The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1866-04-23
The Administration and che Union-Ths
Issue Before tho People.

yssue Before the People.
There was q very important and opportane
meeting at Hartford the other day Of "promi-
nent members Of the republican or Union par
ty friendly to the national policy developed
by President Johnson" no one being expected
to participate in the meeting who did not sup
port the government during the late rebellion
and the Union ticket in the recent State cleo
ton. The resolutions and the address adopted
under these restrictions embrace these leading
poinls:-The Immediate admission into Con-
gress Of loyal members from the lately rebsl-
lious States; the recognition Of the rights Of
said States as members Of the Union; the re-
pudiation of the idea that they are hostile pro-
vinces wrested from foreign power, and
abiding faith in the policy Of Andrew johnson.
This is good movement, and It comes from
ton. 1t comes from the Union party of the
war, and 1t looks to that party, under Andrew
Johnson, for the complete restoration of the
Union. II Is a timely flank movement from
leading Connecticut republicans against the
radicals In Congress and in favor OF the con-
stitutional right of the excluded States to
representation In both houses of Congress.
Upon this question President johnson has
adopted one policy and Congress has
resolved upon another. His policy Is
the admission Of the excluded States,
on the ground that they are sufficiently recon-
structed for all practical purposes the policy
Of Congress is the indefinite exclusion of said
States, and evidently for no higher purpose
than the continued ascendancy of the party In
power. The public sentiment of the North is
with the President, but the managers of the
republican party ore with Congress. They say
this matter Of Southern reconstruction, and
that the President, in assum ng this author
ty, has been and is playing the part of a
usurpcr.
But the facts Of history In this business
should not be overlooked. The collapse Of
the rebellion occurred in the absence of Con-
gresss but considering the extraordinary war
powers which the two houses had conferred
upon the President he found himself in po.
sltion to undertake the work OF Southern re-
construction and restoration without rcsorting
to an extra session Of Congress. In the exer-
else Of his discretion he adopted this course.
We presume there would have been no COM
paints Of usurpation from the radicals had he
imposed their terms as his conditions Of
Southern restoration. lie preferred, however,
to adhere TO the landmarks set up by his In
mented predecessor, Abraham Lincoln, and
Congress itself So II came about that be-
tween the final adjournment OF the old Con-
gress, March 4, 1865, and the first meeting
Of the new Congress, In December last. the
President had substantially accomplished his
measures Of reconstruction in nearly all the
late rebel States. What these measures have
been we need not here repeat II Il sufficient
that they have met the approval Of the people
of the North as well as tho South, aud that the
power to do these things was given to the Ex-
ecutive by the war and by Congress TO prose-
cute the war aud 10 restore peace.
President Johnson's justification, therefore,
in whe, he has done L. complete. lie has