Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1865-01-26

IT has been stated that the design OF Congress IN
Il the important action It has already tsi'en, sud
in that which it IS according 10 report prepared 10
take. Is simply 10 humiliate tie President We can
10, spppose that the President himself taxes th's
;sv of the case lie cannot believe that the Repre-
sentaiives Of the people and OF the States come
40 The CAPITAL animated with the purpose, not Of
serving their country but Of notifying It's Chief
Magistrate. He cannot impute so ignoble purpose
a that branch Of tho Government which does, tbeo-
rSicaly at least, represent, and which there is
abundant reason to believe does, ct this moment
practically express the popular sentiment We re-
rrs. extremely that those who are reckoned among
ana peculiar champions Of the President sEouio
urge this ahypothess. 1t persisted in, Il Can have
DSother effect than TO PrecPtate that antagonsm
with public opinion OF which we have already spoken
A. SO disastrous in its inevitable consequences Be
arse under this conviction, It would be absurd to
.uupose that the PresidAt would yield the views
and policy which lie believes o. be right, To demands
which. based upon such motives, hewoUld know 10
be wrong. The adoption Of this htpethesis must
then if we axe correct in our original superstition
as 60 the state Of public opinion In the country be
Frsught with nothing but evil, since Il VIII operate
ssa logical justification for refusal 10 comply viii
he suggestions OF Congress. Thus what would be
logical justification, would be practical eontr-
nation Of the views took occasTUn TO express N
our issue Of YESTERDAY; by compelling that very an
tsgonisua which II Is so necessary 10 avoid THIS, Of
course on the superstition thatour premises ere cor
rSct.
And We know them to &c correct. We say It
With reigctance, because We have learned It witt
rsgrst that. the public opinion Of this Conied-
srocv is hxed in the idea that the cause
has been imperiled By series Of blunders at Rch-
nord. BIZ ilcomversucy aud Dad management u
the mart OF the administration or It's impediatC
agents. To deny that this is the prevailing opinion
4sto dsnv rhat is as plain as the MONDAY anG
20 say that the dependency which weighs upon om
Ueople is not attributable to this cause, Is to t6
guilty of the sbsurdity Of saying that it is not at
tributable TO any cause al all. For the only Other
conceivable cause Is one which we fancy neither the
President nor any oC his couuseors will urge as al
explaratio2-that the people hive lost spirit be-
cause they have lest faith To in men, but IN princ
ples-not IN tie agents Of the cause, but IN tie
cause itself Ia assume this would be equivaieu
70 an abandonment Of the contest, and it would be
moreover, gross libel Oh. the people OF the Con
federste States. II they have lost faith In the
cause for which during four years they have strug
gIed so nobly, aud endured so many sacrifices, tber
indeed our future would b. hopeless aud we ougn
70 cease useless and destructive strife Nothing
could cure that radical deficiency. If they have
lest faith only in the agents by whom the contcs
has Seen directed, or in the policy which has beer
pursued, the remedy consists in tie very simple ey
pedieEEo changing the agents and. altering I'll,
policy.
It makes no kind Of difference whether
this opinion Is right or wong. II the public
wrong aud the President right, history Will vind
cate lis course aud his motives. But the effort {,
eoavincs the public at a moment when everything
depends on that concordance :betseen tbc
people and the Government which! is the
price Of our success, would be exact thi sttemp.
10 sthe public opinion and III vart the pubic wisLe,
which would he impossible, evenit beqefcia an,
fatal even IL practicable. la the heat OF such
controyefsy the interests of the country would b,
sure to :aaer aud indeed its very existence woul,
be sacrificed Il cannot be supposed thaNf!S IL,
sake Of q mere polemics victory, and for the graft
Ecation OF personal vanity the President "ill rsi
the salvation OF the cause. We Therefore, beg hin,
70 believe thar Congress is animated by no sucl
spirit as has been imputed 20 IL, that represent,
and represents even with resretldl reluctance, IL,
indisputAblo sentiments Of the country and that i
desires nothing 50 ardently as to give the Presiden
an opportunity Of regaining that confidence, in th
absence os which his most honest and vigorous ef-
forts would be only despairng and Ruthless expe-
dents.