The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1865-12-07

ana cneese wer0 nOmnally uncDanB0d. Whskoy was
dull and nominal
The Proceedings OF CONGRESS and tho
Presidents Position.
The people of this country have been in
dulging The hope for the last few months that
the war was being closed up, its wounds were
being healed, and that we were about TO
emerge from the shock Of domestic convul-
sions to peace and harmony. They believed,
as Speaker Colfax said in his opening address
TO Congress on Monday that "peaoe reigned
from shore to shore in our land" They
thought, from the universal support given TO
President Johnson and the eulogiums passed
upon him and bis policy by all parties, during
the late elections, that we had entered upon o
new and an astonishing period of.harmony. In
fact, there was no other issue but this. Both
republicans and democrats claimed the Presi-
dent, and made him and his policy their plat
form. The former were particularly positive
and earnest in their appeals 10 the people on
this; and it was on that ground, doubtless, they
obtained such an overwhelming success over
their opponents. 1T was the doubt which ex-
listed as to the sincerity Of the democrats in
protesting TO support the President that de-
fcated them, and confidence in the professions
of the republicans that gave them the victory.
AT the time the President was making as much
progress as possible 10 restore the Southern
States and 20 have their representatives ready
to take seats in Congress his name was the ban
ner and the battle cry OF the elections. Yes,
many Of Tie republican members now sitting
IN Congress tr.tnfhed through carrying tho
bgnnerof Andy Johnson.
Thas 10 one side OF the picture. Now Let us
lc; |. at Ike ot4or. The smoke OF the contest ia
hardly cleared away; for many days, or weeks,
at idrtheat have not passed since tho
election. The President has not changed
in ihc meantime, except tina. he has been moro
nrgcnt and emphatic in demanding Of the
South such measures as will satisfy the North.
Yet in The face Of these facts We SEQ a sudden
assault made upon Mr.. Johnson's policy by the
very party which claimed him, and by the very
men who obtained their seats through using
his name and pretending to support him. They
did not even wait till the President could in
form them by message what he was doing and
proposed to do, or what was the condition Of
affairs A decent respect to the Chief Mags-
trate and for the views he might express in the
mode prescribed by the constitution was tie
least that might have been expected from those
who claimed to be his party and who so lately
protested to be his warm supporters. II is the
first Congress, we believe, that ever acted in
such manner, and the act shows plainly the
revolutionary character of that body. Never
in the history of the country had the chief Of
the nation such important matter to communi.
cate and submit to Congress; never did that
body need full official information more, and
never was careful deliberation more required.
Yet the first day-the first hours Of the session
before The President had time to send his mos
sage, these men began 10 legislate on>tbe most
important questions, and that in manner
directly in conflict with his policy. Why this
covert hostility to the President? We suppose
Thsddeus Stevens Summer, Wade, Wilson and
other revolutionary radicals of that stripe can
tell the reason; but we think the greater part
Of the conservative republicans can not.
Looking at both sides Of this picture
we do not hesitate to say that there
never was greater fraud committed upon
people-upon their constituencies
than the members lately elected TO
this Congress have committed-that Is, judging
from their conduct at the commencement of
the session. We can only hope that the major
ity have been deceived themselves-carried
away, as 1t were, in an unguarded moment by
an artful and INSCRIPTIONS conspiracy, and
that they may get out of the trap into which
they have fallen. The whole proceedings, the
snap Judgment that was taken, tho concert OF
action in both houses, the leaders Of the move
ment, as Sumner, Thad Stevens, Bon Wade
and wilson; the radical revolutionary measures
initiated and the secrecy maintained till the
last moment-all show that II was matured
conspiracy against the President and bis policy.
It reminds us Of the convention during the
French Revolution. That Is thA nearest par
allel In history we know Of Our Jacobins are
as rabid, imprscticable and proscriptive a. the
Jacobins Of the French Revolution were, and
If allowed to have their own way they mi
plunge the country into tho cums Bloody
sES~ Observation-Disclosures ".
ahlfchy as their prototypes ee..s Frahcs X{
s.saf with pleasure, however. that some Of fne
members of the House--and the members Of
this great State are particularly mentioned
are alarmed at tho false stop they have boon
dragged into, and win not follow the lead Of
our American Marats, Couthons and Robe
sricrrcs any farther.
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