The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1865-11-30
A Quandnry.


Washington correspondent of the
Chicago Times Nothing is more un-
pleasant than to stand between two
sharp horns of dilemma, one of
which you must take, and either of
which pierces to the quick. And that
is the position of our amiablc friends,
the Puritan radicals
The Republican politicians who
have congregated here arc in an
awkward dilemma. In six weeks
from now they have got to choose
between two alternatives, equally I'M
palatable. They have got to either
endorse the reconstruction policy of
President johnson, and admit the
members of Congress from the South
ern States to their seats; or else they
have got to oppose the admission of
those members, and declare open War
against the President, and array them
selves in open opposition to him and
to his policy.
They are fully aware of the conse-
quenccs of either step. They know
that if they choose the latter alterna-
tive, they drive President johnson
into the arms vi the Democratic party.
TO whom he must and will look for
support; and they know further, that
the President, thus deserted by them,
will withdraw the executive patronage
from them, and bestow every Office in
his gift and every position within the
sphere Of his influence, upon those
who will have rallied to his support.
To see Southern man in the Cabinet
as Secretary of War, and O Northern
Democrat holding another seat in
that body as Attorney General; and
to see Democrats everywhere ap-
pointed collectors of taxes, custom
house officers and these
will be bitter pills for the 'loyal' to
swallow. But what is the other alter
native? If they choke down their
chagrin and yield their support to the
Presidents policy of restoration, Con-
gress will be organized with a full
delegation of Senators and Represen-
tatives from every Southern State.
Instead of having complete control
of the Legislation of Congress, here is
the way the matter will soon stand.
In the Senate-from the ten States,
nineteen conservative members and
one radical; from the five border
States, six conservative and Demo-
cratic Senators and five radicals; and
from twenty-one Northern States,
nine Democratic Senators and thirty
three radicals; total, thirty seven con
servative and Democratic Senators,
and thirty eight radicals. But in this
enumeration of radicals are included
at least three Senators who may, and
probably will, on many occasions,
vote in support Of the Democrats
In the House-from the ten Southern
States, tifty-tive conservative mem
bers; from the five border States,
nineteen conservative and Demo-
cratic members and fifteen radicals;
and from twenty y-one Northern States,
forty-seven Democratic members and
one hundred and twelve radicals;
total, one hundred and twenty seven
radicals and one hundred and twenty
one conservatives and Democrats.
And among the radicals there are
four from the border States and four
from the Northern States, land one of
these from New England J who, it is
feared, will vote with the Presidents s
policy.
Such is the dilemma in which the
Republican party finds itself. Squirm
as they may, they cannot dodge the
issue. They have either got to admit
the Southern members. and thus give
up the power in Congress, or else, by
opposing the President, become them
selves the "traitors'' that they have
called everybody, for four years past,
who has opposed the Presidents
policy. They will be "loyal" no
longer; for loyalty consisted only in
a blind adherence to the Presidents
policy. For some weeks past they
have been at their wits end which
horn of the dilemma to choose