The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1866-04-17

or exclaims, ssHe's drunk half the time, and
don't know what he's doing" A third,
Hes had the dslirium trsmsns-he sees
Then, on The other hand, with flashing
eye and burning checks, the presidents is
warmly, earnestly, and intelligently defend
cd. To these charges they respond: you
are . id fool; there isn't a purer, truer
man on this earth than Andrew johnson.
"Did he so calamity battle these traitors for
five years-yea, all his life--to turn traitor
now ?" "Show me where, in single in
stance, he has gone back on any principle or
sentiment he has ever avowed; place your
finger upon q single act OF his that is untrue
to the country or the party that elected him."
"Admit that his speech Of February Y was
unwise and in bad taste !; yet even in that,
where is the sentiment or principle that the
Union men of this country do not, or, at the
time of his election, did not endorse?" And
all the crowd keep silence,
1t is Babel Of opinion hsre-a political
chaos, No two prominent men think alike.
Congress is very weak and powerless, be-
cause there is no unity of purpose or action
in that body. Ii is true that much good re-
suits from this wide range of discussion as to
reconstruction, the relations of the state to
the general governments, the principles lying
at the foundation of our form OF government
and all democratic and republican institu-
tions, and the inaliensble and imperishable
rights of man as man. Out of great discus
sions great truths are evolved, and hereafter
stand revealed and imperlshable. Much ear
nest work has been done by many earnest
men to harmonic congress and the president.
Some think it will yet be accomplished, and
| that while the Union men IN congress may
differ with the Union president in the means
| to accomplish the great end, yet the end
| sought to be accomplished by both ls the
same that they are travelling on converging
| lines that the Union president and the Un-
| ion congress both seek the unity and highest
good of the whole country, the protection OF
| every man within the shadow Of it's banners
| in his iualienable, God-given rights, eventu-
ally the equality of all men before the law,
| and the welding of the whole majesty and
power of our government in the elevation,
| culture, and progress of our people, and the
| developement of the uncomprehended resour-
| ces and limitless wealth of our vast domains.
Others think that no harmony san ever be
| reached; that the executive and legislative
| branches, as now conducted, are vitality an
tagonistical, and that, like flint and steel, fire
| will fly every time they come In contact.
| 1.-The correspondent then proceeds to give
the opinions of Chase, Stanton, Seward, Den
nison, Speed and Senator Sherman, and con
| cudes as followsl
THE FACTS.
| First. The president does not get drunk
| is temperate and abstemious in all his habits
does not touch liquor of any kind, and has
not since the day of his Inauguration.
| Second. He is not going over to the cop
perheads, nor is he going to appoint any man
| to Office who was not with the Union party
during the war.
Third. He is going to have every man
who holds office un der him support him and
his measures, his policy" as set forth in hi.
22d of February speech, his veto, and hi,
message Those who do not support him, and
| do take sides with the radicals in congress
| had better look out for the executive axe, fol
ii will surely tall.
| Fourth. Andrew johnson lie as honest anC
patriotic q man as lives on the earth. He i:
lust as combative and stubborn az he is hon
est.
Fifth. Dear to him as his first born, yea
precious as the breath Of his nostrils, is hi
| s'policy' Before his determination to sus
tain and carry through that policy all othel
considerations must go down. To that "pol
icy" he would sacrifice the Union party, i
necessary. He would sacrifice any and al
personal friendships-ysa, his very life woulC
weigh nothing IN the scales against his deter
mination to carry it through. Why? Be
cause he has, after long days and weeks ant
months of earnest thought. study, and pray
| err concluded that the salvation of his countr,
and the welfare OF the people depend upoI
il.
However much we may differ with him il
Judgement, we can but admire his Spartan
heroism and dauntless courage.
What is the presidents policy upoI
which he is risking so much!" many en-
auire. What is this ohimera, this phan
tom, this ignis tatuus policy that is leading
the president this wild dance ?"
That cannot fully answer. Lis message
veto and speech will best give it. The prin
cipal Ingredients of that policy are:
| First-That the constitutional rights of tn
states and the people thereof shall not be IN
fringed or trampled upon by the federal gov
eminent.
Second-That the states have the right T.
determine for themselves the qualification o
voters, and that the general government cal
no more interfere with that right in Souti
Carolina than in Massachusetts.
Third-Tbat whenever q member OF con
gress from any one of the thirty-six state
presents himself for seat in congress-, ant
can take the oath prescribed tor each ant
every member of that body, congress has M
right to exclude him that congress can pre-
scribe rules that will apply to all it's members
but cannot invidiously legislate against mem
bers from sections of the country, or that on
ly apply to a part of that body or a part O
the states.
Fourth-He does not believe in the Steven
doctrine of estate Suicide"
Fifth-He is opposed to negro suffrage a
this time; thinks they are untitled for an,
have not the requisite capacity to intelligent
ly exercise that sacred yet dangerous privil
eye.
MY CONCLUSION.
! Congress and the president will never bar
monize. They will remain assunder and di
vided unto the end.