The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1866-03-07
The Presidents Veto.

essay TO display its force Of argument and logical de-
ductons 1t has only to be read to carry conviction
to every unbiased mind And yet, the effects of the
message will be widely different in portions of the
country In the south it will meet with universal
appreciation while in the radical north violent denun
Citations, in and out of congress- will be its portion
The direct issue has been made and both parties are
ready for the combat. That struggle, from which so
much good evil to the south will result has been
nangurated. The president has taken his stand and
viii no doubt rally around him enough Of the con
servatsm Of the north to accomplish his object.
The Crescent, in able article on the message,
makes the following pertinent remarks
Had the president signed the feedmen's bureau
BILL the radicals would have gained very important
point They would have committed the president to
their general doctrine of the supreme authority of
congress every subject of domestic polity; and
they would have obtained grasp upon the country
which it would be almost impossible to shake of. We
say nothing here of the disastrous effects which the
adoption of such a system must have had upon the
industrial and commercial future Of the south. We
speak Of the subject merely in its party bearings.
But the president whose comprehensive sGgacity
seems to grasp every side Of the question, has exhb
tied this phase of objection, as well as many others
in a mastery and unanswerably argument. We re-
peat now what said yesterday, that the message is
full and complete yndication Of the policy which
the president has adopted and ample justification
Of the confidence which has been reposed in him.
1t is now incumbent the people Of Louisiana
to rally to his support He has hard battle to fight
The words of Mr.. Stevens in the federal house of
that trucuent leader accepts the veto as declaration
Of war, and it is a war Eoaranee-a war the like of
which has never been seen in the political history Of
country When president johnson sent in his veto
message he knew full well the responsibility which he
incurred, and the dangers which he braved. He knew
that he would encounter the yindictiye rage of an
aspiring, selfish and domineering party. But he has
shown himself equal to the occasion; he has proved
indeed that be darcs to assail obstacles and confront
dangers which would appal the soul of an ordinary
politician 1t is the duty Of the people to stand by
him in this trying emergency; and to see that he
comes out from the contest not with honor only but
with success 1t is especially the duty of the southern
States for whose rights and safety and welfare he has
dared much to declare their cordial and unanimous
support Of his policy; and to tender whatever aid
they can extend to carry it into effect Let it be done
at once in that formal and official manner which will
represent at once the voice of the people and the
dignity Of the States Let the legislature of Louis
lana set the example by sending delegation to Wash
ington composed of the abest and most distinguished
members of that body, and, if need be, of eminent
citizens of the State. When the president has done
so much for u.s. let US try to do something for him.
The western papers, as far as we have seen, heartily
endorse the veto. The Louisville Democrat exclaims,
" three cheers for Andrew Johnson, and adds:
The bill is unconstitutional, as well as unwise. The
fact is the bill proposed the most monstrous usurpa-
ton of power that could be conceived of. 1t was a
bill to hold half the Union by the sword rule it by ire
spon5ible agents, who would be Lawmakers, judges
and sheritfs. 1t blotting out of State power
and the assumption Of all power by the federal gov
erument 1t didn't treat the negro capable of
freedom. 1t appointed him oyerseers with arbitrary
power to them at discretion As far as the south
concerned it is than taxation without repre-
senation 1t is legislation than taxation whilst
the States affected by it refused seats in congress
1t was meant for evil but the Lord reversed for good
We repcat-three cheers for Johnson
We have seen nothing from authority from Wash
ington for a long time like this message. 1t looks
like the dawn Of morning again. 1t is light shining
in dark place It reads like the messages of better
days. Congress may overrue the president; but the
people will sustain him in this act, if they are not
ready to abandon all they have believed heretofore
and all they have been taught from 1875 down to
1912.
The Louisville Courier believes that, by this veto
the president has fairly earned crown of glory which
will not fade even with the lapse of time
President johnson has proved himselE as we pre-
dcted he would equal to the emergency of band-to
hand conflict with the radicals in congress The chal-
lenge so insoienty offered by Thad Stevens be has
fearlessly accepted and this is the first broadsde he
has poured into their quivering ranks. If is their
game, the ball is now fairly opened The president
will not stop at this and we may now reasonably hope
that all the power and all the weapons which belong
Iegtimatey to his office will be employed to thwart
the madmen who arc rushing blndly and frantcaly
into the destruction Of the country.
The following are extracts from the New York
morning papers Of the goth ult. The World says:
president Johnson has noby sustained his charac-
ter for seadiness of purpose and political courage by
the veto sent to the senate yesterday of the bill en-
Iarging the powers of the freedmen's bureau. The
consideration of most immediate interest is the like
hood of the veto being effective Can bill be passed
by two-thirds vote of both houses the veto, and
become law in spite of the president? We think it
cannot but the question is not entirely free from
doubt as to set the public anxiety at rest until the trial
has been made
The Tribune says: We deeply regret this. and We
think he will live to regret this deeply for
this veto win be understood by all that is brutal and
rufianly at the south, giving license to any abuse
and oppression Of the blacks that white malignty,
rancor or hate can devise"
The Times says: The veto implies no essential
difference Of opinion between the executive and the
majority of congress on the primary object of the bill
In no essential point is the president variance either
with the majority Of congress with the country 50
far as the claims of the freedmen are concerned. He
seeks to reach the end aimed at in the veto bill 81
other, and what he deems less radicsi, agencies 1t
will therefore be for congress- and the country to cgn
carefully tie objections offered and at least to respect
if they cannot assent H. the reasons on which the ex
ecr'.tve veto is based"
The Herald says: g The freedmen's bureau bill has
at the hands Of president johnson, met with the fate
which it deserved His general arguments and his
specifications against the bill consistent convincing
and conclusive"
VINO ARE TRUE TO THE SoUTu?-Under this heading
the Memphis Bulletin of the Goth uit, says "every
man in the south who would not sacrifice prejudice to
sustain president johnson, is traitor to bis country
Let johnson fail to eoDsummate his plans, let the
south betray him-then Stevens, Sumner and Chase
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