The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1865-08-21
lCHANGING THETR TONE.

During the Administration of Presi-
dent Lincoln the Abolition Journals and
leaders declared that opposition to the
President was opposition to the Govern
ment" 1t would seem that they inter-
pref the rule to apply only to Democrats.
Or, at least. they do not consider them
selves bound by it, as their late acts and
speeches and writings abundantly demon
strate Since President johnson North
Carolina anti-negro suffrage proclamation,
Senators Sumner and Wilson, Congress
man Ashley, Wendell Phillips, Horace
Greeley, Ward Beecher, Tilton, and the
leading Abolition journals, have all de-
nouneed both the proclamation and the
President. But the coolest piece of eff
frohtery in connection with the matter is
exhibited in the following article copied
from the Cincinnati Gazette, prominent
organ of the radicals, which has hitherto
strenuously maintained that to oppose the
President was equivalent to committing
treason against the Government. Under
} the caption quoted. it says:
SUPPORTING THE PRESIDENT
Recently, meeting was called in New
York city TO pledge the support of that
city, or that State, or of the Union party.
to President johnson. We have not been
able to learn from the New York press
how much support was pledged 10 the
President by that meeting, nor for what
term it was enlisted. We observe also
that journals and politicians of the fearful
order are agitating themselves over sup
posed necessity for pledging the support
of Ohio to President johnson, at the
State Convention, June p, and over
division that is to be developed on that
motion. These ideas seem to mistake the
nature of our Government, and the rela-
tions between the people and the Presi-
dent, and to oyer-estimate the capacity Of
mass meetings and State Conventions.
In this republican Government the
people are called the sovereign, and the
President eir~,servant. They engage
him for term of service. They express
sentiments to guide him. They support
him when his acts suit them not by meet
ings or resolutions. but by electing Rep
resentatives IN political harmony with
him. When his acts do not satisfy them,
they turn and vote for Representatives
who will oppose him, or in disgust they
let the election go by default into the
hands of his opponents, and at the end of
his term of service they choose another
man. No mass meeting orsState Conven-
ton can make them do any-di iffferent from
this; therefore this support is all that
any organized body eaa pledge to the
President
Were it otherwise, we should have a
few politicians, for the sake of helping
their chances for the Presidents official
patronage, binding the people absolutely
TO support the President in whatever he
may do. 1t is well that they cannot be
bought or sold in that way, for there
would be plenty Of traders. The Presi-
dent knows that no party or State organi-
.zation can promise him the support Of the
people or party any longer than while his
policy pleases them; and that when they
pledge him popular support in advance
of measures, and while his policy is yet
experimental, or not clearly developed,
they initiate the free trading of the satan
ic parsonage, who proposed to pledge the
: whole world for personal consideration,
when he had not quit title to foot of it.
In absolute monarchical governments,
the subjects bind themselses, OF are held
bound, to support rulers without condi-
tions, on the principle that the king rules
by divine right and is infallible. But
this Is . republican Government, and the
positions of sovereignty and subjection
are reversed. IF the people are capable
of their sovereign Office, they viii In then
mass meetings and conventions expires;
their opinions ON public affairs for. the ad
vice and encouragement of the President
they win give him the moral support of I
declaration of sound practical principles
with the assurance Of their hearty support
As long as he adheres to them This ii
all that any convention can pledge, anc
all that the President win place any value
upon
Thar COPY CIrY.-Liquor is sold b.
the glass in l32 places on North street, Bos
ton f11a block which Is owned by LADY