The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-07-21
steering tor the Rocks.

cal circles that there is trouble of some sort
ahead curing the coming year-trouble more
serious than any which the country has vet had
to encounter, and il is but right that the public
should know exactly the nature of the danger
into which, In the opinion of a great many men
who are neither hasty nor simple, IL is rapidly
drifting.
There is now very little question that the
President has fully resolved to commit himself
to the cause OF the South, and turn the Govern
ment over, SO far as IL Is In his power to do
so, He will make vigorous effort to do this
by the toims oil law, and by liberal use OF
cOrrupting official influences; but he will not
stop with these. He has entered upon path
which may, and unless there be more modera-
ton in him than has yet been revealed pro.
bably will lead him TO an attempt to carry out
bis theories by force Of arms, unless so tho
roughly deieaied in the elections this tall as to
destroy AL hopes OF dividing the North.
All our readers are familiar with the threats
which have been made by the Presidents new
allies, OF his recognizing the Southern members
and those who might Join them, as the genuine
Congress. This rs not likely TO be done at pre-
sent, simply because quorum could not be got
together IN that way. When the Southern seats
are filed there will be ~ Senators and 242 Re-
presentatives. But there are not more than 81
persons row claiming to be Senators, nor more
than SO claiming to be Representatives who
could possibly be induced to take part in any
such dlsorgan1zing and revolutionary proceed
ings. The scheme, therefore, cannot at present
be carried out with the slightest pretense OF
legality.
But the ne1t Congress will present an entirely
different question. There is very liclle dGubt
that the Republican party will lose one repre-
sentative in Connecticut, three in New York.
one in Pennsylvania, three in Ohio, three III
lnciana, two in Illinois, one in Michigan one in
Wisconsin, two in Missouri, and one in Kentucky;
while the four Johnson-Union members from
Maryland, Kentucky, and Missouri Will be sue
ceeded by other Johnson men, If not reelected.
Four OF the members elect from Tennessee TO
the present Congress are too loyal to support
Mr.. johnson, Not more than two Of these will
BE reelected. No members have been yet
elected IN Texas. Four SeCessionsts will appear
from that reconstructed State next winter.
Thus, at the opening of the Fortieth Congress-
III persons claiming seats in the House will
Ce1tdilty be prepared to support Mr.. Johnson's
policy. II he can only carry five more he will
have clear majority of those whom he
viii consider lawfully elected to the lower
that, IN addition 10 those losses which we have
before mentioned the Republicans will lose one
member in Connecticut (Mr. HubbarG), two
III New York (Messrs. Humphrey and Ketcham),
two In Pennsy lvana (blessrs Thayer and
Miller), two in OHIO (Messrs. Hub6ell and
Ashley, or Mr.. Clark), one in Indiana (Mr. HilN,
one IN Illinois (Nlr. Harding), ana one in Wis
consin lMr. Sawyerl, ten IN all; while it is not
certain but that five or SIX other seats may be
lost Taking, however, these estimates as the
basis OF calculation, 1t will be seen that the
probable loss of % members, though it would
leave a Republican majority of about 40 in the
House OF Representatives at present consti-
tuted (ll3 Republicans to II Jobnsonians),
would yet give the johnson party l27 members
out OF 242, In case the Southern delegations
If the present programme is carried out, the
Southern kepreS eSentatives will insist upon their
right to vote Tor Speaker at the commencement
of the next Congress. The Clerk will not call
their names; and the plan meditated is for the
20 or 76 johnson members who are clearly en-
titled to seats TO uLite with the 58 excluded
Southerners, elect a temporary Chairman in
place OF the Clerk, choose 81 eaker. and apply
TO the President Tor recognition. This recogni-
uon is, OF course, TO be given, and the unrecog-
nlzed House TO be forcibly eecred.
We need not say that such conduct would lead
to the instant impeachment of the officials con-
cerned in it, if the majority of the lawful repre-
senatives ere allowed to meet anywhere, and
that the President would as a matter of course
refuse TO acknowledge the validity OF the pro-
ceediLgs. This would equally, as a matter of
course, bring about cont ct of authority, the
decision OF which by the Senate would be
unavaillng to prevent an appeal to force II
convicted by twothirds OF the court of impeacn-
ments, as now constituted, the President would
still deny the validity OF the sentence the
Twenty-Five Southern Senators beng excluded,
and thus the issue would be lett TO the decision
OF aims.
Ii the new coalion carries 90 out of the 1874
undisputed seats in Congress, Mr.. Johnson's
triumph may be as peaceful as it will be COM
plete; or il it fails TO prevent the election of
l22 Republicans, he may abandon the hope of
success in struggle where he can have no
pretense of legality upon his side; but we
think the former alternative highly improbable,
and the latter almost impossible. The only
remaining prospect. unless the courage OF one
party or the o.her fails at the last moment, is
ctUa GCGT.
The disadvantages of the loyal North in such
an event must not be denied or underrated.
The South would have in such a struggle, ex-
aclly the position which, IL it had taken it in
1850, would have insured its triumph. 1t
would undertake to crush divided North IN
the name of the Federal Government. 1t would
tight its battles In the name of the United
States, under the command of a nominal
President of the United States, and
raj Congress. 1t would have an equal
chance for recognition by all foreign powers.
would have po Rerful aid in the North, espe-
cally in the States where the local administra.
ton might be in the hands OF johnson men.
On the other land, it is q favorable circum-
stance that the governor of every Northern
State IS now Republican, and that the only
governors who can possibly be displaced by
Democrats within the next year (except in case
OF oeath) are those OF Connecticut, New YORK,
and Pennsylvania. The bulk of the Northern
states, therefore, as lar as their executive autho
mites are concerned, will certainly cooperate
with Congress. The militia would be placed
under its control, and, in the absence OF large
standing army, this would be an immense ad-
vantage.
What has brought this Government into such
a critical position? Why is 1t that, after such a
terrible experience as we have lust passed
through, we are a. ain driving straight upon the
same rocks? For two reasons the perverse-
ness of the President and the lack OF lrue states
manship In Congress. On these points we shall
make some brief remarks.
1t is now undeniable, as it has long been evil
dent 10 all sensible pot Clans, tnat MIR. johnson,