The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1865-12-15
PRESIDEST,S MESSAGE.

which might almost, yet notquite, fair
ly be applied to the character of Presi-
dent Johnson's first annual message.
The face of the chief magistrate is turn
ed toward the beacon-ights set up by
the old Democratic mariners who nav
igated the stormy ocean Of politics in
years gone by, but, though he seems TO
desire that the ship of state may not
deviate from the course which they in
dicate, he trusts the helm too much to
the hands of those who steer in the
wrong direction, and we fear Us much
he will yet permit the good Old ship to
drift upon the treacherous rocks of the
Black Sea toward which he seems to be
unconsciously sailing. To drop the fig
ure, the President certainly adheres to
what is vulgarly known as his ''recOn-
struction policy" He re-iterates, what
he has often declared, that the States in
insurrection, did not, by the insurgent
acts OF their people NOR could they by
any act Whateverl dissolve their con-
stitutional, or political, relation to the
other States of the Union; that they
were never out of the Union, legally
speaking; and that, therefore, having
performed certain acts necessary TO as
sure the Executive and Congress Of their
submission to the Federal Government,
they are now STATES IN THE UNION,
just as they were prior to the breaking
out of the war. Just here, we think,
the President should have recommend
ed Congress to admit to seats the mem
bers of that body elected by the people
of the Southern States. He should have
made the admission of those Congress
men a measure Of his administration.
He should have said to Congress, these
men are your peers, and, if legally e.
lected, you are bound to admit them.
1t is true the President hints as much,
when he says,
''The amendment to the Constitution
being adopted, it would remain for the
States. whose powers have been so long
in allegiance, to resume their places in the
f1cO branches Of the National Legislature,
and Here6y complete tie 1cOrk Of rest0rd-
ton"
BUTT is not the business Of Presidents
tohint. Plain people cannot understand
how the Federal Executive can have
the courage to hang people withouttrial
by jury, and yet fear to speak his senti-
ments to a rump Congress. The Presi-
dent might as we'll have spoken boldly
upon this subject. The Radicals under
stand him, at any rate. They have no
respect for him on account of his timid-
ity, and in their Congressional caucus
they spat upon his suggestion that sit
is for you, fellow citizens of the Senate
and foryou, fellow citizens Of the House
of Representatives, to Judge, eachQt gou
for yourselves, Of the elections, returns,
and qualifications of your own mem
bers." 1t is, indeed, a fact, that the
Constitution provides to this effect, but
what care the Radicals for the Constitu-
tiOn, or for the matter of that, what
care they for even the President" Their
caucus resolution recommending the
appointment of joint committee of
nine Members and six Senators, to pass
upon the right Of Members and Sena-
tors from Southern states to seats in
either house, is a direct assault upon
I this doctrine Of the Constitution and
/ the President. BY the operations OF
| that committee, ''you, fellow citizens
Of the Senate and you, fellow citizens
of the House." cannot Judge, each Of
YOU for yOlFSeireS, Of the election, &c,
Of your members" The nine members
/ Of the committee from the House could
/ deteT7niJle irhO ShOuid or ShOild not, hare
/ seats IN the Senate: and the sir members
: Of the committee from the Senate, lCUi
I t,r0 Of those from the House. cOuid dc-
/ eide lrhO shOuld hare seats in the House.
/ Thus it will be seen, that the Radicals
( do not heed the Presidents mild sug-
/ gestiOn, and that so far as his influence
upon their conduct is concerned, he
might as well have spoken with a little
more positiveness and decision.
/ There is much in the message which
we heartily endorse. There is much III
( it which we know our political oppon-
ents cannot approve. The theory of the
/ indestructibility Of the States, so clearly
set forth by the President, lies at the
( very foundation Of ourpolitical system.
1t is the cornerstone Of Republican lib
| erty, and, therefore, the basis of the
/ Democratic organization. 1t is the very
/ opposite of the doctrine of Thaddeus
/ Stevens andthe heCentraliZatiOnists tOWit
that the states lately in insurrection,
are conquered territory and must be
/ governed, as such, by Congress. This is
I the great, OvershadOwing topic of the
message and finding the President right
upon this, we can afford to overlook
his failure to come up to our ideas OF
propriety on subjects of minor impor-
tance. At all events, taking the mes.
sage as awhole, reconstruction" !" "ne-
| groes, "''Monroe doctrine, currency
and all, it is a great improvement on
any similar document, given TO thepub-
lie within the last four years. There
fore, let us be thankful.