The Lansing state Republican. [volume] (Lansing, Mich.) 1855-1874, 1866-04-18
Congress and the Country.

10 Is BEGINNING To Dee understood even bv
those who. aller the Freedmcn's Burean biil
had been vetoed, We're most disposed %
coac.ude THAI President Johnson had. fl-
some reason or other. more 10 DO WIKI ihe
NoiA OF reconstruction than Congress. tllt
MS message did not by any means cover the
whole ground. aud that there is a rraa-
deal 10 pe said m defence oi the reluctancs
OF Congress 10 admit Southern repre,enfa-
ives, which IS not boy any means lllly met
by dry statement of the constitutional OBJ
Jecnons 20 taxation without representation
or trial without a jury Tie more people
reflect. The better satisfied tbev are tlat
that branch OF the Government. whose finc-
ton 10 Is % deliberate and debate as well
as 10 leglslate, and which is from is very
nature in closer contact with the country.
and better informed ofits thoughts and feel
lnss from day 20 day than The Executive
can possibly hc, Is the Ganch which has
anu ought 10 have mOstto do with such
a work Oireorganizau0n rs is now before as.
We think, for our part. that not only ought
the President not 20 fltter himself fhaf ihs
WORK OF reconstruction IS In an especial
..-...e. i.'a ''..i "a, t..s o.. .f,uuiu ur, cr nave
entered upon 10 az all without calliar Con-
gross together Tie is empowered hv ina
Constitution 10 convene both Houses on
extraordinary occasions. and IL the over
throw oi the rebellion was nOt aa extraor-
dinafl occasion. calling Tor the exercise OF
'his power all we can say is, that we do
not oeheVe one IS ever likely 20 occur No
government has ever entered on task SO
important a that which Mr.. johnson found
before him whom Lee laid down his arms
IL WAS one, too foc which be was not elp-
sen by the people, anl % IS casting no re-
nectiOn either on his honesty OF ability IN
say that he would not have been chosen f,r
u, and thar he was not thought 0f for u bv
anybody. II was one such as. we viii add
We do not believe any constitutional ruler
has ever before venturel 20 charte himself
with alone and unailel The President
ought not TO have allowed one week ID
elapse after Mr. Lincoln's death without
calling Congress together, hearing what n
had 10 say about The crisis. aud saDmft-
nS ms plans for its approval Ithis was
i9t necessary at such ID time. we repeat
that Congress is a useless Institution and
ought 10 he got rid Of II the President IS
Fh6ie WORK of government single handed
We think The country Is gradually awak-
.mng 10 Just perception OF the real state
81 the case. and rs reluctance % believe
IA the ability OF one man % manage its az
AIRS mas certainly been strengthened bv The
occasional exhibitions which Mr. Johnson
las lately given OF his want OF temper AMI
discretion. His career has IN fact. furnish
ad one more Illustration of The folly oi be-
ieFins that any man. 10 matter what his
character or capacity. Is lit for the exercise
ji absolute power, such as he is now in
ELECT exercising over half the continent.
lie has exercI sed II a. far a. the South is
concerned, we confess. with great deal OF
moderation but Do has evidently warped
lls Judgment with regard 10 his own re.a-
ions 10 Congress aud ID the rest OF the
country The NaLOn