Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1866-11-16
THE LATE ELECTIoNS--THE PEG
PILE HAVE SROKEN.

Old, shrewd, and experienced politi-
clans are generally 10th to cut asunder the
ties existing between an Administration
whether state or Federal-and the party
which placed it in power. Besides the
loss Of the patronage, the influence ana
the prestige of victor. which it gives to q
dominan, party, the bare fact Of the sepa-
ration has a very demoralizing effect upon
a party. Hence it was that until neal the
close Of the last session Of Congress that
many Republicans were sorely reluctant
ly to take . part in creating the wide
chasm Of disagreement now existing be-
tween the Union party Of the nation and
President Johnson's Administration. But
the Union or Republican party, At the late
elections, have spoken out in tones OF
thunder against the Presidents policy OF
reconstructiug the lately rebellious South
ern States. 1t is verdict of the People
which cannot be mistaken. A few months
ago the Republican party was divided
upon several important questions. A
large and respectable part-perhaps the
most thoughtful pa~rt-favored the imme-
date admission Of loyal Representatives
from the Southern States. But when the
President rashly took q course which
made the elections q direct hand-to-hand
contest with Congress, it seemed TO . vast
proportion Of the true men OF the party
which had sustained the cause Of the
Union during the war, that no alternative
was left but to stand by Congress and to
pu, of to another time al issues Of less
immediate interest, however important and
however far reaching in their consequences
to the country.
Let US hope that the President will
take a lesson from the vote Of the people.
He may well do so. His main purpose
has been and is, il We understand him
rightly, to bring the country back quickly
a, possible to constitutional government.
The shortest way now to reach that de-
sirable end. is the adoption Of the Consti-
,~u,ional Amendment. Those who oppose
tina, now, labor for the p~erpetuation Of
disorganization; and are not wise or true
friends, either Of the Southern States or Of
the country. Mr.. Johnson has gained,
we are told, great influence over the
Southern whites. II he is . wise states
man, he has an opportunity to use that
influence now for the paciics,ion Of the
country. Let him urge the adoption OF
the amendment, upon the Southern voters.
That its ,erms are just, he will not and has
not denied ; it 10 entirely made up from
his own Neutrality-suspicious. declarations
Of policy which were counted so wise and
s,a,esmanlike by the country that it chose
him for Vice President because he had
uttered them. In advocating it he has
only to reiterate his own often-repsated
political opinions.
On the other hand. when Congress
meets again, with the immense popular
vote at its back, we have q right to expect
that il will be moderate. that it will re-
member that harmony, and not strife, 10
what the country needs and axiously de-
mands. On this matter the current num-
Der OF the North american Rerietc, just
issued, has some words, the conclusion Of
an u~nfriendly review Of Mr.. Johnson's
policy, which we here quote, as just and
wise. and important, coming from that
source:
"wheu Congress shall again como to-
gether, strong in the sympathy Of q united
people, let them show q dignity equal to
the importance Of the crisis. Let them
give the President a proof Of their patriot
ism, by not only allowing him the oppor-
,unity, but BY making it easy for him, to
return to the national position he once oc-
cupied. Let them not lower their own
dignity and that Of the nation BY any
bandying Of reproaches with the Execu-
tive. The cause which we all have at
heart is yulgarized by any littleness or
show of personal resentment, in it, repre-
sentatives, and is Of too serious import to
admit Of any childishness or trifing. Let
there be no more foolish talk OF impeach-
ment for what is at best q poor in6rmity OF
nature, and could only be raised into q
harmful importance BY being invested
with the dignity Of a crime against the
state"