Smyrna times., 1866-04-18
The Coup Dictate.

The organs of the Administration, from the
Richmond Erdminer down to the New York
Nel0S, are busily devising plans for "abolish-
ing Congress. 1t is amusing to read their
many-hued schemes for getting things right
again, and placing the nation on the true ba-
Sis of national unity" 1t seems to us that
valiant gentlemen who fought like Trojans to
keep out of the Union for five years, should
not particularly complain if they are permitted
to pray i've years longer before coming in again.
Possibly, ifany one of the seedy gentlemen now
hanging around the doors of the Senate or the
House, hoping to enter upon the green fields
OF mileage, and stationery, and books, and
CAB, and gasconade, had been asked two years
ago whether he would accept position in the
Senate, he would have asked the memorable
question about the servant being dog under
certain circumstances. Time and occasion Of
ten change wrath into felicity, however; and
if President johnson has any offices hanging
heavily on his hands, he can find graybacks in
abundance to relieve him.
1t is not for mere love of office that we scold
the poor Rebels. The hope of getting the lar
gest amount of pay for the smallest amount of
work, which lies at the basis of ofice-love, is
as ardent in the hearts of the manly Southern
ers as among the Democrats of Tanmany Hall,
or the eleemOsynary editors of starving news
papers. We do protest mildly but firmly against
the scheme now pervading the rebel press of
entirely destroying Congress, abolishing the
judiciary, reducing the army, and placing us
undes the care of Mr. Andrew johnson. We
do not make this protest from personal dislike
to Mr.. johnson. If we are to be owned by
one man, perhaps he will be as kind to us as
any person else, and see that we have work,
and feed and clothes We do not dare to doubt
MIR. JOhnson's willingness to enter upon the
foc n,,r urorthxy D,oesIook Lao L
especially eensurable for the absence of will
ingness to do anything that pleased him. The
change would be economical. We should not
have immense printing bills to pay-long col
umns of CAB from veluble Representatives
cart-lOads of Globes, and reports, and Other
printed paper, which 60 to develop the coun
try-grocery and trunk lining interests, an ex
tended judiciary system, with the inexhausti
bic following of marshals, and clerks, and cri
ers, and jallors-not to speak of the huge tele
graphic bills we are compelled to meet every
morning for long speeches We have no doubt
johnson could run the machine for half-cost
and, by dismissing half of our officials the de
mand for labor in the Western territories would
be largely met. There might be some hare
feeling among those gentlemen of the Senate
and House who would Of necessity, according
to the NetCs plan, be hanged as Benedict
Arnolds. But OF course, we cannot please
everybody. The summary execution of fSum
ner, Stevens and Phillips, would unavoidablS
be conceded. Mr. Sumner has no children
and would, therefore, leave no inconsolablC
widow to mourn bis loss Thaddeus Stevens
is quite an old man, and little hanging woulC
only anticipate the destiny which all OF US mus
contemplate at the age of three-score and ten
AS for Mr.. Phillips, his not being hanged il
one of those anomalies in American civilization
which the President owes n to his corntr,, a M
his God to reform We could wish it in tht
interest Of oratory Wendell would make Vi
a good speech-far ahead of EInmett's, W,
have no doubt--and dying speeches, hrst-class
are hard to get The rope around the necI
might add unusual pathos.; but the tears woulC
be psrdoned to the singularity ofassociation.
| N. y Tribune.