Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1865-10-20
THE PRESIDENTS PLATFoRM.

W HHc polltlclanS all over the country, ot
all shades of opinion, are shouting out, each
that he is the true supporter of President
johnson, we notice that they are all some
what shy of the most important part of the
Presidents platform
Mr. johnson declares that slavery IL in
compatible with free and republican govern
ment, and he holds further that there is
but one way to get rid, finally and forever,
of the evil. Here are his own words;
The mode by which this great change
the emancipation of the slaYe-ean be effec-
ted, Is properly found In the power to amend
the Constitution of the United States. This
plan is effectual and of no doubtful authori-
ty; and while it does not eontravene the
timely exercise of the war power by the
President in his Emancipation Proclamation,
it comes stamped with the authority of the
people themselves, acting in accordance with
the written rule of the supreme law of the
land, and must therefore give more general
satisfaction and quietude to the distracted
public mind.
We call the attention of influential polit-
cal leaders to these wise words of the Pres
dent. Emancipation he holds to be so ne
cessary, that he wrote in the same letter
from which we have quoted above: 1t is
in vain to attempt to reconstruct the Union
with the edistracting element of slavery in it. +"
The true way TO secure emancipation, he
goes on to say, is by the passage of the Con-
stitutional Amendment
Thus he adopts this important measure
as his own: to oppose thatis to oppose him,
as he very well understands, and he is not a
man to be blinded by loud pretentions of
support from men who at the same time
stab him by defeating the most important
measure of his policy. When politicians
now claim to represent Mr.. johnson, and to
be his special supporters, the people will
ask: What do you say to the Constitutional
Amendment? 1t has not yet passed-will
you, do you support it9 Have you used
your influence with your party friends, to
induce them to pass it? Have you openly
and clearly committed yourself in favor of
it,
1t is of no use to say the issue is past-it
is not; the amendment is not yet ratified BY
the re- requisite number of states It lacks the
vote Of three states, we believe In at least
two of those states, elections win be held
this fall. It is very easy for parties, SO
harmonious" as each of the leading par
ties now claims to be, to press upon their
leaders in those states the open support of
the amendment, and thus to secure its pas
sage; that viii be an assurance to the coun-
try that Mr.. johnson is really receiving sup-
port.
But if either party in these states opposes
the amendment, its professions elsewhere
will be received with suspicion. The people,
who do support the President, will say to
these party leaders: In the only places
where you have chance to do anything YOU
do wrong; in the only states where your
support is important to President johnson
you oppose him; what then is your support
worth2 what Is the value Of your hollow
professions?
Here, therefore, is a test: When any
politician, no matter of what party or fac |
ton, claims to support PresidentJ ohnson, .
ask him what he thinks of the Constitution
al Amendment; if his reply is not clear,
loud and definite, you may be sure that his
pretentions are false.--EUe,aino Post