New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1866-04-04
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moi the life of the sovereign at stake-then, in
deed we might expect to see revolutionary VIZ
ines as well as revolutionary passions, eleSated 10
an heroic pitch of which we, fortunately nave ho
experience.
Mfr. Jobnson's speech was full of the old Ten.
nessee spirit, with this important difference, that
instead OF being directed against the euthern als
spirit and consistency under DISAPPOINTMENT ana
misfortune he would not now be President of the
United States The President was defending NM hs
| been personally assailed with bitterness which
has rarely been surpassed, on account of his re-
construction policy and since the PRONUNCIATION OF
his veto on the fraedmen's bureau bill, has been
denounced in Congress itself rebel and traitor
and as an s obstacle which must be got rid Of" 1t
is not therefore, surprising that he should have
spoken of his detractors with words of wrath. The
problem of reconstruction is very difficult one;it
may be that the policy which the PRESIDENT Is pur-
suing will not succeed in winning back the South,
and yet it may be his duty to try it, and to nope
for its success. Nor will his present opponents
have any right to taunt him wthits eventual failure
The difference between the President and the rad
icals, is, that his plan contemplates the whole
southern population, while they care only for the
negroes; forgetting that if the black man is to |
prosper it must be by the prosperity of the whole
community, and that if he is to enjoy freedom, 1t
must be through the refrigeration of free instl-
tutions; and that no legislation which should i'm
pair these could permanently serve his interests
We discover no sign that the course whlch the
radicals have followed, has had the effect OF dry,
ing President johnson into the hands OF the old
copperhead party although 1t was well calculated
to have that effect upon weaker man. The Pres-
ident has plainly and repeatedly declared that for
the present the negro must and shall be protected
at the South by special legislative and adminitra-
r tive measures, with the execution OF which he Is
ready to charge himself. Two days after the date
Of his veto, he told Gen. Howard that ne interpret
ed the act of Congress passed last session. as au-
If thorizing the continuance of the freedmen's pu-
reau for one year from the proclamation OF peace
+ which he proposes shortly to issue And ne mas
declared himself ready to go further than this and
n to give his assent to bill extending the powers
e and operation of the existing bureau Tor TWO
e years.
g opposed to measures necessary for the protection
OF the freedmen and we cannot wonder at the in
dignation expressed on Washingtons birthday HIS
Uttered in defense Of the Constitution and unlike
I'd those to which it was reply it contained no men
I'd aces But for all this it was coarse exhibition
and altogether unworthy OF the agn once hnon oa
Is superior to parties, MIR. johnson Is becoming
le partisan
tie From the London Daily News, March lo.l
" Thus far it is already clear that vast prepond.
u erance of public opinion is with the President, and
- against the Congressional majority which ought
~ not to have passed any measure so crowded with
10 unconstitutional provisions as the treedmens bu
u reau bill. The instant effect OF MIR. Johns0nS eX
PLANTATION of his veto was to convince several mem
M bers who thereupon voted against the bill instead
~ of carrying it the veto, as they might easily
ne have done. 1t may be understood to be settled
point that the Southern people who desire to re
enter the Union not to be deprived Of any es
ne sential common constitutional rights for Inc
at protection of the body Of the negroes, who o&h
~ ~ to be rendered safe at a much less cost
me 1t is again. settled point that the actual Presi
~ dent will never agree to admit the worst eVl ant
7i' danger menaced by conflict about State rights
the giving of nordinate powers to the central gov
W. eminent. By the rejected bill, the Executive
through its agents, could have nterered in ever
ny corner of every State where negroes were living
; Judging deciding, controlling, in places where pc
i've cuiar unknown laws, customs and manner
sIy prevail or where the dictaten of strangers mus
mn keep up constant irritation. By that bill enor
ess nous patronage would have been put into tn
zen hands of the Executive, creating as much susp
lch cion and cupidity at the North as oense in tn
III South. BY that bill vast almshouse would hay
IL been created and established as department
IS the national government By that bill the Execu
en- tive would have usurped to considerable eXten
the distribution and guarantee of lands which ar
t tiS the proper business of the courts
ND Assigning these grounds and some others for hi
nre action, the President has refused to aggregat
fer new powers for the use of his successors, and
: of destroy the balance which alone renders unto
and possible, by granting only anomnal and not re
the humbled States which may be won over
this loyalty and patriotism now if ever
ded [From the Manchester Examiner March l0.l
the There can be no doubt that President Johnso
l. entertains the fullest nope OF Delng sustained
the course he has adopted by the sympathies
the people. Whether he is right in this opinio
time will show, but in the meantime it is equal
certain that he is acting in entire consistency wit
the opinion he has always held, and which he Wa
II, known to hold when the suffrages of the pecop
raised him to the second position in the republic
His Washington speech is one of the bodest thf
the world has listened to for many day. 1t
terribly in earnest.
Re- We recognize in it the same dauntless courag
eh- the same fidelity to conviction and the same reel
lessness of personal consequences as was di
played in his own State of Tennessee, when he ha
~ to back the cause of the Union and the rights
Oh the negro against the prejudices of the slaveho
p ing oligarchy. These the qualifications whit
ne procured for him unbounded popularity through
out the North, and led to his being placed on Il
IN same ticket with Mr. Lincoln for the office of Vic
Nm President. Events have sngularly interwoyt
I'M; mn themselves with mans intentions in the proce
,nu' which has made this boldhearted man the arbt
Is of his country's destnies. We can understand tt
II f position of his opponents. 1t is Ineligible, al
~ from their point of view entitled to respect, but
thn far as we can judge, the welfare of the Unit
States including in the account the interests OF Il
e negro race, is inseparably associated with t
vi maintenance of those constitutional principl
pba which his message to Congress and his speech
, INC Washington so unanswerably expounded, al
u ua which the ascendant party in Congress shows
"a' DerilOus eaperneSS to ignore.