The Camden weekly journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1865-1866, 1866-04-27

dared, in spite of party lines and re-
strictions, to administer the Constitu-
ton. IlLrespect to differences Of laws,
circumstances Of election, party organi-
cations and peculiar exigencies the par
allel bears no relation whatever. TT-
lER's administration was the beginning
OF. the downfall Of the Wing party
Let rs hope ANDREW JOHNSON is the
6esom Of destruction to the Black Ro-
PUBLICAN.
Two serious questions, however, pre-
sent themselves. Does Congress or the
President represent tho spirit Of the
North? Can any remedy be applied
potent Enough to revive the vitality Of
the American system, as understood
formerly by that term, and embodied
in the Constitution {? With reference
to the first, it is a great mistake to at
tribute tic struggle now in progress as
the result Of mere trickery or party
spirit. Congress represents the charac-
teristics of the Northern mind which
were i'll the process Of development
before the war-actuated there during
it, and arc now progressing developing
and seeking elimination. The legis-
lative body Of every people is the bost
thermometer of their political tempera-
ture. Duty is only the emanation and
exponcRt--nevcr the Inauguration Of
principles. Coming out from amongst
the people, partaking Of their nature
and feelings, studying their condition
and dependent on their favor, the pub
lie men Of a country are, nine-tenths of
them, only weather-cocks who indicate
the direction Of the wind and set their
sails accordingly. Docs not tho Con-.
gross of tho United States show this ?
Its action is i'll exact accordance with
the spirit Of the Northern people
They arc true types Of all revolutionary
epochs. They are for progression-not
rotrosrcssion. They arc waiting along
with that stream Which is in quest Of
tho strict logical deduction and cunclu-
sion Of those principles by which they
fought and won the fight. Revolutions
arc always logical in their denoument.
ANDREW JOHNSON seeks to turn back
this torre:tt-to stay its food. He
wishes to return to tho brlwarEs of
SSG0-to remand the Government to
III observance of the rights Of the States
and obligations of the Constitution
lie is q conscrvatist amid host Of pro-
grcssionists. Unfortunately paradoxes
AID Inconsistencies confront him at
'cvory turn. C,manyremedy be applied
to hsal the present deplorable condition
Of the dounsy: "Is there no balm
in Gilead' 10 sootl!e the passions and
allay the hat blood? Is tho country
to be drlrged Wit, thc woes and crimes
of solinl and civ;l revolution Our
country is a snd commentary on the
boa.sted power OF une political institu-
tiuns. Could the men who framed q
constitution to meet the necessities Of
:hat country they liberated by sacrifices
of blood ard treasure, behold it torn,
mutilated and blccding-a dead letter
and q moeking jest, they would start
backwith atriyhtat the Shost-ilie vestigc
of its former grandeur and power. 10
return to. a strict observance Of it is
impossible. The times have outrun
much OF its capacity and ada2tablhty'
No ono denies tile necessity tor tho ap-
plication Of tho amending power to di-
rect the present exigency. But as a
groundwork it can never be ignored,
unless the people Of the North are de-
termined to be law unto themselves,
and to lot prejudices and fanaticism
govern them. We give the masses
and a fow public men among them
credit for an. attachment to it still. At
the same time the former are so BIASED
by the indoctrinat;ons Of their radical
leaders, teachers and preachers that
they would abandon it forever rather
than suffer their adherence to it to mil
itate with what they call the spi-
rit Of the age. It strikes us, in view
of these facts, that the only remedy for