The Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Ohio) 1863-1886, 1866-09-06
Johnson,s Reputation OF LlnooIii.

JOhnson's RepndiatIon OF LinoOIh,
The strongest point which Mr.. John
son could make-the point which he
has labored TO make-is, that in his
attempt to forco Congress to admit
Southern representatives, he is true
to the policy of Abraham Lincoln
Mover was claim moro 'baseless.
Yet in all his speeches Mr.. Johnson
has repeated it, and, Of late, with an
irritation which betrays a sense OF
weakness. ReverJy Johnson, in bis
address to the President, ingentously
attempts to gain from the love Of the
people for Mr. Lincoln, popularity for
his successor, and assures Mr., Johnson
that "being upon the ticket with that
much lamented public servant, whose
foul assassination touched the heart of
the civilized world with grief and hor-
ror, you would have been false to obvi-
Gus duty if you had not endeavored to
carry out the same policy" All the
Copperhead papers which ferocionsly
denounced Mr.. Lincoln's policy while
he lived, ROW praise Mr.. Johnson for
adopting It. Thus we may see how
highly the mantle of Elijah is valued
but Mr.. Johnson has cloak Of his
own, and the true garment has fallen
upon Congress. Upon the question OF
his fulfllment Of the purposes Of Mr..
Lincoln's administration, the Union
party might safely appeal to the peo-
pie, and stand or fall by that alone.
1t would be easier TO define what is
not than what is the peculiar policy
which Mr.. Johnson and Mr.. Seward
have invented for adoption yot there
are few plain principles which un-
der lie it. 1t is base upon theide that
no legislation of Congress is required
to restore the rebel States their forfeit
ed privileges; it assumes that Congress
can demand Of them no conditions
whatever, but is bound to admit them
on demand to its halls. A State, on
this theory, may fight for years
against this Union, and, throwing
down its arms, at once take part in
tho government. Or, if thore be any
preparation of measures or time re.
quired, the President may alone deter
mine tho duration of tho penance and
the nature of the purgativos. His pol
icy, in short, has for its central idea
the unlimited efficacy Of Presiden
tial amnesty: those whom he has par
doned other mon have no right to
question.
This is Mr.. Johnson's policy, That
of Mr.. Lincoln is absolutely antipodal
1t is we'll known, and the proof is now
in the possession of the Government
that Mr.. Lincoln, near the close Of
the war, declared that ho had no pow
or whatsoever over the reconstruction
Of the Union-that belonged to Con
gress. His m Messages TO Congress re-
peat it. His message of December
1864, was specially intended to assure
the Southern people OF the kindness
they would receive upon their subms
sion; yet he explicitly limited tho ex
tent OF the mercy they could receive
from him. "Somc certain and othel
possible questions are, and would be
beyond the Executive power to adjust
as, for instance the admission Of mem
berS into Congress, and whatever might
require tho appropriation of money
The Executive power itself ,coutd b.
greatly diminished By the cessation OF dc
tudL ,0Dr. Pardons and remissions o
forfeitures, however, would still be
within Executive control" This was
we'll understood both North and South
No language could be palmer than
this, which, in promising Executive
clemcncy, limited it to individuals
and expressly diselaimed the power tC
extend it so far as to restore States to
their old relations. Jefferson Davis
in his message of March, 1865, faith
fully repeated these opinions. at will
further be remembered that Mr., Lln.
coin declared that the only terms on
which hostilites could cease were those
stated in his message OF December
last, in which we are informed that
in the event of our penitent submis
sion he would temper justice with
mercy, and that the question tchether we
,eould be goueraed as dependent terrific
rieS, or permitted to hare representa-
ton IN their Congress, ,raS one on which
he could promise nothing, but which
could be decided by their Congress, af-
tor our submission had been accept
cd"
1t is useless to say any more. When
it is proved that Mr., Lincoln distinct
ly declared that tho admission of rep
resentatives from the Rebel States was
for Congress solely to decide, it is The
extreme Of eifrontery to claim that
his policy is carried out by Mr.. John
son, who aflirms that Congress 10 with.
out any jurisdiction in the matter
Exchange.
Fer tho Lancaster Gazette.
It is fatal, but common mistake
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