Baltimore daily commercial. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1865-1867, 1865-12-06

The Message just submitted by President
johnson to the two Houses of Congress, is
one Of the most concise and comprehensive
State papers ever issued by chief magistrate
of the Republics and as complete vindication
of the Government i'll its struggle to maintain
itself against disintegration and overthrow, it
leaves nothing needful to be said. Thoroughly
and carefully analyzing the rights of the State
and general Governments respectively, and
conceding to each the powers justly their due,
he shows that in what has happened of late,
the course taken by the defenders of the Con-
stitution was inevitable; that doing less than
has been done by the champions of republi-
canism, would have been the destruction of
all that was valuable in good government, the
triumph of all that could be deplored in the
overthrow of equal rights and the hopes of
progress. Invoking the precepts of the found.
ers of the nationality, and justifying his action
by what they have clearly laid down, he tells
the nation why he has been slow to interfere
with the rights and prerogatives Of the States;
why, in the plenitude of the power already
conferred upon him as the National Executive,
he has had no occasion to use his great powers
more freely than he has seen fit to do. Anx-
ious to let a partially disruptured government
reconstruct itself, so far as it could be relied
upon to accomplish so great an undertaking,
he freely tells Congress and the people why he
so unhesitatingly made the experiment of with
drawing military rule from certain of the States
lately in revolt, that unless the return to the
| Union was made upon the basis of the rights
| of the States. as clearly understood remaining
unimpaired, the central government of which
| they formed the constituents, would also be
weakened, that "the whole cannot exist with
tout the parts nor the parts without the
| 'whole.
| And whilst he dwells upon the evils insepa-
| rable from military rule, he sets forth at length
| the nature of that policy, bold yet considerate
and wary, which following closely the reac-
tionary spirit manifested from time to time,
has enabled him to trust those who have been
most deeply engaged in defying the authority
the Government. Vindicating the Federal
authority by the appointment of provisional
Governors" and encouraging the formation
Of public opinion through the action of the
State Conventions recognized as occasion
served, the reestablishment of Post offices as
public benefits, along with United States Courts
and other national agencies looking TO bring
ing security to persons and property, have
had their kindly influence, making the return
Of the General Government "known only as a
''benefcence," and rapidly doing away with
that feeling Of distrust which has to so great
| an extent been fostered by the acts of revolu.
tionists and demagogues only intent on lead
| ing the people astray. Admitting the "risk'
Of such a policy, he chose that, as the
least of possible evils; and if he had
done nothing else in his whole event
full career to entitle him to the appea:
ton of statesman, and to the gratitude of the
people, these broad and liberal views, and this
course so fraught with brave and hopeful
trust in the better qualities of the masses,
would be amply sufficient to place him
amongst those recognized as the benefactors
of the nation. Inviting" the States lately in
revolt to participate in ''the amendment of
''the Constitution he has again, in this.
made them largely the judges Of, and the con-
trollers Of their own destinies; and intimating
the promise Of q general amnesty for those
who have broken the laws, yet are repentant,
he appeals to the strongest motives possible
in the direction of thorough and speedy re-
construction. And if his invitation is
rather imperative, if he insists upon the
amendment" as much in the nature of a final |
test of what is sincere and "loyal," it is far |
more of forbearance than could have been ex-
pected, and certainly no more than all the cir |
cumstances fully justify, if we are ever to have
in truth a restored Union.
He deals but briefly and indecisvely with
those questions appertaining to the standing
of the freedmen and this doubtless, because
on other occasions he has set forth pretty
much at length what he deems his power to
deal with their claims; and if he has thus left
these matters more fully to Congressional ac
ton than most others, he is, we think, fairly
justified in doing this, in view of late events
and the PRONUNCIATION of opinions from promi
nent quarters. That he is most kindly dis
posed toward them is plain enough; because
far from insisting upon the necessity of "colo
nizing" them elsewhere, he encourages them
TO hope for good future in country where
there is a demand for labor from all.
"He predicts a glorious future for the Gulf
Estates, now that slavery is at an end en-
'.joining them ito look away to the future which
''is sure to be laden for them with greater
prosperity than has ever before been known"
But following this, is passage calculated
to awaken feeling of anxiety, we think,
amongst certain great corporations, when he
says-''No State can be justified in devise to
''tax the transit of travel and commerce be-
''tween States.' Therefore-let ''the State of
Camden and Amboy,'' for one, take heed.
Coming to the reports of the Secretaries, he
briefly, but hopefully, passes them in review,
the Report of the Postmaster General espe-
cially, presenting most encouraging condi
tion of affairs, that department which in the
olden time was too often dead weight upon
the public treasury, as well in its high rates
as upon the people. The large reductions in
the Navy and the War Departments are dwelt
upon with much apparent satisfaction, and
coming to the Treasury Department, he
speaks in the most decided terms Of the obi.
CATION of the nation to stand up to its liabil-
tiles unfinchingy, whilst, at the same time,
pursuing the most rigid economy in order to
maintain the National credit unimpaired.-
He commends the action already taken in re-
ducing the volume of currency, and without
| considering ia National debt National
blessing" he terms it a ''heavy burden" to
| be gotten rid of "without unnecessary delay"
But it is in dealing with our complications
| with England, and with our foreign policy
generally, that we apprehend the Message
will be dwelt upon with peculiar interest
Justly complaining Of the conduct of England
in her course towards us, he significantly tells
Congress that he does "not advise to any
present attempt at redress by acts of legisla-
''tion;'' and in referring to the action of other
Powers in taking advantage of our past trou-
bles, he shows that he has abated nothing of
our prescriptve rights and claims; that these
are only held in allegiance; await "a more
convenient season. for their adjustment.
The Message winds up by earnestly con-
graduating the people of this country on the