New-York daily tribune., 1865-11-13
THE PHEsuDENT's POLICY.

TME PREslDENT's POLICY.
While our recent election was pending We
took no part in the strife of cehain champions
of the rival tickets to identify their party and
platform with the views of President johnson
on The grave problem Of reconstruction
That rivalry did not seem 10 us entirely credit
able to those engaged in it, nor conducive
TO the establishment OF truth. Let US de-
| termine what the Constitution dictates, what
honor, magnanimity, public security and
good faith require Of Us; having thus aScer-
tanned the true path if the President, or any
other important parsonage, is found walking
therein, so much the better; but let us, at oil
events, cleave to the Right, not a man.
The President will soon develop and enforce
his view Of the great problem in his first
Annual Message, which the whole country
awaits with solicitude, and will peruse with
interest and an earnest desire to find its leading
positions just and acceptable. That is the true
| spirit and il was never more generally eyinccd
than snow. Let us all hear before we
Judge, and consider before We applaud or con-
demn. No other person can interpret the Presi-
dent so fairly and clearly as himself.
| But the organs Of the Sham Democracy,
which so lately attempted to steal into power
under cloak of devotion TO the President and
his plan, persist in misrepresenting both. Thus
the last Sunday Mercury says:
During the late contest (which has resulted In the
success Of the Republicans both parties occupied sub
stantialy tie same ground Both announced their de-
ward the Southern States This policy based upon
u recognition Of State rights that while the Federal
e Government paramount in all rational matters. and
the first allegiance OF the citizen due to it's eutbor
ties the States are sppre in oil hin9s concerning t'r
onn local concerns including the tasis upon which Tue
evidently never embraced these views; but they sue
cumbed. and consented to play second fiddle TO thei
s. more sagacious but less honest associates"
d Accustomed as we are to such gross per
Is versions Of the views of the Radical Republi
cans we are surprised that the President shoul'
b. be so fagrantly misrepresented by those pro
Ii Tossing to be bis friends.
}, Mr.. Johnson practical denials Of the assumed
o supremacy of the States sin all things concern
ing their own local concerns, are notorious ant
emphatic. He requires of every State seeking
reconstruction" that it shall first abolis
= Slavery, or explicitly recognize that it is dead
}, beyond the hope of resurrection. Is not SLAYER
4 "local concern" 1t certainly used to b
= thought so. Then each State is required b.
him to rcnounce Or abjure the heresy of Seces
4 son By declaring null and void the act or or
4 dinance whereby Convention assumed TO TAX
her out Of the Union. A mere repeal does no
answer; because measure repealed to-da.
NAV be reenacted tomorrow: III fact, 1t
repeal presumes its precedent validity. He fur
ther requires every State seeking reconstruction
, to repudiate and annul all debts contracted il
. ils name for the prosecution Of hostlitie
I against the Union. Is not State Debt
matter Of 'local concern?" Most surely
Yet the President cannot admit that any Stat'
has ever lawfully contracted debt in resisting
the authority Of the Union, and he insists tha
the loyal people Of no State shall be taxed
TO pay any such debt. On his hypothesis tina
no State has ever been out Of the Union, w
see not how he could do otherwise.
The current Democratic assumption that thC
President desires the admission Of whatever
persons may present themselves at the bar o
either House OF Congress three weeks hence
and demand seats as members from the States
recently c0niederated in revolt against the
Union, has no warrant whatever. Most o.
those who will thus present themselves proclaim
that they cannot and will not take the oath o
LOYALTY which Congress has enacted ss q barrier
to the admission of Rebels. Not one Of these
States has yet fulfilled the conditions Of recon.
struction which the President has himself pro.
nounced indispensable. Let those who desire @
prompt and peaceful solution Of our remaining
difficulties unite in perSuading the States lately
insurgent to fulfill at least the Presidents re.
quirements; for whoever encourages them to
refuse Or postpone such fulGllment is really and
powerfully contributing to perpetuate the dis
fractions he affects to deplore.