The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1866-01-12
nha sirna of the Times.

--- Those simple souls who hoped and expect
ed, by the temporary adjournment of Congress
over the holidays and the contact of members
with their constituents, that the radcalism
would be taken out of that august body, and
that it would be converted into stolid as
sembly of conservatism" must feel sorely dis
appointed. The truth is, the people are right,
and they are in advance of their Representa-
tves generally, and as a result, since the ses-
sions commenced again the tone of Congress
on the great questions of the day, seems to
have acquired new strength and vigor. The
radical speeches of Messrs. Spaulding and
Shelbarger were quite as advanced in their
substantial doctrines as the speech of Thadde-
us Stevens a month ago, and they appear TO
have been received with more marked signs of
approval. And these were not New England
gentlemen, but representatives of the West
which was said to be inclining toward con
sentative" influences. 4riA
The Boston Journal calls attention to an
other indication, the passage ola resolution in
the House, by the strong vote of "a to 3d.
though a few tender-toed Republicans like
Raymond of New York, voted with the Demo-
Gratis against it,-declaring it to be the sense
of the House that the troops should not be
withdrawn from the late seeded States until
the two Houses of Congress have ascertained
and declared their further presence there no
longer necessary. .,,....'. '-. -1.r-sg. ).
Says the Journal, referring to this resolution:
This is construed in some quarters as a re-
Election on the President and Gen. Grant
But we do not perceive that such constuc-
ton is warranted. Gen. Grant in his report
on the Southern States, expressly advised
against the withdrawal of the troops at pres
; emit. Nor do we know that President John
son has contemplated any such withdrawal
{ The resolution simply asserts the right of the
e legislative branch of the Government to have
voice in this most important matter, which
does not turn upon the fate of other parts OF
the reconstruction question. The position
g taken seems to be reasonable and constitu-
tional, and we doubt ifany opposition to It is
developed in any quarter entitled to consider
alton. J DISCS e,i- - 'I .A'I g f-'t t'
The Argls, we notice, styles this resolution
Hdefant," and thinks it disrespectful and
wanting in courtesy towards the Executive
That paper says, Gin withdrawing troops,
from the late insurgent Statesl the President
acts by the advice of General Grant and 9TH
q er military officers" This is not true. Gen.
Grant was emphatic in saying that the safety
of all parties, demands the retention of mill
tary protection. But if he had advised other
wise as the Argus enormously asserts that he
did, that paper is the last one that should COM
plain of the action Of Congress. Has not the
argus for nearly five years been constantly
complaining because the military was exalted
above the civil power? and will it now COM
plain should Congress-the only proper en-
bodiment of power purely civil-overrule the
authority of mere military men, and decide for
itself what is suited to the protection of
civil rights and the enjoyment OF those rights,
in States lately in armed revolt against the
Constitution and laws? The truth is, our
down street neighbor rides any kind of nag |
that suits his purpose for the time being. He |
has gone for or against war, for or against mill
itary authority, for or against the Govern
ment, for or against good faith, for or against
disunion, for or against any or all efforts of
the Government to uphold its power and put
down rebellion, as for the moment seemed to
promise the best dividend or party invest
ments. Committed to sinking cause, and |
bound to an effete organization, sometimes
sick, sometimes feeling well, but always poHti-
cally corrupt, he has changed fronts, aturned |
about and wheeled about" now accepting and |
anon rejecting the same specifics, with as little
regard to consistency as the notorious charac-
ter described in the Hudibrastic couplet:
"The Devil was sick, the Devil Monk would be;
The Devil was well, the devil a Monk was he." =