Abbeville press. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1860-1869, 1866-01-12
THE POLITICAL ISSUE.

~>~s - SS<AAASnA Appu6.
The progress OF events has at last dev.lored
The radical autagonism which exists between
the policy of President johnson and that of tho
Republican majority in Congress. The course
the President in relieving the Provisional Gov.
ernors OF the States of North Carolina. South
Caroline, Georgia and Alsbama, and remi,tipp
their functions to the Governors elect of tbo..
States-his late message announcing the suo--
preston of the rebellion. and the extension of
the revenue and posts! service over the Statea
lately in revolt-and the promulga,ion by Sec.
retary Seward. of the ratification BY ~
States OF the Constitutional amendment, thus
recognizing the Southern States as members of
the .Union-all develop a policy which was
early foreshadowed. and indicate that the
President is using all proper means to effect
! the early restoration Of the Southern States to
their constitutional relations with the G eueral
Government That policy is based on the as.
sumption u,nt these States were never out of
the Union-that their constitutional functions
have only been suspended, and that to the res
toration oftheir f. rmer relations. the inte,po-
stion OF Congress is not necessary but pre-
| senls subject entirely for Executive action.
In direct conflict With this policy is the pro-
granme of Mr. Taadeus Stevens the leader of
the Radical majority in Congress. Regarding
| the Southern States as out of the Union he
| holds that they can only be re.admitted by COL
gress as new States der the fourth Article of
| the Constitution. Viewing them as conquered
provinces hs would subject them to the will
of the conqceror. and impose the most humil:a.
| fipo conditions bo .oSt . -.
| sion-for the present, he would govern them
us territories. and provide laws for them, par
ticuarly in regard TO suffra ge and the relation,
! Of freedm"n-he would amend the Constitution
so as to impose export duties upon Southern
| cotton, and thus proposes to raise annual
revenue of 100000. .OOO-he would change the
basis Of Congressional representation, 60 as to
mske it depend upon the voting population,
thus forcing the South either 10 extend suf-
frage to the blacks or lose come nineteen rep.
resentatives. Such is the policy political and
financial which is distinctly avowed by the
leader of the radicals, but its manfest injustice
aud repugnance to the best interc:ts of the
country has already awakened a strone con.
servative element IN the ranks Of the party,
and called forth growing reaction in. behalf
Of the President and his policy.
In the meantime we Of the South can we'll
afford 10 await our restoration 10 the right. @,
Congressional representation whether it be re-.
ferred to the uext session, or to the next Con
gress. The President may not admit us to Con.
greHa, but lie can protect us against its unjust
legIsatIon-he may restore the writ of Xa6eas
| Corpus, and has already indicated, that he on
ly awaits the proper time to do so-he may or
net withdraw the troops at his pleasure, and
| has already given assurance lhat their ,relen-
lion is intended for purposes Of protection.
With the restoration Of civil law, and the en-.
joyment Of Executive protection in the exercise
Of our rights in the Union. we have no special
reason to desire an early admission into Con-
gress. As that body is now constituted, the
presence of our representatives could afford US
no protection, nnd as has been well remark ed
might give the color of asSnt 10 measures OF
unjust Legislation.