The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1866-02-02
Standing Firm.

The indications are that that the Union
members of Congress will stand firm, and be
true to the great principles of freedom and
equal justice to uphold which they were elect 1
ed. For many days it was said by letter.
writer's and lobbyists that no District suffrage
bill could pass the House without invidious
conditions, but when the vote was TAKEN,
though few Republicans sided with the OPP
position, the result showed that the House
was in favor of the freest practicable suffrage
by an Overwhelming majority of 116to "a.
Since the passage OF that bill through the
House, a pronunciamento has been sent over
the country by telegraph, understood to have
the endorsement of the Executive, setting
forth the opposition Of the President to that
measure, and, as some interpret it, foreshad-
owing veto, and denolmcing in severe terms
the attempt to change the constitutional ba-
sis of representation. and in the face of such
a menace it was supposed by many-predict-
ed by Democrats-that the Union majority
would dwindle down, and that the House
would succumb to the influence of the Exec
utive branch of the Government.
But the event has proved otherwise. The
vote on the Constitutional amendment, in
stead of showing falling off in the majority,
reveals an increase, the vote standing 120
to 46. 4rIaE
This looks well. 1t shows that the repre-
sentatives of the people know their rights,
and knowing intend to maintain them We
have hope in Congress, and that its strong,
united, firm majority, may influence the
President to consider well any act of his
before putting it forth in opposition to the
manifest popular will. a 1870 1s4 81 %
We cannot better close this article than by
an extract from 'Dixon," the twell-posted
Washington correspondent of the Boston I'D
uertiser. Under date of Jan, 80, before the
vote on the Constitutional amendment was
taken, he wrote as follows: 9ii.s -s
1t would be wrong TO deny that the semi-off-
cial expression of the Presidents views in the
card given to the country yesterday morning
has produced much feeling here. That the tel
egraphic despatch is semi-official / can posi-
lively assert. There are some persons who
openly declare that the distinguished Sena-
tor" is myth, man of straw; while Others
amend that assertion be saying that it is Mr.
Dixon of Connecticut. However this may
be, 1 know that the reported conversation"
expresses the Presidents views, for the man
uscript was revised and corrected by him, and
delivered to the press by or through his pri-
vate secretary. a"'
The manifesto is of such character, so un-
precedented in every respect, and the language
OF the President is so at variance with the DO
sition the Chief Executive of the nation is
supposed to hold with respect to Congress, that
perhaps third of the best members of that
body are, even yet, doubtful as to the authen-
ITCHY OF the document
Tnus late on Sunday evening, in the hall at
WIZARDS, met leading Senator, to whom I
communicated the fact that the President had
gwen out an important statement intended to
affect the action of Congress. He expressed
decided doubt as to the correctness of INV
assertion, and asked for details. I told him
wnat knew about the card, and concluded
with the words-'the last paragraph of II is
calculated to forestall the action Of the Senate
on the District suffrage BILL" "You must he
Mistaken" said he; "the President knows his
place, and he knows that we know ours 81
"Well," | continued, you'll see: and INV
word for it, you'll find that he lays down the
lime on which the Senate should walk with
regard to that BILL" 81 am confident that Won
must be miSinformed," he concluded: "sucb a
thing was never heard of-why, are we here
simply to do his bidding?"
Yesterday afternoon l met this same
Senator and recalled the subject, and ask
ed "What do you think of it now?" Gan
drew johnson never authorized the publica-
ton of such card" "But know that he
did," said land then stated the facts con-
nected with its delivery. Il will not believe
1t; ne could not so forget what he is, and
what the duties of the President are"
The feeling of this senator is that Of atleast
ndty or SIXTY members OF Congress-they find it
very naru 70 DeIeve that the President could
branch Of the government. For. thew saw. the
language in respect to the District suffrage bin
amounts simply to this, 81 give YOU fair so,ice
shat shall make an issue with Won On I'll
''you pass it will veto it and 20 before the
Country for support" ' 'i'e