, 1866-03-30

Eosioent Sohnsons Position In Congress.
j ln olden times, when Satan was eudeayoring
70 increase his power, be took the Son Of MAJ
up Into an exceeding high mountain, and
showed him all :he kingdoms Of the world,
! and said unto him, All these things will I give
ihee n thou wilt fall down and worship me. Il"
But the Son Of Man, looking over his shoulder
aud seeing the cloven foot sticking out beneath
the Roman mantle, At once realized the charae-
ter-ot the person before him, and that be was
promising that which was not his to give Sa-
tan Finding that be could not tempt him, went
around boasting Of the secrets which existed
between himself and the Son Of Man, at the
same time doing all that he could to defeat the
/ mission Of the latter in this world. Thus II is
with Thaddeus Stevens, the radical chief in the
| present Congress. He has pointed out to Iaresi
| dent Johnson the vast plains and populous cities
which he may rule If be will bot .fai down and
worship the radical idol. But the cioYen foot is
discovered beneath the Congressional mantle,
while the developments in Congress reveal the
fact that Stevens is promising those things
which are not his to give, The radical chief,
hnding himSeh detected, at once goes 10 work
TO cover up his tracks, and boasts of the mighty
secrets which exist between himself and the
President. What those secrets are be does not
propose to reveal, for that would defeat his pur-
pose and destroy his hold upon his party in Con-
gress.
During the early part Of the session, the great
effort of Stevens and his associates was to prove
that the republicans in Congress were unit in
their policy, and that the only hope for the Pres
ident was to unite with them. His success in
this respect was SO great that it increased his
bis boldness he soon overstePped the mark and
revealed to the public his weakness. Elated by
his supposed power, he pressed the vote on ne
gro suffrage in the District of Columbia, which
disclosed the fact that his faction only composed
minority in Congress, and that there was a
majority Of that body in favor Of the Presidents
policy. 1t proved that there was in the factions
ofCongresS sufficient strength to Sustain the Ex-
ecutve- snd defeat all the efforts of Stevens and
his radical associates. This was more than be
bargained for, and he at once went to work look
ing up constitutional amendment for the pur-
pose Of covering up his weakness. After con-
senting to slight notifications, he succeeded iu
whipping nearly all the republicans into its sup
port. Upon the eve Of its passage be delivered
philippe against the President, in order that he
might the better claim his triumph over the lat
ter. We presume that be now considers his tri-
umph complete and that the record Of the weak
ness of the radical faction, exhibited on for
mer occasion, is now obiterated. The fact,
however, remains the same, Notwithstanding the
apparent endorsement Of Stevens by the House
Of Representatives, thlt there are in Congress
three factions, two of which are opposed to the
extreme radical measures prom Clgated by Ste
vens, and that they compose working majority
Of that body. Tuere is nothing in this amend
ment to the constitution which ia really objec-.
tiouable, nor does it amount to anything. 1t is
simply an abstraction, and, eTeu if endorsed by
tWo-thirds Of the States, it will not give to Con-
greSs any additional power, but will at once be-
come a dead letter. The ouly possible benefit
that the radicals can derive from it is to hide
their weakness, and to enable them little lon
ger to shirk the responsibility of meeting the
real questions at Issue.
The constitutional amendment which has been |
ratified by sufficient number of States to make
it legal, gives to Congress full power to regulate
the question of suffrage and represen tatIon in
the South It has freed the cclored pOpu-
laton from bondage, and given to Congress
full power to enforce that provision as well as
to protect the negroes. But the radicals are
afraid to meet the question directly, for fear of
making their party unpopular At the North.
They therefore seek to mystify the whole sub
ject by resorting to all manner of side lodges.
Even if we accept the hypothesis that the late
slaves on obtaining their freedom are simply
aliens in our body polite, Congress has power
to provide mode for their naturalization, the
same as for any class of foreigners who arrive
on our shores The whole question can be
reached and disposed of in that way, ahd the
loyal Southern representatives Immediately per-
mitted to take their seats in the National Leg
islature. But the adoption of this simple and
easy plan does not suit the radical idea of party;
they therefore continue to wrangle over ab-
which accomplish nothing, and which
must eventually destroy their party and result
in their losing the power which they are so ten
Acious of holding. As they are now working,
the President has no other course but to main
tain his position, and boldly meet every issue
that arises, and be will come out victorious in
the end. He has strength enough, even in Con-
gress, to insure fell and complete endorse
ment of the measures Of his Administration
but if the radicals by their maneuvring, pre-
vent direct test, it can only delay his success
for season, If be is wise in using the material
at his disposal.-N. Y. Herald.