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

Constitutional amendment, although Il Is In
substance, exactly what he had himself recon-
mended few months previously. ALI nls pre-
tended moderation l. simply indispensable pru-
dence In bad cause. HIS power OF appointment
to Office is restricted by an adverse Senate; his
power over the amy by patriotic Lleulenant-
General. The momtn mt he Is unfettered he will
show his real nature, 70 the dIsmay oil those
simple people who mistake che shre Edness of
politician tor the gnity OF a statesman. r
Mr.. johnson has determined that his win shall
be law He no doubt, tancies that he is actu-
ated by regard Tor state rights and consttu-
tioual guarantees; but he has no hesitation m
overriding these whenever it better suits his
purposes. BIS regard for the riehts OF the
States is so profound that he cannot fol arate
the interference OF Congress to save the negro
race rom eXterminatIon; yet IL Is SO shailow
that he does not hesitate 10 promise military
Intervention on behalf OF Rebels at the coming
Missouri election. His real object Is to force a
reconstruction the Union without any dimi-
mutton of Southern power; nay, even with an
increase OF 1t.
We cannot let Congress pass entirely without
cepsuTe, although we are aware that its duties
nave been exceedingly difficult, and its path
Dlocked up with embarrassments. It's mann
defect has been that those of lCs members VINO
have any wisdom have lacked courage, ana that
those members who had courage lacked wisdom
While the majority had neither but simply GOOD
htentons' Mr.. Stevens has n boldness and
pluck that are lnvauable; put, un ortunalely
ne Is lull OF the most absurd medieval ideas
MIR. Fessenden has an excellent Judgment ON
most questions, but is over-Cau utous and allo ne
time 10 slip by while feeling hls ground. We
cannot lmagile how any one holding the views
expressed IN the report Oi the CommIttee on
Reconstruction could doubt the power OF Con-
gress to reorganize the Southern States upon
any basis which it mit ut deem tit. Had Congress
done this, and completed the work of restoration
upon Ms own terms the power OF Mr.. johnson
Tor mischief would have been DESTROYED and the
defeat oil the Union party been made impossible
us, however, more important TO look to the
future than to the past. Imminent as are the
dangers before us, we do not think 1t i'm 30 ssble
to avert them; but the effort will reuulre the
utmost wisdom and trmness on the part of the
Northern people. timely preparation .or the
conflict OF 1861 might have prevented it alto
gether, in which case those who foresaW It's
appro ch might bave been riGIculed as false
prophets. So at this crisis, it the President sees
that the North Is fully prepared TO meet him,
he will be forced to abandon his sc hemeg and
those who now sound the alarm may then be
laughed at; but this IS small risk for us to
pear compared with the dangers which night
beiall the country through the unwIse silence
OF the press. The proceedings of the Union
caucus al Washington show that our apprehen-
sionss are shared by many of the Oldest aud
coolest politicians there; the language of our
leading generals shows that they foresee the
same contingencies; and If we are mistaken in
our fears, we err at least in good company and
on the safer side.