Baltimore daily commercial. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1865-1867, 1865-12-23
THE PRESIDENTS TRIUMPH OVER TIE
EACTsONESTE.

The recent demonstrations in Congress hos
tile to the President and his policy have not
been unexpected, considering the manner in
which the session opened; but now that some
thing like an open rupture has been reached
in the case of certain gentlemen, assuming to
be leaders, we do not see that the Executive
has suffered particularly, but that-on the
contrary-he is stronger with the country at
large than he was before matters were brought
to direct issue. In truth, he has. we think,
been suffered to go much farther unmolested
in his reconstruction policy than could have
been presumed; and had he been arraigned in
more moderate and becoming terms, by those
who differ with him, they would have stood q
far better chance of carrying portion of the
country along with them. But when in answer
to his exceedingly moderate and dignifed
message, he was accused of deccption-of at
tempting to impose upon the nation-the
American people could see for themselves
how little occasion there was for such an at
tack, and that angry and extreme partizanship
had more to do with it than any desire to
benefit the great cause the people have so
much at heart.
And the assaults in question would have
worn the aspect of temerity, had the President
been obliged to sustain them on the simple
merits of his policy so far as developed; but
when they occur right in the presence of Gen
Grants declarations, sustaining the action of
the Executive and fully justifyng him in what
he has done, what chance have the mere
politicians, in what seems a mere factious
movement? Who will not take the straight.
forward testimony of the great soldier, based
upon his own personal observations, as to the
condition Of the South, in preference TO the
loose hearsays of those depended upon to
make good the petty triumphs of few dis
contented politicians?
Had the President given occasion, besides.
for this display of spleen, because of favor
shown the other great faction-the Gopher
heads of the tb,-there might then have
been some show Of reason for thus attemptinn
to weaken HIM in the estimation of The patriotic
Of the nation; but when he has been seen
earnestly and consistently maintaining his at
titude towards the Republican party proper,
by carrying out the policy of his lamented
predecessor, what occasion could there have
been for such all exhibit of needless aerimonv,
of bitter censure?
And here we must remember that if Presi.
dent johnson is open to condemnation for
having dealt mildly with the South, how plain
is the probability that had Mr. Lincoln lived.
he would have gone further in this direction
even, than has the President Indeed, he
had already by his action in this regard in.
CURED strong censure: and had he lived, there
is little room for doubt. but that by this time,
he would have been under the ban of the
extremists, something that should go far to
console Mr.. johnson for the attacks upon him
self,-that is if he lacks consolation, which
under the circumstances is not in the least
probable.
In view, then, of what has taken place,
there is not man of any discernment in the
country, who cannot see that at this moment
the President is stronger at all points than he
ever was before. SO long as the assault was
but foreshadowed, so long az the country
AHtW HoG WHO NOulu ledu OH, or the real
weight of the charges to be made, the oppo-
sition to his policy looked somewhat formid-
able. But now that we know the worst; now
that the reasons given for attempting to draw
the lines Of demarcation are so Aimsy, the
people can have no difficulty whatever in
choosing sides, and there is no alternative for
the attacking faction, but to acknowledge the
grave mistake committed, or to continue an
opposition that must prove ruinous to them
selves.
Let the country congratulate itself, then,
that in the person of the Executive, it has a
friend who is powerful for good With a
steady and strong hand he is lifting the nation
up from the depths to which attempted revo-
luton and thousand disabilities in the line
of bitter enmities had consigned it. Aiding
the return to a real peace, by appealing to the
reason and forbearance of all, he is on the right
road. and the people will not fail to sustain
him