The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1866-11-26

,crowls Ia their carpet bags, Is not unfamilia
in Europe just at present, and 1t only require
q wan with The United States to add Victori,
and Napoleon to the number Of royal Migrants
The Presi, dent md Congress-A ConciIiator,
Course Anticipated.
Our dispatches from Washington say there
are reasons for believing that the President's
forthcoming messag> to Congress win be "per
vaded by spirit ncyliatory to the republi
can party" and that II will show desire "to
secure concert of action between the executive
and Legislative branches Of the government
This is gratifying announcement, and we hope
it may prove to be true We hope, too, that
the dominant party in Congress may be
governed by the Same conciliatSry spirit.
Nothing else is wanted to bring peace, an
early restoration Of the South, and to lay TIE
foundation Of solid and lasting prosperity
throughout the whole republic.
The President in taking this course does SO.
it is reported, out Of respect to the voice of the
people as expressed in the late elections.
Should tEis be the case he will be acting both
in harmony with our popular institutions
and with the political creed he has ayowed
through all his previous public career. The
uoI p0p,ti has been to Andrew Johnson the
supreme law through his thirty years Of
public life We know of no prominent
public man who has more emphatically
declared this to be the law for all statesmen
TO follow, and heretofore he has obeyed it. We.
think and hope he VIII obey the will Of
the people still.
The question that has been at issue between
the President and Congress, that of the restora-
ton Of the South, is entirely one of policy, one
on which he had as much right to form an
opinion and to act as the members of Congress
until the will of the people was expressed. 1t
is true popular maiorities may be wrong some
times and to prevent any evil consequences
from that to the fundamental construction Of the
government or the Infringement Of the guaran-
teed constitu ional rights, the President is in
vested with conservative powers He may even
veto the acts Of Congress from sense Of duty
to the country. But in the present case Of the
conflict Of opinion between him and the repre-
sentatives Of the people further resistance
would be unwise and improper. He might
have had some reason for adhering to his
policy up to the time Of the recent elections,
because the present Congress was elected
under different circumstances, because the
majority were elected even as his protested
and because they adopted DIFF
ferent policy after their election; but there can
be no excuse for such course now. The issue
was clearly defined and squarely put to tho
people, and they have said they want plan
of restoration differing from that proposed by
the President.
The question at issue, we repeat, is not one
of constitutional right, over which the Presi-
dent is the special guardian; for the war has
barred such claim from or in behalf Of the
rebel States; but 1t is simply one Of policy, and
on that the popular voice must be the supreme
law. The overwhelming majority Of members
returned to Congress In favor of different
plan of restoration than that proposed by the
President ought to cause him to yield promptly
and unhesitatingly to the will Of the people.
That is the whole matter in nutshell, and we
nre pleased to learn that Mr.. Johnson is likely
to view it in that light.
If the President shall propose modified pro-
zramme Of restoration in lieu Of that embraced
in the constitutional amendment, we trust 1t will
be one that Congress can adopt Immediately
and that will fully restore the South before the
expiration Of the next session in March. We
have urged, as the best thing to be done under
the circumstances, universal amnesty and uni
versal suffrage; but whatever plan be recon-
mended or adopted, let II be such as will bring
about Immediate restoration.
The welfare of the country, our national in
terests, peace and harmony, all demand this.
Let MS have, then, Cancellation, both on the part
of the President and Congress, and speedy
restoration.
THE CANADIANS ARNSG.--Our warlikc and