The Louisiana Democrat., 1866-12-19


in the hands Of that body, and to con6ne
himself to the legitimate business of max
ing suggestions and rendering opinions.
Although still firm in his position upon the
reconstruction question, he evinces an un-
mistakabie disposition to harmOnize with
Congress if he can do so withouta sac'i-
fee OF consistency and personal pride.
That is, ne is tired Of. fighting against the
heavy odds with which he has had to con-
tend, and would be glad to flake peace
upon favorable terms. From the tenor Of
the message upon this subject, we get the
impression that reconciliation between
the President and Congress may be effected
if the latter shall present some feasible plan
of adjustment.
,dFrom the New York Times.1
president Johnson's Message has the
merit of comparative brevity.) 1t discus
ses the aspect of the restoration question,
embodies the salient points of the Depart
metital reports, offers suggestions on minor
matters Impractical legislation, and glances
at our foreign relations-(all with modera-
tion and good temper, though not with
uniform good taste.)
On the exciting question OF the day
! the restoration of the Southern States
and the relation of the Executive to Con.
gressv-the President has disappointed those
who anticipated a change oftone or posi-,
tion. He has neither modified his views
not given any indication of readiness
to concede aught of principle or policy to
the demands of the governing Estates and
Congress.) He reviews the bearings Of
the question precisely as he reviewed
them more than once during the last ses
sion. -
1t will be seen that the President
offers nothing new. HIS statement of the
case is a reiteration of the statement
heard many times within the last nine
months; his arguments have all beer
used before; and his recommendation i
chiefly noticeable as evidence that he has
learned nothing from the elections, ant
forgotten nothing in connection with hi'
struggle with Congress. The pending
Constitutional Amendment is not noticed
in the Message, though of oursethe teno
of the whole argument is adverse to tn
principle On which the measure rests ant
the purposes it is intended to serve
Negro suffrage, UNIVERSAL or qualified, il
passed over untouched, and there is no
THE remotest allusion to amnesty. In nj
respect does the President attempt to meet
or even indirectly to recognize, the recen
manifestations of public opinion through
out the States which elevated him to office
On the contrary he explicitly declare
, that his convictions, heretofore express
ed, have undergone no changes" and tha
"their correctness has been confirmed b.
reflection and time"
He submittedhis policy. in contradistint
/, ton to the policy of Congress, to the pei
!, pie of the North and West, everywher
: avowing confidence in the rectitude OF thei
: intentions and in the sagacity af thei
!. Judgment. When they decided agains
: him. therefore-wheh they repudiated hl
Y policy and ranged themselves on the sid
e of Congress-it became his duty, not u
/ deed to abandon his convictions but
e accept the will of the law Of his Admin
J. ,tration, and either to withdraw all o.
s position to the Congressional plan, or
Y propose some new basis of adiustmen
|, By neglecting to pursue one or the oth'
S Of these courses he has lost the last oppp
|. tunity Of efecting q reconciliation with I'll
IS great majority of the party that electe
n him, and has furnished q weapon to b
is adversaries which they Will WELD to b
g detriment. -..-s.,
e The Courier DIES Etats. Uais does not co
e slider the message, either in its style or
e its ideas as good as that of last year.
reproaches the President for repeating t.
t. often the same old arguments with lie
IS firmness of tone than previously, when
g must know that this expense Of words,
2 entirely Useless. The foreign policy of q
t. message it disapproves entirely, blami'
the evident attempt Of the administrati'
le to pick up mean quarrels with France al
a. England, and accusing it of bad faith
IN it's dealings with those powers. . T
to Courier; however, approves Of the assum
ly ton by the President of the rights
* American naturalized citizens acknowled
le ing the right Of expatriation.