Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1866-04-12
RUTLAND HERALD.
TUESDAY, APRIL 10, 1866.
The Civil Rights BiIl,

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credit in our columns for right Intention
and patriotic purpose in his "reconstruc-
tion policy We have waited patient
ly, too, in the hope that the difference
between him aud Congress might, by
mutual forbes rance and consideration,
be finally removed, and both might then
work tremendously for the desired end,
We have disapprOved Of the early at
tacks OF few lmpracticables, like Ste
vens and Sumner, upon the President,
and have in like manner disapproyed of
the Presidents adopting a similar style
of political warfare in his 22d of Febru-
airy speech, Recognizing the misfortune
TO the country Of an irreparable breach
between the President and Congress at
this time, we have counseled moderation
and patience. But recent developments
tend to show that the President has lit
tie appreciation of the general desire to
avoid permanent difference with him
that he rather seeks than avoids it. Ia
the light Of these developments the
President certainly does not appear as
the party attacked. Senator Trumbull,
for instance, in his speech reviewing the
veto of the Civil Rights bill the other
day, gave a scrap of the history of that
bill, which shows that the,frfends of the
measure were DESTROYS Of anything ra-
ther than an issue with the President.
The bill was prepared in conformity
with what were supposed to he his
views ). it was privately shown to him
before action was taken upon it, and he
was invited by those with whom he had
long been acting in political harmony,
to state any objection which he might
have to it. Here was certainly suili-
silent consideration for the Presidents
opinions under some circumstances it
might even be called subservienCe to the
executive will. The Boston Advertiser
well concludes that few words said by
the President would probably have pre-
vented the final collision, "and the re-
sponsibility '7r what happened, the sus-
Picion Of desiring that it should happen,
must rest upon him who omitted to say
those few words, and not upon those
who gave him the opportunity
The Springfield Republican, too which
has had a strong disposition to sustain
the President, says:
"The Presidents moral position re
ceives the greatest damage from Mr.
Trumbull's exposure of the history of
the bill and the attempts made to secure
the Presidents approval of it in adj
vance. Mr.. Trumbull had good reason
to suppose that the bill met the Presi-
dents approval, and the Presidents
course has an aspect Of disingenuOusness
that it will be difficult to explain away.
II he desires the protection of the freed
men by constitutional law as he earn
estly asserts in his veto message, it is
difficult TO conceive Of any good reason
for his concealiug from Mr.. Trumbuu
his objections TO the Civil Rights bill in
advance OF It's presentation in Congress.
1t was reasonable for the Senator to eX-
pect from the President his honest Opin-
ions of the provisions of the bill, and
hearty cooperation in making it unob
jectionable before it was submitted to
Congress. That this expectation was
not only disappointed, but the Senator
misled into suppOsing that the bill as
presented would be acceptable to the
President, certainly gives color to the
theory thai he sought, instead of avoid
ing, difference with his party in Con-
gress, and thai he desired another op-
portunity for p sweeping veto of bill
intended for the protection Of the freed
men,"
Unless the President therefore, has
some as veo unheard of explanation, first
Of his seeming disposition TO court an
issue with those who elected aud have
supported him, and secondly of his ap-
parent opposition to any measure for
the protection Of the freedmen, it will
be impossible for him to retain the con-
idence OF the Union party. For how
ever DESTROYS the party may be to avoid
a most unfortunate collision, that desire
is of little use when not reCiproCated by
the President, and when an impossible
sacrifice Of the principles for which it
has contended is necessary to preserve
harmony.