The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1866-02-22
CHI A RLES T O N.
THURSDAY MORNING, FEBRUARY %, 1866.
yE7o THE FREEDMENS B UREA o BILL

| j.
| The veto of the President of the bill en-
larging the powers Of the Freedmen's Bu-
reau, the telegraphic announcement of which
was published yesterday, will have been re-
ceived by our readers with interest," and, Of
course, with pleasure. There are many con-
siderations to render that act of vast import
ancs. 1t is IN interposition to protect us from
o very great calamity; but tits also the une-
quivocal acceptance of the issue presented by
tho Radical party in Congress. With calm
ness, composure, the most perfect proprlety
of tone and manner, but with the utmost
frmness, the President has proceeded to ad-
minister the Government upon his theory of
restoration. That theory has been repudiated
by the majority in Congress. 1t was conve-
nient for them to treat the Southern States as
out of the Union. 1t was upon that theory
they could keep them out-in that way hold
the control of Congress; and to make their
theory good, they have grasped at the powers
of the Government itself.
They have presented measures projected on
their theory; they have required the Presi-
dent to approve them; they have required him,
in doing 80, to repudiate his own convictions
to undo his own work; they have loft him no
option, in fact, but to be the slave or the
master of Congress; and we take this veto to
be the distinct announcement of the fact that
he prefers, if compelled to choose, to be its
master.
What may be the consequences, docs not
ye. appear. The Radical party may have
intended, from the first, the game of brag;
and, assured that it will be unsuccessful, they
may abandonit, and accept the fact under some
convenient subterfuge. But it is not certain
they will do so. 1t is not certain they arc
not in earnest-that they do not, in fact, be-
lieve in their ability to storm the Government
that they have yet the discretion to shun
the further consequences of collision; or that,
with so much at stake upon this move, they
have the moral power to renounce it.
They have ventured upon an act of usurpa-
ton. The fact is as unquestionable as was
the act of secession by the South their as
.ault was az clear as was our bombardment
of Fort Sumter. Against it must necessarily
be arrayed the Union sentiment ofthe country.
That sentiment is now too strong to be resist
ed. 1t is stronger now, since the Southern
States are forced to realize that their fortunes
are indissolubly associated with that Union,
than it ever was before. Unity is now the
paramount fact against which sectionalism
can never stand again. Upon this question
the leaders of the movement now in Congress
can never 60 before the people. Their politi-
cal fortunes and their power are irreyocably
staked upon the present cast They now con-
troll Congress; it is not certain that they will
ever have majority in either House again.
What efforts they are to make must be made
now; and it is not certain that from the
present move they will, or can withdraw, un-
til they have realized the full ealamities of
its consummation.
Should they not, the fnal contest comes upon
this measure If they shall have the power,
they will pass the bill over the veto. That
they have the power is not certain, though it
is said they have; and when that is done,
then comes the crash. The President will,
of course, reply to the Southern delegations
Iu accordance with the theory under which
he acts, and upon which he will have staked
his fortunes, the members of these delega-
tions are as much members of the several
houses of Congress as are these who exclude
them from their seats. The President will
not accept, as the judgment Of Congress, an
act which certain members there assembled
are able to perform in virtue, only, of this ex-
cusion of others as justly members as them
selves. Either be is wrong in his theory
either these States are not in the Union and
our delegations are not entitled to admission
or their exclusion is an aot which he must
repudiate when the question comes, as it will
thus come, in an official form before him; and
replying to the Southern delegations, and re-
fusing to regard as an act of Congress res
olution Of the present body passed without
them, and refusing to execute the bill, there
fore, for reason that it will not have been
passed by the necessary authorities of law
it will be for the Radical party in Congress
to make their next move, upon which will
depend consequences Of iucalculable mo-
ment.
Having proceeded so far, it is not to he
supposed that they will there stop for the mo-
tives to iInpel them will be as strong as ever.