The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1866-04-18
Congress and the President.

Happily the President Of the United
States took the passage Of the Civil Rights
Bill over his veto in the best humor in the
world. Instead Of following the program
me that had been ehslked out for him by
his new friends, and proelaiming Congress
revolutionary assemblage, calling upon
the militia OF Virginia 10 disperse il, and
inaugurRte civil wan, he said perhaps it
was well enough that the bin had be-
come law, though he could not consefen-
tiously give it his signature. He did not
believe that the hill was constitutional,
but the Supreme Court had that to decide,
and in the meantime we could all have the
opportunity Of Witnessing any beneficial re-
suits that might arise from it.
And Congress feels in its bones that "the
man at the other end Of the avenue" is not
so bad a man after all. The most radical
Republicans discover that he really is not
aCopperhead, If he does welcome ali classes
Of politicians 20 the support Of the Union
cause; nor a rebel, though he shakes hands
with men who fought against US during the
war. There is a wholesome reaction in his
favor. A score Of his particular friends,
nominated for Office, have Just been con-
irmed, who, fortnight since, would have
been cOntemptuously rejected; and this is
but one Of the signs Of the times indicating
ments Of the Government may yet work to-
gether for the general safety and the com
mon good.
Congress and the President, each having
had lick at the other, feel better about it.
There is no question that the Presidents
speech on the 22d of February was an in
discreet one, and that it damaged him seri-
Ously, but It can not be caudidly disputed
that be had very sggravating provocation,
given by those at whom, according to
Henry Ward Beeeher, he put his heels
through the dash board of the Radical car
riage. He vetoed the Freedmen's Bureau
Bill, and killed il, but the Bureau has an
other years opportunity to demonstrate its
usefulness. He vetoed, also, the Civil
Rights Bill, but it is passed over his head,
and this must be considered, if an amicable
spirit prevails, pretty square adjustment
Of accounts, and it certainly is a period
when moderate and prudent counsels may
be received and profted BY.
We have reason to believe they are heard
and considered, and that If Mr.. Thaddeus
Stevens does not yield to the conciliatory
of the hour, and adopt a liberal
line of policy, meeting the President at least
half way, he Will find himself in the course
Of few weeks, in the leadership Of as small
q party as Mr.. Raymond mustered on ocea-
SION Of the final vote on the Civil Rights
Bill. The most intelligent and statesman
like Union members Of the House are anx-
ous to commence the work of reconstrue-
ion at once, and in doing so they can hard
y avoid giving an effective support to the
policy. There is MAORI
y now in the House Of Representatives in
avor of the admission of the members elect
from Arkansas and Tennessee, a most i'm
portant fact. and one that will not long be
obscure in any part of the country. The
Amendment equalizing rep
which has been out of sight for
4 few weeks, may yet be secured by coop
sratiOn between the President and Con
yress, and it is not st all improbable that
his may be speedily done.
The Civil Rights Bill reduced to the facts
md adapted for practice does not seem TO
nave the portentious proportions which it
assumed IN theory while under discussion. |
who supported it declare that
I has no operation whatever in three
ourths Of the loyal States Including OhiO,) !
md none in three or four of the rebel States;
hat it does no more than our military com |
handlers are doing in the Southern States |
where the Black Codes are unrepealed, and |
5 indeed law simply authorizing to be |
lone what the President is doing. A few |
months experience will develop the scope |
md bearing of this measure, aud possibly |
nay go far to settle the differences between |
he President and Congress by showing |
hat they were, in many particulars, UNI |
Cincinnati Commercial.