Baltimore daily commercial. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1865-1867, 1866-03-05

c0FFeSDOnQcNfg. |
TE1E REACTION IN TIHE POLITICAL |
EXTFTEMET-TEEE CASE OF LOYAL |
REPRESENTATIVES, FROM SOUTHERN |
STATES. |
The statement first sent from Washington,
that Messrs. Seward, Welles, Dennison and |
McCulloch were in favor of the Presidents
views, in the Cabinet council which discussed |
the merits of the bill vetoed by him, the mere |
assertion of that fact at the time should have |
gone far with the men who in Congress lost
their temper over the result, to cause them to
question the Incorporate and hasty action in
which they forthwith INDUCED. The denun-
Citations so sweepingly leveled at him, certainly
bore heavily on these immediate supporters
and counsellors of his; and now, since there
has come a sober second thought upon them,
it is evident they comprehend the mistake
they have made, and are more than doubtful
of having the support of the people at large.
The President, too, must see quite as far as
they do in this thing, and if any could try to
persuade themselves otherwise, they have only
to observe how little he is disturbed by what
has happened that he has not shown any
misgiyings as to whether or not he had the
country with him.
And that the great Union party proper has
beenreally disrupted or seriously compromised,
is euually,a mistake With no doubts enter
tanned now Of the desire of certain leaders to
destroy public confidence in the sincerity and
patriotism of the President, the disaffected
leaders have not only not drawn away from
him any perceptible support, but, whilst add
ing to the numbers of his friends, they have
evidently driven off many of their own. Great
as has been their disappointment and mort
flying as must be the result, what is more evi-
dent than that if any backing down has to be
done, it must be done by them because, with
the people taking sides in favor Of the Presi-
dents course, the future of parties thus sit
mated is plain.
In view of all this, there is no occasion for
any particular uneasiness lest public affairs
should in future be badly compromised to the
injury of the country, its finances, its trade,
or aught else that bears upon its general pros,
perity. What has happened Of late, mus,
have good effect. With those admonished
who have been too busy in attending to party,
to look after great national interests; drawing
at last the angry scrutiny of the people upon
their movements, it can hardly be supposed
that hereafter, if they care at all for their po-
itical standing, that they should much longer
stand in the way of the nations advance.
Aud if any are still doubtful as to whether
these views are well based, let such note
that whilst all through the present session Of
Congress, the case Of Tennessee has been
held in allegiance as a kind of strong card TO
play upon occasion, now that this collision has
occurred, and the ultraists find themselves
frowned upon for their calculating neglect to
do what is right, that now they have concb.-
ded to do the magnanimous; to pass favora-
bly, upon that State in order, doubtless, TO
gain some credit for just action in doing so.
to convince the people that they are less in
tolerant and vlndictive than they are accred-
tied with being. And yet nothing nate:ial
has occurred to make the position of that
State any more favorable than it was at the
beginning of the session. They knew thai
the President was peculiarly anxious to see
the Representatives Of his own State admit
ted; that so long as Tennessee was kept out,
1t was palpablc reflection upon him and his
standing; and yet studiousy keeping that
commonwealth out, they hoped doubtless tfa,
so long as they had it in their power to make
an apparent concession, the President might
by that means be held in check. 1t was a
sad mistake on their part, as we have seen:
and with the purpose failing, they now pro
pose to do it out of hand, to try to convince
the people-we repeat-that they are not as
designing and memorable as has been CHARGED,
Well, Tennessee will come in, and so will
the other States in due course, according ia
Mr.. Stewards predictions; but no thanks m
those who will be crowded up to that point BY
pressure they cannot resist. So far from
standing ont with a perverse obstinacy and
vlndichveness on the question of ADMITTING
southern representatives, Congress should have
searched eagerly, rather, for loyal men to rep.
resent any districts there; if not six or eight
In State, then one, even. Such men have
applied and been turned away; Marvin. -
Florida; johnson, of Arkansas; MAYNARD and
others, of Tennessee; and so on; the resun
being in the higest degree discouraginp and
injurious to the South, paralyzing its loyaitv
and sharpening its resentments.
We insist then, that on this point the conn
try will compel these men to relax their vim
dlctive or calculating policy. We want loyal
men IN Congress, from whGterer quqrtcr; and
what sort of encouragement is that to the
Omonlsm of the South, that kind which with
Andrewslohnson fought the battles of free GOV
eminent with the halter about their necks, #
now that the Government is restored these
men have their loyalty reflected upon and their
rights trampled upon and defed? They were
true to Congress and the Government when
the friends of either were not too many; let
those who now assume the control of affairs,
show some sense of justice and of gratitude
now that they have the opportunity, if they
expect to see loyalty valued hereafter.