rebellion. There will be
sseh dcafening hullaballoo raised by the Radi-
rdis over inen who are not sound, such q raking
up and .parading of antecedents, such charges Of
black sheep in the Southern delegations would
greatly prejudice the policy OF the President The
South ought to take warning by the avowed oppo
sltlon to the President, which is at present SO
rapidly developing among the Northern Radicals.
The contest in Congress is likely to be fierce and
passionate, and We trust the South will so act as
to aid their friends, not their enemies. .,. !.
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