The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1866-05-04
COn0reSS and the Country.

1t is beginning TO be understood even 10y
those who. after the free,lmen'S bureau bill
had been vetoed, were most disposed 10
conclude that President Johnson had. for
SOME reason or other. more 10 DO with the
work of reconstruction than Congress,
that his message did not 10y any means
cover the whole ground. and that there l.
a great deal TO be said in defence OF the
reluctance of Congress 70 admit southern
representatives. which Is not 10y any means
fully met by a dry statement OF the con
stitutlonal objections TO taxation without
representation, or trial without Jury The
more people reflect, the better satisfied
they are that that branch of the govern
ment whose function ii Is TO deliberate
and debate as well rs TO lesislaie. and
which Is from lis very nature IN closer
contact with the country, and better IN
formed of IFS thoughts and feelings from
day to day than the executive can posi-
blv be. is the branch which has and ought
TO have most TO do with such a work OF
reorganization as Is ROM before uS.
We think, for our part, that not only
ought the President not TO tlat,er himself
that the work OF reconstruction l. III an
especial manner his work, but lac should
never have entered upon ii III all without
calling Congress together. He Is elmpow-
cred 10y the constitution 10 convene both
houses on ''extraorliiarr OCCASIONS;
and if the overthrow of the rebellion MAS
not IN extraordinary occasion, calling for
the exercise VI this power, all we can say
Is, that We do not believe one l. ever likely
10 occur. No government las ever ell
tered OH 4 task 50 important IA that which
Mr. johnson found before him when L,e
lald down his-irmS Ii WAS one, too. tor
which lie was not chosen 10y the people,
and it Is casting no reflection either on his
honesty OF ability TO say that he would
not have been chosen for ii. and that he
was not thought of Tor il by anybody. L;
was one such AZ. We will add. We do not
believe any constitutional ruler has ever
ventured TO charge himself with alone AMI
unaided. The President ought not 10
have allowed one week 10 elanse after
Mr.. Llncoln'> death without calm. Con
grc>S together, hearing what ii had 10 say
about the crisis. and submitting his plans
for lis approval. Ii this WAS not neoes,;s-
~ III such Il time, we repeat that Con-
gre>> Is Il useless institution. and ought 10
be got rid of. If the President i compc-
tent 10 do the work of reconstruction SIN
Gle handed. hc X competent 10 'lo the
whole wcrk OF government >incle handed.
We think the country l. gradually :lwi-
kening TO 4 just perception of ihe real
state OF the CHS. an.l liz reluctance 10 bc-
li,ye in The ability of one m;ln Ia mamaec
IL affairs has certainly been strengthened
toy tic occasional exhibitions which Alr.
Johnson has lately giycm ot hi want ot
temper and discretion. His career h;ls.
III fact, furnished one mere illustration OF
the folly OF believing that ANY man. nc
matter what hi character or capacIty. l.
tit for the exercise OF absolute power such
as Lac l. NOM exercising over halt the COLI
tlncmt. lie has exercised ii a. far AZ tie
south Is concerned. w confess. with a
great deal of moderation. hui ii ha> evi-
IDENTIFY warped hi judgement with. regard
tn l''- nwn r-lniiomS 10 f.,ngr,.S> and 10
the FEST of the Countrywide NtRion