The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1865-06-30

When Andrew johnson issued his
North Carolina prociamstion, We be
lieved, or at least hoped, it was bat an
experiment. Pointing out the danger
Of that policy, We refused 10 take for
granted that it was the natured pur-
pose of the President With every dis
position, and previously to that act
with every reason, to credit the Admin
istration with good intentions, we urged
that this scheme should be met st the
outset by a protest energetic enough to
restore the President 70 his balance,
and renew the confidence of the coun-
try in his wisdom. But our hope turns
ous presumptuous, our charity m s.
placed, and the Administration which
then seemed to be hesitating on the
brink Of a precipice has. taken the
plunge. We must make up our minds
that we have to deal henceforth with
President implacsbly hostile to tae only
method OF reorganization which is safe,
peaceful and permanent The South
is to come back, Sd far as the President
can bring 1t, on the basis of white suf-
frage, and Andrew johnson is to lead
the conservative wing Of the Republi-
can party 20 the contamination Of that
suicidal purpose.
No intelligent man doubts that when
Andrew johnson entered Office, he en-
tered il Radical on the question of
Reconstruction The expectation and
belief Of the country; the tone Of the
Presidents speeches in public aud pri-
vate; the declarations Of his friends;
all affirmed it, A recent letter says :
"Mr Sumner took early occasion TO give
the President his views upon the great
questions involved in the reconstruc
ton of the South, and he left the Pres
idential rooms firm in the belief that
there was no essential difference of
opinion on the main point between the
President and himself Chief Justice
Chase went South 20 make, presume
bly,, an authorized exposition Of the
Presidents views, and declared for ne
gro suffrage. a fortnight later came
the North Carolina proclamation, and
since then those Of Mississippi, Geor-
gia, and Texas, and there is no longer
doubt that the President is commits
ted to the exclusion of the blacks from
suffrage Whence this ehange2
We believe the time has come to
warn the Republican party, aS Es4 as
the country, Of its danger Il is time
at least for that party to ask whether il
will suffer itself 70 be Tylerized BY An
drew johnson. Not that the Republi-
can party is dear to us or that We have
any interest in its welfare as q party.
But it contains among its leaders men
who might save the nation If they
would, as well SIS among its masses .
probable majority who would sustain
those leaders It's destiny ought 10 re-
pose ia the hands Of those who are true
20 its principles, rather than Of those
who entered it IN order TO betray them
If the former can retain or resume cen
troll Of the psrty, they are committed
{, such a policy as will save parry and
ccuntry together-hence our interest
ia the matter. But from the hour OIL
his Inauguration, the President has
been surrounded By q very different
clsss of men, and has yielded himself
TO influences which brought him down
to the level Of his North Carolina expe-
riment His confidential adviser has
been Preston Kingg snd behind Pres
tlin King has been TharloW Weed, who
long since publicly abandoned the Re
publican party, because Of its anti
slavery policy under President Lincoln
vet who has never ceased q be The
most intimate councillor of the R-pub-
lcsn Secretary Of state, and who holds
now 10 Andrex johnson the sarr E IL
ton hs held 70 Abraham Lincoln 10 the
early years Of She HaT; when it vas III
I insidious tongue that postponded
throagh weary months Of shame and
defest the adoption Of Emancipation a
3 var measure He and the strong
section Of the Republican party which
be represents, are today the. authors o
! the policy Of Andrew Johnsons Ad'
mipisaauo afr rar
Nor hsve they been without Other
allies Is Is Pet . mooted point Whelh
er the President means in the end 4
look even 70 that section Of the Rspub-
iicsn party foT support--WhetheF hs
may not resume his connection via
the Democratic party, carrying wsti
bin those Republican conservatives
who are xnre sooner or later 70 lost
their supremacy over their own crgani
sation. Il IS anazing hat The Repne
lean journals % noi take WhrninI