North Branch democrat. [volume] (Tunkhannock, Pa.) 1854-1867, 1866-06-13
A Civil Necessity.

| 10 take In the CONSIST between haolcallsIn
and the President.
Strange that they should misunderstood
the practical workings of the maxim TO
the voters belong the spoils." Since 1861
the Republicans have had just claim to
the enjoyment of Office, and most valiantly
have they asserted their right. The records
show that tWice as many appointments were
made IN the civil service under Mr.. Lincoln
as had been made by all Of his predeces-
sors. Of this, Democrats had no right to
complain, and for five years they have pa
tiently stood out in the cold,'' and despite
the subtle acts of despotic foe have gal
lantly maintained their principles and their
organization.
Suppose there IS difficulty in deciding
which wing of the Republicans is the par
ty that triumphed in 1861 and 1864, it
still does not affect the Democracy, and
can in no manner entitle them to claim
the spoils of office.
If the President would assume to die
tate to Congress whom they should select
to fill the offices at their disposal he would
Justly merit and would undoubtedly receive
the severest rebuke, and yet he has pre-
cisely the same right TO do this that Con-
gress has to dictate to him the recipients
of his official favors. Upon this subject
the Radicals have themselves settled the
question. Who does not remember that
within brief two years the Radical shib-
boleth was, "THE PRESIDENT Is THE GOV,
ERNMENT. Oppose the President and you
oppose the Government. All men are
traitors who do not tsupport the President"
Such were the daily utterance of the shod-
dy loyalists Mr. Lincoln himself sane
toned the doctrine, ard their whole party
acted upon it. The unlawful seizure and
Imprisonment of thousands of Democrats
have indelibly impressed upon our minds
this doctrine in all It's length and breadth.
If then, Lincoln as President was the Gov
ernment, so Johnson as President is the
Government, and we commend to their lips
the chalice so rudely pressed to ours.
The officers are in the gift of the Execu-
tive. Ifhe believes his policy will restore
the Union and give prosperity to the whole
people, and if he believes he can strength
en- his cause through the offices at his dis
posal, he should at once and determipedly
use the means the Constitution and laws
have given him. Three ffths of the Re-
publcans are within the controlling infu-
ence of their party machinery, their voice
is stifed, they are induced to be silent by
the false assurance that all will yet be
well; that the differences will yet be heal
ed. They forget that ANDREW JOHNSON
proclaimed from the steps of the Presiden-
tial mansion, that THESE MEN CARE TRAI-
TORS" The hour for determination has
past, the breach is irieparable, the separa
tion is final.
Upon the question ofre-construction the
Democracy in solid phalanx are supporting
the policy of the President. They seek
none of the offices. They have no just
claim to them, They regard the contest
as one of principle -one of greater i'm
portance was never submitted to the Amer
ican people. Its defeat will forever sink
the last hope of our free institutions, its
triumph will make glorious future pos
sible for our noble country.
The influence of office holders for coed,
is but slight !; for evI they may be all pow
erful. As supporters of a measure they
weigh but little; as its opposers they are
always felt. In close contest, their op-
position may turn the scale. In deadly
struggle with "traitors," can it be that the
President will permit his ofice-holders to
range themselves under tie banner of trea-
son and throw into the breach against him
the influence and position they hold at his
pleasure? Measuring the vigor of the foe
and the magnitude of the issue, is it not
plainly his duty to use with unsparing hand
every means that the Constitution and laws
have cast upon him.
Under the sway of the Radicals, "M1L-
ITARY NECESSITY" was held to justify any
violation Of the Constitution and laws, and
now we hold that "CIvIL NECESSITY" en-
joins the vigorous use of every means that
are vested in the Executive under the
plain terms Of the organic and statute laws
The union of the States is the life of the
nation, Let the law of the land be WELD
ed to preserve that life. The foe is a dan