The Norfolk post. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 1865-1866, 1866-02-17

pacity," which we find in Vicksburg
paper, and the following from the Day
Book, of this city: "There stands the
Executive ofthe reunited nation, hold
ing the Constitution in one hand, while
In the other he grasps the power of the
nationn-what fine figure for mar
BILE statue for Roanoke square-are alike
senseless and disingenuous from men
who have no sympathy with tho Presi .
dents utterances, when he told the Vir-
ginia delegation that
"AN the responsible positions and
places ought to be confined distinctly and
clearly to men aOho are loyal. II there
were only five thousand men in a State,
or less number. but sufficient to take
charge of the political machinery of the
State, those Jipe thousand men, or the
lesser number, are entitled to it,"
This accords with the speech made
by him at Nashville, upon the announce
ment OF his nomination to the Vice
Presidency. Upon the views there ex-
pressed by him, and his antecedents, the
people of the country elected him. 1t
would almost appear as he had reverted
to that speech in his reply to these Vir-
ginians.
But we have Mr.. Johnson's views of
Government fully expressed in his mes
sage. Does the Day Book agree with
him in the following sentiments, or has
its editor ever read them to know what
and who he is really indorsing. We
quote the message:
Our government springs from and was
lmade for the people not the people for
the government. To them it owes allie.
glance; from them it must derive its
courage strength, and wisdom. But
while the government is thus bound to
defer to the people, from whom 1t de-
rives its existence. it should, from the
very consideration Of its origin, be strong
in its power of resistance to the estab-
lishment of inequalities. MonOpolies,
perpetuities, and class legislation are
contrary to the genius of free govern
ment. and ought not to be allowed.
, Here there is no room for favored classes
or monopolies; the principle of our gov
eminent is that of equal laws and free
dom of industry. Wherever monopoly
attains foothOld it Is sure to be source
of danger, discord, and trouble. We
shall but fulfil our duties as legislators
by according "equal and exact justice to
all men," special privileges to none.
The government is subordinate to the
people; but, as the agent and representa-.
live of the people, it must be held su
perior to monopolies, which, in them
selves, ought never to be granted, and
which, where they exist, must be subor-
dinate and yield to the government.
If there be any difference betwee oh
these views and those of Mr.. Sumner
and Mr.. Stevens, we have not been able
to discover them. If this be not the
doctrine of universal equality, what is
it?
And now, will the Day Book say that
| it indorses these sentiments of the Pre-
silent which are the basis of his policy,
and that il willingly sympathises with
him in all his love for the Union. That
It will unfurl the American flag from
its Office window, and, with Mr.. John
son, denounce as wrong-doers all who
fought against 1t during the rebellion
If not, how then is it, or any one else,
who will not do all these things, true
friend to Mr.. Johnson and his policy of
reconstruction. We are tired of hypo-
critical cant, and would like to see u
full and honest expression of opinion.
And in regard to these men who pro.
test so much and profess so much, and
mean so little, we can only caution the
President to beware of 'honest Iago."
Rut the Day Book has President
Johnson ON the brain. Last evening il
had one article headed 1.-THE Presidents
policy" and another headed "The Pre-
sident,"- in the first of which it shows
as much ignorance of his policy rs il
does in the second of the President
himself. Under the head OF the Presi-
dents policy, is an obscure disquisition
illustrative of its indisposition to allow
anybody to come into Virginia. The
other day it scolded because white people
came from abroad, and now it is greatly
annoyed because colored Virginians
come from the country into Norfolk. II
is hard to please. In fact 1t is hopelessly
lost in an effort to explain its own in
constituencies, without losing its charac-
ter as a first class disloyal sheet. It wants
to appear the friend of Mr.. johnson,
while at the same time it shall continue
to be the enemy of the Union--and il
desires to conciliate the negro patronage
of the city, while it shall appear to be
the enemy of the negro. 1t talks nom
sense about the free negroes of the South
being troublesome, and not the freed
men. How many free negroes were
there in the South before..the war;
Louisiana had nearly all of them, and
they have always been the most peaceful
and law-abiding portion of her popula-
ton. Other States had very few-not
enough to make such terrible on
slaught upon the Government rations as
the Day Book would have US believe.
In Louisiana the free negroes have an
aristocracy of their own, and are among
the wealthiest inhabitl and are
equally protected by the laws with the