The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-05-24
DR.. Bellows on the President and Congress

CONGRESS TOO RAD1CAL-THE PRESIDENT REPRE-
sENTING THE MASSES OF THE PEoPLE-RIsE OF
IMPERIALISM IN WASHINGTON.
DR.. Bellows delivered a lecture on the 7th
inst. on the President, Congress- and the De-
paItments, at his church on the Fourth avenue
giving the results of his observations during a
ten days visit to the national capital. He said
That the popular ldea was that Washington was
sink OF iniquity; but he was happy to say that
he had found it did not merit that reputation
1t was pre-eminently a church-going CITY, and
the place of residence of large number of
SUP erior persons-Ietired naval officers, men of
fortune and Government officials, who preferred
the quiet dignity OF public employment to the
noisy competition of business or the pro-
fessions-men of the Charles Lamb stamp,
who preferred cerkship for the leisure it
afforded for seltcultivation. Referring to the
Senate, he said 1t was composed OF noble
body Of men, with few conspicuous eXCep-
tons, and that these were representatives of
the intelligence and opinions of the better class
OF Americans more than of the majority OF the
people. There were no prominent giants among
them-no Websters, Clays or Calhouns-but
there .w,re no pigmies. The House of Repre-
sentatives was composed OF men more widely
representative, inferior, on the whole, to the
Senate, hut still a splendid legislative body.
The lite of member OF Congress was a busy
one, instead of the idle one some supposed it to
be. Some members had to keep two OF more
sGcretares to attenu to their correspondence.
This was war Congress- and il must be excused
for not correctly estimating the drift OF the
popular mind in a state of peace. 1t had been
accustomed TO pass strong measures, and to
pursue an exceptional policy; and it was natural
that it should still cling to power and strive to
maintain party supremacy. Congress and the
President were at issue respecting Southern re-
presentation. II Was not disposed to admit,
without probation, TO the councils of the nation
those who had but lately been endeavoring to
compass Its destruction. Congress was true to
the principle OF human liberty, but it was in
advance of the people in its reconstruction
fhn hipha into
of the country more than the real popular SEN
timent i'll its measures. The President
on the other hand, took the view which Ithe great
mass OF the people are disposed to fake. He
assumed that the Southern States had never
been out ot the Union and that, therefore, they
couldn't come in again He argued that the
war was over, and that all the States were
equally entitled to representation. The country
must not be checked in its career Of progress
by either party or an idea. IL was to the inte-
rest of the entire nation that there should be
a real as we'll as political reunion of the
North and South. The North was even more
anxious for this, IN a commercial point of view
than the South Hence the strength OF the
Presidents posit on; and Notwithstanding his
lin some particularly retrogressive policy, he
(Dr. Bellowsj believed it would prevail over
that Of Congress, which was basing its acts
upon mere principles of right. The rising
energy and Impplslye strength OF this great and
growing nation could not be stopped or baked.
MIR. johnson was a man whom he had found
ing, he believed, under strong sense of pub
lie duty. He was a Southern man, and an ex-
slave owner, and he thought he knew better
than Congress what the South needed and what
course it would be best for the Government to
pursue. He was much maligned by his enc
mics, and false impression had gone abroad of
the character OF his private H3e. He (Dr. Bel
ows) had tlequent opportunities while in Wash
lngton OF observing, and he had formed the
opinion That MIR. johnson was very temperate
and wen conducted man. He was quaint aud
homely In his manner of speaking, with good
deal OF rough vigor, but withal of not uncomely
presence, and 1t vas impossible to speak with
him without feeling confidence in his power and
co1sclentlousness. He thought he was much
and unoeselvedly abused man. There was he
regretted soIr o imperialism springing up az
Washington. 1t was with MIR. johnson as with
Mr.. Lincoln. Cabinet meetings were held sell
dom and at iTTeaular intervals: the President
acted ior himself, without consultation with his
Cabinet i'll bis own sphere, and the Heads of
Departments were dictators in their own par-
ticular spheres. This was dangerous feature.
There was too much OF the one.man poWer
about 1t, and 1t called for reform. On the whole
Washington vas very pleasant and averagely
moral city. Congress was a little too radical
for the people and the times and the
sentiment and interests of the nation were with
the President in his ideas regarding recon.
stIuction.-M. I. Herald