The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1865-12-29


has compelled Congress 70 give up one Of
its most important acts, and 70 behold its
VIII supplanted by an opposing Execu
tive order. since the close Of the war, il
has been 90 exercifed by the p. esent IN
cumbent Of he Presidential Office as 10
make the people and Congress appear alto
gether unimFOTtant and Insignifcanti and
10 remind The rejecting observer rather Of
the institutions and power Of an sbsolute 1
monarchy, than Of those Of 3 Democrats /
Republic. To such an extent, indeed, has |
he carried his arbitrary acts, that even s |
Senator, always moderate in his modes Of
expressi- u, has felt himself compelled TO |
remind him that he eo1ld not yet say Of
himself like the French autOcrat: ''Ihe |
State, ] am al" To be sure, President
johnson has not yet employed this language
Of absolute power; buthe has sought, by the
whole tenor aud spirit Of his otieial conduct,
to make il true, even 10 the lsss letter.
The people Of the North, by the exertiOn
Of their utmost strength, aud the Offering
upon he altar Of their country Of hitherto
unheard Of sacrifices, have, ct last, after
fur years Of war, succeeded 10 crushing she
rebellion, which, armed with abundant
means by the aid Of a double treachery,
both from within and without, succeeded in
rendering doubtful for q long time, not
merely she existence Of the Union, but that,
also, q the Republic itself The tremend-
Gus efforts required 10 extinguish this dan
gerous rebellion, have shaken the nation
through every limb, and 70 its hottest ex-
tremities. The course Of this great contest,
and the necessities il imposed, produced
chsnges in the opinions and conditions Of
the people that had not been before 50 much
81 dreamed OF. Old organizations persisted
and new principles Of natiOnsl If, devel-
opment and civilization arose 10 claim the
attention and control the action Of states
men. As from the War Of Independence
the nation dates its birth, 50 from the great
War for the MON must il hencsforth date
its regeneration. II ever any people were
interested IN building for their country q
better future, those Of the United States
should now be 50. As no true Democrat, sf-
ter she War Of Independence, ever thought
| Of surrenderng into ihe bends Of the Chief
Executive Officer, the whole power Of the
people, in order 10 enable aim to dictate
constitution and laws 50, q is believed, no
true friend Of popular government and free
institutions, will now regard il as al all com
| patible with the Government then Cs,ab-
iished, 10 permit the President 10 assume 10
| himself the power Of rsc5nstrueting z y
| eminent IN the late rsbellious States, and Of
| prescribing, according 10 his own mere will,
/ The terms upon which they and their rebel
| lous people shall again be admitted into
the Union, SLOWED 20 enjoy the protection
II iis laws, and the privileges Of its govern
msnt.
] A -cnse Of duty arising from the paturs OF
his Office, The importance OF the occasion,
and above eli, the fact that the CoEstitu-
tion has conferred upou Congress the right
f'to suppress insurFections," and, as incl
deutal thereto, the right 70 determine the
| resu OF such suppression, should have
/ taught the President that the work Of recon
struction belonged to Congress; and if the
| urgency Of that labor did not admit Of us
| being postponed until the next Regular
! Session, should have impelled him ct once
/ 10 call an Extra Session. thai the interests
/ OF the Union might no. suffer no delay 90
| the one hand, or by his unauthorized exer
else Of despotic and arbitrary power on the
other.
But, instead Of following this safe snd
/ constitutional method, he has pursued a
/ systematic plan for the adjustment Of these
most important matters, the manifest effect
aud object Of which are 10 exclude Congress
| from having any lot or part in the settle
/ ment. He seems, indeed. 10 have deter
/ mined 10 accomplish it GA . spirit az once
! opposed 10 the INTEREST," Of the people who,
/ by their courage, perseverance, aud sacri-
| ice. have crushed the Rebellion aud pre-
served the Government, aui 90 the prnci-
| piles OF he Government itself With a busy
/ sctvity, he has lnbored % complicato the
work -of reconstruction BY laying 50 many
| hiudrauces, In the form Of accomplished
/ iacls, be- the way Of the action OF Congress
! toward the accomplishment of the final and
| proper adjustment Of our nationsl affairs, on
| its own previously announced principle
/ principle securing the right Of freedom 10
| all. In this way, he seems 30 have aimed
/ 81 placing beyogd the power Of Congress 10
| establish on just principles, what be hBs
| thus already spoiled. By pursu ng his own
| imprnctioRble and ruinous scheme, he has
i given the lie 10 all his former profess
/ sions has Knocked al aud insuued
/ justice ard law, degraded the dignity
/ Of his great Office, and is so far Hs he can,
restoring 20 all their former rights the still
| uurepentept enemies Of the Republic, aud
arming them anew with power, 81 Il il were
/ bis purpose 90 reconstruct, not the Reppb-
i.hc, but the Rebellion. The pardoning pow
I er, designed as q means 20 mitigate justice
for the public interest, has, in his hands,
/ become means 30 abolish justice Tor the
| public ruin. No rebel, however block his
treason, OF atrocious his barbority, hiss been
excluded from his favor, while the negro,
| whose faithful attachment, and courageous
/ seh-sacrihcilg spirit have contributed great
| IL 10 save the Republic Is, 50 far a. tie
/ President has been able, sull kept down BY
| him 10 a pariah condition, more oppressive
4 even than slavery itself To secure the in
/ tcrest of a ireucherous Tended aristocracv
| he exerts bis entire energies, while the free
! doml wing people Of the North behold
| themselves cheated Of all the legitimate
| FRUITS OF their enormous sacr fees, aa AZ The
| Fearful war had only been conducted 70 show
/ VII en- section could Gu the most graves
I That for which q million Union soldiers
fought In q hundred bloody battles, the
| CommaUder-in-Chie destroys with a sin gle
: u L. a.
traitors by 8 tning them privileges, and b.
| trays the nlends Of the Republic by aban-
doning them. Il is o. IL treae5n, at first
| called "thc greatest Of crimes, % had be-
/ suddenly transformed into the greatest Of
| merits, and 10 ~, by striving Tor univer-
I sal Freedom and justice, bad become e crime.
I In view o. bis conduct. We have a right 10
ask, &c any rebel had been placed IN h.s 70
sition would be hsvs ventured 10 dc NOR IN
I the interests Of his companions IN Grim.
I than the President has done9
Congress has enacted a law concerning
/ The couhecatiou % the property Of robels !
! The President annuis it by returning them
] their property. Congress has, by laws. ex-
cluded traitors from Office. The President |
Treats it with CONTEMPT by appointing trait
I oEs o the most important of1ces. Ne', Il IS |
The President anon whom the Constitution |
] iaya me obligation OF providing for "the /
I proper execution Of the laws"
70 leave m ofaee thFee years longer
nan who thus sbuses his power by creating
I conditions that carry within the \, the gerrns
o. smother civil war, the uudersisned con
slider treason g The RCpubhc. They deem
it necessary. Therefore, that this man on &C.
count Of the violations OF the Constitution
under which be holds his suthority. on sc-
count Of has mis- government. and on &C
count o. his contempt fer the laws Of Con.
gros. shall BE- inpeachod aud removed
RON his oacc. They are, 81 tue same tine,
OF opinion thai CO igress owes tbs measure
70 iis own dignity and position. in order 10
sssert and maintain principe which has
been rendered doubtfgl-the principle thai
the Executive is responsible % the Repre-
seniauves Of the people. and must bow 10
Their Will. The nation has a right 10 know
whether iis trst servant Is appointed a. an
AutCcrlt, OF - a Republican 6fices