Daily union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1865-1866, 1865-12-09
THEpREsrDENT AND THERADICAIs.'

1t is evident that the people of the South,
and the more conservative portion of the
North, are troubled with the apprehension
that the President may compromise too far
with the impcrious demands of the blind
and reckless majority which, unlucllily COM
pose the present Congress. We acknowledge
that we are more hopeful. No onc-not
even the bitterest enemy Of the President
idence in his purpose to adhere to the policy
he has laid down for his administration, we
cannot therefore, suppose that he will daily
with the avowed enemies of that policy, fur
Their than is necessary to get the advantage
of position.
The New York Herald, its editors and cor
respondents, are generally unreliable. Tue
following however, from its Washington cor
respondent, we believe correctly typifes the
condition of affairs and the feeling Of the
President relative to the South:
THE DIFFICULTIES OF THE PRESIDENTS
POSITION.
1t is very evident that the recent despatch
cs of the President to his Provisional Gov
ernors in the South are misunderstood.
Those dispatches are not to be interpreted
rs indicating a want of confidence in the
Southern people; nor are they prompted by
n feeling that the South has not manifested
the right spirit. On the contrary, the Pres
idcnt has full confidence that the right
spirit exists; but he has seen the extreme
tendency of some portions of Congress, and
he is DESTROYS that the South shall put itself
in position that will materially assist him
in the North, while combating with the ex-
IRENE measures of the radicals. This is the
true Interpretation of the dispatches asking
the Southern people to pursue a certain
course in their conventions and Legislatures.
The strength Of the President and the result
of the contest, if there is a contest between
him and the radicals in Congress, depend in
q great measure upon the tone of the South
ern people If the latter manifest dispo-
sition to be dictatorial or exhibit braggado-
clio, they will render it impossible for the
President to carry through his reconstruc-
ton policy and will strengthen the
extreme men of the party. 1t is
admitted by everybody that everything
looked favorable for the admission of
the Louisiana delegation last year up to the
time that a member of that delegation, ask
ing admission assaulted Mr.. Kelly, from
Philadelphia, and that that act alone set
tied their petition for admission adversely.
This is apropos TO the point. Mr. Johnson's
power in Congress depends upon the tone of
the South. If he can stand by his present
policy and retain the confidence of the great
bulk of the Southern people, there is no
doubt of the final result before Congress.
But if the tone of the South, and the dispo-
sition manifested by the public men there,
is such that the President, in order TO stand
bv and protect them against extreme meas
ures of the radical faction in Congress, is
obliged 10 cut loose from his Northern base,
he AT once becomes Tylerized and is power
less to aid the South in readiusting that sec
ton. 1t is therefore important that the
Southern people, in their conventions. Le-
cislatures and the applications of members
for admission TO Congress, should cxhibR "
disposition that will enable the President TO
endorse their course without outraging the
real Union sentiment at the North. This
is an important point. This is the true ex-
planation of the dispatches of the Provis-
sonal Governors indicating that their posi-
ton would be strengthened by adopting
sucb and such measures. 1t is not because
he is disrusted or dissatisfied with them. but
it is the movement of general who selects
his position 10 meet the enemy and fortlties
il. making il as impregnable as possible be-
fore the battle commences.
II will be seen from this view that the re-
suit of this contest with the radicals will
depend upon contingencies which may arise
from time 10 time If they sail out in bold
course and attack the President, as marked
out at the caucus Of yesterday, the latter has
the weapon and the materials 10 carry his
point. But suppose, for instance, that some
OF the Southern representatives IN the midst
of the struggle put on impcrious airs and
commence 10 make threats, or bluster about
the tables will be turned and the radicals
will be successful There Is a strong indl-
cation that the extreme men of Congress will
take every possible STEP to goad Southern
representatives on TO thu very point know
ing that it will result in the postponement OF
reorganization. Keep your temper Is there
fore the best instruction that can be given
10 REPRESENTATIVES, from the South.
The public must also make up their mind
that every expression in the Legislatures and
Conventions in the Southern States against
the policy Of the North, the negroes or any
thing of that nature will be magnihod and
as much made out of it as possible. These
are all the contingencies and 1t may be nom