Smyrna times., 1866-10-31
BrOwning'S Letter.

BrOwning'S Letter.
Postmaster General Browning has written a
letter to his COpperjohnson friends in Illinois
ON the issue of the election, in which he takes
strong grounds against the Constitutional
Amendment. But the most important feature
concerning the letter is, it has the Endorsement
of President johnson. The New York IinteS
friendly to the President says on this point
In this respect We apprehend that the docu-
ment will operate mischicvOusly, and that its
publication is a mistake that will aid to the
difficulties of the Presidents position. If it
have any significance, it is equivalent to a dec
laratlon on his part that Notwithstanding the
action OF Congress and the determination of
the North, he intends to continue his OppoS-
tlOn to the Amendment and his efforts to pre-
vent its ratification. There would be valid
cause Of regret in the mere knowledge of the
circumstance that the attitude and aims of the
President have undergone no change. Itwere
bad enough to know that the irresistible cur
rent of Northern opinion in favor of the Amend
ment has neither convinced him Of its necessi-
ty, nor taught him the inutility of further re-
Slstancc to It, But the letter becomes a grie-
vOus error when it is considered as a causeless,
gratultOus expression of opinion by the Execu-
tive on grave question Of policy, at a time
and In form which can only serve to aggra-
vate existing difficulties, and intensity the BIT
terness which unhappily characteristics their
discussion. 1t cannot have been deemed requi-
site to make known the views entertained by
the President touching the Amendment, for
these were long ago communicated to Congress,
together with the reasoning upon which they
are based. Nor has aught occurred that could
afford a prctext for the revival Of an opposition
which recent events have shown to be bOOtless.
The President s experience of speech making
should have satisfied him of the futility of his
endeavors to stem the popular current, and win
the controlling elements to his side. Mr..
Browning in his letter says nothing in support
of the Presidents position which the President
himself has not already said And if the Pre-
sident, speaking in his own proper person, fail
ed to produce the slightest change in the pub
lie mind, it is not likely that this plea in his
behalf will be one whit more eficaciOus The
reasonable presumption is, that inasmuch as
the President, by his persistent opposition to
the settled resolves of the Northern people,
rendered them firmer than before, this mani
festO over Mr. Browning signature will tend
to strengthen the position Of Congress, and to
make more determined the demand for the
Amendment as the groundwork of u national
compromise.
The more judcious friends of the President
did hope that the verdict of the people, as
| heard III the recent elections, would induce him
| to reconsider his decision, and to recommend
| the Amendment to the friendly consideration
| OF the Southern States. When the emptiness
| OF this explanation became apparent, desire
prevailed among many who had faithfully
| stood by him that he should at any rate waive
his hostility to the measure and allow the issue
| to be fought out without his interference one
way or another. For his own sake, and fol
the sake OF the country, we think that one o.
/ the other OF these courses would have been de
sirable Either would have been concession
well calculated to heal existing differences, t.
promote spirit of Cancellation and cOmpro
mise, and to hasten the adjustment of Difficult
ties which render the further application of tn,
| Presidents policy impossible. The publica
ton of Mr.. Browning letter seems to preclude
hopes Of this kind.
WENDELL PHILLIps.-M Wendell Phillip
! disllkes the Republican party. Freedom o
| Opinion afhrms his right to indulge his pervert
ed taste i'll this respect. Mr.. Wendell Phillip
INDUCES in long verbal TRADES against the Re
publican party. Freedom of speech affirms hi
right to immunity from all resistance or dis
turbance in thus delivering himself We can
quite go to the length Of the Times and insis
that those Republicans who choose not to pa
fifty cents for the privilege of hearing them
selves eloquently abused by Mr. Phillips evinc
a spirit Of bigotry and persecution; but we
most strenuously insist that whOsoever Sha
see fit to attend Mr.. Phillips lecture shall pa
the stipulated sum at the door, and keep quie
throughout the delivery aforesaid, save as the
may be impelled to the occasional bostowmen
of judiciOus and moderate applause. If an
one chooses to make goose Of himself by his
sing, let him, goose-like, develop that phase G
his nature by the roadside or in a pasture
where he will not disturb the enjoyment of otl
ers by his anserine sibilations.
MIR. Phillips has always hated the RepubI
can party. lie hated it when it proposed Onl
to resist the extensions Of Slavery, because
did not insist on Abolition and, when, in tn
) fullness of time, it did insist on Abolition, h
hated it by so much the more. When Nj
Lincoln was first candidate for President, Nj
Phillips denounced him as " the slave-houn
of illinois," and when Mr.. Lincoln had dea
Slavery its death-blow by his Proclamation {
Freedom, Mr.. Phillips denounced him in sti
harsher terms and opposed his reelection, NJ
Phillips mischievous vaunt that he had Wv;
tered" the good, great President did not DR.
clude his trying to deprive him Of public cont
dence and votes. Had barely One Hupdrc
Thousand AbOltionists seen fit to be guided /
the Boston orator, Mcclellan would have bee
elected and the downfall of American SLAYER
indefinitely postponed.
Mr.. Phillips is to lecture this evening in o,
City. His theme, as first announced, is "Ti
Treachery of the Republican party" He h,
since changed this to "Re-eiect the Amen,
mentl-Dospose the President'' The REM
licans are not likely to accept Mr.. Phillins as
counselor in such grave matters until he sha
have-at least ocnce-,voted for its candidate
They may possibly be compelled to impeaC
$, the President; but they will do this, if at n
in with profound reluctance, and only because
l. is their imperative duty. We fcrvently tru
that the necessity may be avoided; for an In
l. peachment OF the President-no matter bo
De just and necessary-wil almost certainly nlnn'
te the country afresh into convulsion and civ
rs war, just when its need of peace and thrift
ID most urgent If the Republican party sh,
is ever be driven to such impeachment if ' W.
is follow therein the counsel Of no enemy so ~ w
es sistent and implacable as Wendell PL;iI;npr ~