The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1866-01-12

tlpAls ~ tanning Wy ttAlti EN'SAlt. VI At7
case first, and this the majority will not
oppose
Passing from this special to the gem
eral subject of reconstruction at large,
Mr.. Wilson continued: II am aware
that there are men in Congress, styling
themselves Conservatives, that claim
to beyour friends par excellence. Now,
| do not hesitate to ayow that / am
what is commonly called a Radical I
contributed, in my humble way, all /
could to the success of the party that
placed you in power. Hence / claim
the right to call myself the friend Of
your Administration. Myself and
those acting with me in Congress are
all friendly to it, and desire its entire
success. But we think, and with US
our constituencies, that by your plan of
reconstruction that result is not likely
to be attained. We hold, at the same
time. that there IS one way in which it
could bereached. Incur opinion, your
efforts to reorganizet therebel States and
restore them to the Union, after an an
interrupted trial of some seven months,
have not proved successful to the eX-
tent required to insure the future peace,
safety and prosperity of the country.
Congress, in pursuance Of what it con-
siders its solemn duty, now proposes,
after due investigation of the whole
subject, todevise, if possible, some bet
ter plan of reorganization and restOra-
ton. Theplan Congress will probably
adopt will be to submit such amend
ments to the Constitution as will, if ac-
cepted by the State Legislatures furnish
ample guarantees for the future. The
majority Of Congress expect and ask
that, while engaged in investigating
thewhOle subject of reconstruction, and
devising some new plan, it may be left
free to act as it maydeem best, and that
no attempt be made by the Executive
to interfere with and influence its ac-
ton by the distribution Of patronage
or in any other way. If thus left free
by you, there can be no possible diff
Guilty between the Executive and Leg
islative branches of the Government.
But if you are disposed to interfere
with Congress, by patronage or other
wise, and force your peculiar ideas and
plans upon Congress and the country,
you will meet with serious opposition
by those that are now the friends of
your Administration, and desire sin
cerely to make it successful. The plan
+ Congress will probably adopt will not
render it necessary for you to surrender
any Of your own views in relation to
reconstruction, inasmuch as under the
Constitution Of the United States, you
cannot be asked to approve the reSolu-
tions OF Congress submitting certain a.
mendments to the Constitution. You
/ will not be responsible for our action,
/ but we will be responsible for it to our
constituents. who will be called upon to
+ determine upon the merits Of our plan
( Of reconstruction. Hence there will
/ be 10 occasion for serious differences be-
: tween the Executive and Congress, il
each branch of thegOvernment simply
+ leaves the other to do what it considers
its duty. And letmeadd this: the So
I called Conservatives of Congress, the
men that claim to be your exclusive
/ friends, gOWithyou to-day because they
( think it is to their advantage to do so;
but they will oppose you tomorrow, if
/ they shall find it is to their disadvan-
1 tage to support you. You will find in
/ the end that the men who differ from
you to-day from sincere convictions,
and honest, patrioticmotives, are much
more reliable and trustworthy friends
! than these time-serverS."
The President, in reply, stated that
/ he was anxious to avoid a division a.
mong the friends of his Administra-
ton in Congress; that he would regret
/ to see any difficulties arise between
them and the Executive. Hethen pro,
ceeded to review at length his policy OF
reconstruction, reiterating the points in
support Of it made in his published
! speeches, and more lately in his mes
sage; but said nothing that could be
construed into an admission of its fail,
ure. On the contrary, he seemed to be
fully persuaded of its present and fu-
/ ture success. Nor did he say a word
indicating an intention to abstain from
I interference with Congress in its legis,
lation upon reconstruction. He did
not say that he would interfere; but
neither did he commit himself to the
opposite HneOf action. Howeverpres-
sed by Mr.. Wilson in this direction he
would not give the assurances desired
of him. That he would have made 3
formal disclaimer of apurpose to med,
die with Congress, if he did not enter,
tain it, may be fairly"presumed. And
this was theimpressionl left by the tone
and tenor of his remarks upon the
minds of his visitors.
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CHICAGO is becoming metropolitan
| There were two hundred and seventy
five divorces granted III that city, by