Baltimore daily commercial. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1865-1867, 1866-04-19
THE PRESIDENT VINDICATING IKEs
UNEONESH

UNIONIsM.
Another proof has been furnished bv the
President of his attachment to the Republican
party as contra distinguished from the Cop
perhead Democracy, in the new appointment
ola Collector for the port of n ew York One
OF the most important offices in his gift in its
bearing upon the political fortunes of parties,
1t was almost test question as to how he
would. decide when so many were contending
for the position; and Notwithstanding the Neiics
and World have tried their most potent arts
to estrange him from the party which elected
him, have done their best to claim and mo-
nopolize him, in this as in other things he has
shown that he has a will of his own: and that
he is disposed-with any sort of a chance-to
act with those with whom in his conflict to
save the Union he has so long been identified
In appointing Mr.. Smythe Collector he
seems not to have consulted the politicians at
all; but DESTROYS alone to subserve the inter
ests of the city and county, he has sought one
with an unmistakeable record as a Union
man, an unassuming member of the Republican
party, and placed him in position called by
New York paper "unquestionably the most
important in the gift of the President" Had
he been disposed to play the usual game of
providing for the succession" something
which has been over and over again charged
upon him as the incentive to all he does, what
better opportunity could he have had, or de-
sired, than to make the Empire City Custom
House, with its immense patronage and in
fuence, subservient to his supposed purposes;
and what better tribute need be desired to his
patriotism and political honesty, than the
universal expression of surprise his action mas
elected from political journals?
Is it not time then, in view. of all this,
that some abatement Of rancor should be
manifested by the politicians at Washington
toward the President; is there not room still
for men sincerely DESTROYS to maintain the
Union organization to come together, and as
before late difficulties arose, bend every effort
to serve and TO saw the country? The Gin
cinnati Commercial makes some very iudcious
remarks to this effect, which we commend to
the Unionsts Of Baltimore who have lately
permitted themselves to distrust the President.
We quote:
CONGRESS AND TIE PRESIDENT.
Happily the President of the United States took
the passage of the Civil Rights Bill his veto in
the best humOr in the world. Instead of following
the programme that had been chalked out for him by
some of his friends, and proclaiming Congress
revolutionary assemblage. calling upon the militia
of Virginia to disperse it, and inaugurate civil war
he said perhaps it well enough that the bill had
become law, though he could not conscicniousy
give it his signature He did not believe that the
bill was constitutional, but the Supreme Court had
that to decide, and in the meantime could all have
the opportunity of witnessing any beneficial results
that might arise from it.
And Congress feels in its bones that tho man at
the other end of the avenue" is not so bad II man
after all. The most radical Republicans discover
that he really is not Copperhead, if he does well
all classes of politicians to the support of the
Union cause; nor a rebel, though he shakes hands
with men who fought against us during tho war.
There is a wholesome reaction in his favor.
of his particular friends, nominated for Office have
just been confirmed, who, fortnight since, would
have been contemptu0usly rejected and this is bui
one of the signs of the times indicating that the
Executive and Legislative Departments of the Gov
eminent may yet work together for the general safety
and the common good.
Congress and the President. each having had a lick
at the other. feel better about it. There is no Dues
ton that the Presidents speech the 22d of Febru
airy was an ndiscreet one, and that it damaged him
seriously but it not be canddy disputed that he
had very aggravating proyocation. giv"a by those
at whom, Gco3rlils to Henry Ward Beecner he rtit
his heels through the dashboard of the Radical car
riage. II vetoed the Freedmen's Bureau Bill and
killed it. but the Bureau has another years opportu-
nifty to demonstrate its usefulness. He vetoed also
the Civil Rights Bill, but it is passed his head,
and this must be considered, if an amicable spirit
prevails, pretty square adjustment of accounts and
it certainly is period when moderate and prudent
counsels may be received and profited by.
We have reason to believe they are heard and con-
sdered, and that if Mr. Thaddeus Stevens does not
yield TO the concatory disposition of the hour ana
adopt liberal line of policy meeting the President
at least half way, he will find himself in the course
OF few weeks, in the leadership of as small perty
as MIR. Raymond mustered on occasion of the final
vote on the Civil Rights Bill. The most intelligent
and statesmanlike Union members of the House are
anxious to commence the work Of reconstruction at
once. and in doing so they hardly avoid giving
an effective support to the Administration policy
There is majority now in the House of Representa-
tves in favor of the admission of TIE members elect
from Arkansas and Tennessee, most important fact
and one that will not long be obscure in any part of
the country. The Constitutional Amendment equal
izing representation which has been out of sight
for few weeks, may yet be secured by o-operation
between the President and Congress- and it is not al
all improbable that this may be speedily DONE
The Civil Rights Bill reduced to the facts and
adapted for practice does not to have the por
tentous proportions which assumed in theory while
under discussion. Congressman who supported it de-
clare that it has operation whatever in three
ourths of the loyal States Including Ohio and none
In three or four of the rebel States that it does no
more than our military commanders are doing in the
Southern States where the Black Codes are unre-
pealed. and is indeed law simply authorizing to be
done what the President is doing. few months
experience will develop the scope and bearing Of this
measure and possibly may go far to settle the differ
ences between the President and Congress by show
ing that they were, in many particulars unsubstantia
We trust the views here taken are well
based, because Congress can as little get along
in the endeavor to reorganize matters without
the cooperation of the President as the latter
can without them. Surely, after the unproft-
able wrangling which has been witnessed at
Washington, the fierce spirits who have figured
chiefly in it will see the necessity of concilia-
ton, of indeed giving the country peace.
Let all who value the Union, or profess a
shadow of devotion to it, work for so need.