The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-02-28

II Is taken. Il had nothing to do with the
main object and drift Of that speech, but was
elected by the questions and exclamalions OF
| the mass Of people to whom 1t was addressed.
Nothing Is more common IN the South, as the
| Tribune Is aware, than for pubic speakers to
| be constantly called on in this way for explana-
tions, and It is their universal habit to give
| prompt and direct replies. Andrew Johnson's
| entire political life has been filled By such expe
rences, and II is not surprising that he should
| have met such queries now, just as he had
alN ays met them before, on the stump and on
! the floor of Congress.
, But this was merely an episode in the speech.
The main object OF that powerful and remark
| able address was to insist upon the supreme
| necessity of abiding by the principles OF the
| Constitution, OF adhering to the essential aud
Fundamental principles OF our TePnPb,osn MORN form
Instead OF discarding them ell, and making the
arbitrary will of Congress the guide OF public
action. The Tribune does not need to be IN
formed that this iJ really the issue before toe
country. Charles Sumner, Tnaddeus Stevens,
Wendell Phillips, and Others act upon the theory
that we have conquered the Southern States; that
as subiUgated enemies they have no rights under
the Constitution; and that we are In no respect
restrained or restricted in our dealings with
them by that instrument but may do with
them and towards them whatever we may think
essential to the public safety. This theory is
asserted In explicit terms, and is made openly
and ayowedly the basis or their pubic action.
| President johnson denounces 1t as hostile to
the fundamental principles of our Government
ment as were the corresponding principles of
| Davis, Toombs, and other leaders of the Seces-
| sion movement. Indeed, they are to all intents
! anG purposes exactly the same. The President
III opposition to both, insists that DOW, as before
| the Rebellion, the Constitution is the supreme
| law of the land, and that neither Congress,
! President, nor any other department. OF the Gov
| eminent, has any more right to discard, repu-
dlate, or ignore its authority now, than they had
| before the war began. The war maintained its
supremacy, instead of overthrowlng 1t. 1t pre-
served the Union instead OF destroying it, And as
/ IL is the sworn duty Oh the Executive to imam.
tain and defend" the supremacy of the Constitu-
| ton, President johnson declares it to be his
purpose to do this against all men, OF whatever
| section or wh9tever party or with whatever mo-
| tive they may assall and resist it..
| The tribune assumes that the Presidents de-
nunciatlons were directed against the Union
majorties in Congress. We do not so regard 1t.
The men named by him, he has never recog-
nized as representatives of the Union party. The
principles thel avow OIL this point have never
been accepted as the principles of the Union
party. In neither House of Congress will
majority of that party assent to tn )se princi-
pies or adopt them as their own. 1t Is quite
true that through the construction of the COM
mittees, the control of legislation has been
substantially lodged In their hands-but this
does not identify the Union majorities with the
principles avowed, or render them obnoxious to
the censures and charges which these plinci-
pies justly incur It is perfectly well known,
moreover, that the direct and outrageous per-
sonal assaults made by the three men named
upon the President, afforded ample provoca-
ti,n, il not justltcatlon, for this language
towards them. One OF them had openly charged
him with usurpation which would have cost a
king his head. Another had spoken of MIN as
a presidential obstacle 10 be removed" This
Is not language calculated TO concilate or
soothe President of strong convictions and
conscious Of the uprightness and sincerity of
his intentions.
The Tribune furthermore bellies the position
of the President when he speaks of him as
nj ha
'red-handed foes' OF the nations lie. This
is undoubtedly the calumny upon which the
Presidents ioes will mainly rely in the prosecu-
ton OF their crusade against him. But 1t cannot
deceive or mislead the people. President john
ston has never said one word nor one syllable
capable OF any such constr 4ction. Over and
over again he has conceded the right of Con-
gress to require unaduterated and unmlstak able
tOjdtty as qualification Tor seat in Congress,
and to prescribe any oath it deems necessary as
a test OF that loyalty. In the very speech which
| elicits the IriUH7leS denunclations, this senti-
ment is asserted in language incapable OF being
misunderstood. But be does insist that loyal men
men who have never been for an hour disloyal
men who have perilled fortune, family, life,
everything dear to them in defense OF the Union
men elected by loyal constituents and repre-
senting loyal districts, shall not be excluded
simply because they belong to States of which
the Rebels once held temporary and hOrt.lived
possession. Nobody has dened the right o.
CONGRESS- to exclude men like Davis, Toombs
Stephens, or any men who plotted the disrup
ton and downfall of the American Union, OF
who aided that disruption af'er it had beer
plotted by others. But why should men like
Maynard, Stokes, Taylor, from Tennessee, OF
johnson, from Arkansas, be excluded? They
were never traitors. They never for an instan
aided or countenanced, by word or act, th'
J infamous designs OF the Rebellion. VIII.
should they he confounded with those wht
did? "Their admission" says the Tribune
"while excluding others, will nowise pacity
! nor satisfy, nor placate the South; on the con
: trary, II will intensity her hatred.n Very hkel
but it will do justice-it will vndicate the prin
ciples of the Constitution-it will draw line O
distinction between loyal men and traitors. Ar
not these objects OF some importance? Is it no
worth while. TO show the nation that, now tn
war is over, loyal men are to be recognized a
deserving well of the republic, and not TO be in
VolVed in precisely the same condemnation witt
traitors and Rebels? When the Tribune Wi
bring its radical friends in Congress to act in thi
direction, it will have done much to wards avert
. ing the conflict which It processes 10 deprecat
a between the executive and legislative depar
i ments OF the Government. 1heecctslon Of toyC
men from Congress, in violation alike OF thei
rights and OF the Constitution, is the main if nc
# the sole cause Of the present difference OF sent
t ment between them.
/. II the Union majority in Congress had bee
e in It's action true to the principles OF the Unio
J, party and had not allowed itself to be sWerve
e from those principles by the adroit and reckles
V Vaccinations of men who have with them n
v sympathy whatever, this conflict never Woul
have arisen. Whenever that majority can thro
" OF the influences by which it has Deen thus mi
II led, and come back to its original and true pC
n sition that conflict will end and all the danger
G which now seem to be Impending over th
r. UnioL party and the country Will be forever ~
e the deep bosom OF the ocean buried" We sha
not readily or willingly despair OF a con5ummi
l. ton so devoutly to be wished.
le President johnson and the Radicals-TH
is Issue Before the Country.