The Lansing state Republican. [volume] (Lansing, Mich.) 1855-1874, 1866-04-04
The Separation Complete.

which they are justly chl4eiV" ~ ~
cination proclamation. II was TO be the
first great step towards the ultimate restor-
otion If the rebelliOus States 10 the enjoy
rnent OF rights and privileges, which they
formerly possessed under the Constitu-
tion "A lOyal States. The separation oil
President and Congress il complete Al
the commencement Of the session, fears
were entertained Of a collision, and Repub-
liean members and the Republican press,
done everything that could be done by pat /
riOtic men, and perhaps more in view OF the |
result than they should have done, to pre-
vent a rupture between the Executive anu
the National Legislature. All ia vain. The |
veto Of the Freedmen's Bureau Bill, OF which
proof positive exists, if the testimony OIL
Gov. Brownlow and Of Senators who had
the bill in charge IS 10 DE believed, that the
President himself was the chief author, and
before its passage By Congress gave it his
avOwed approval disheartened many oil the /
warmest friends Of the President, aud Was
disapprOved By nine-tenths Of the Repubii- |
can press. What hopes still existed in
charitable minds was completely destroy |
ed by the inccndiary speech Of Andrew |
Johnson on the 22d Of February Some
still hoped that the Civil Rights Bill would
not be disapprOyed, inasmuch as the Presi-
dent had time and again reiterated lis de-
sire that the Freedmen should, aud must
be protected in their attempt 10 sustain
themselves IN their new position, while they
worked out the problem OF their own DIES
tiny in the future. Like other men,
who swerve from the line of recltude
and honest intention. forgetting his pledg
es and prOtestatiOns in behalf of the color
ed men, he has prOstituted his Official posi-
ton to a reckless ambition, and his desire
To carry out to the fullest extent "my pol
icy" right or wrong.
The deed IS done, and there Is time for
breath, and minute survey of the field OF
action. None forget that his present eleva
ton was not attained by the voice OF the
loyal people OF the States, and that ia to-
ting for him for Vice President, no man
dreamed that Lincoln would be assassina-
ted, and that Johnson would constitutions |
ally succeed him in his important position. |
Had such an surmse entered into the ac
ton Of the National Republican convention |
at Baltimore, Mr.. Johnson would not have
received his nomination, Notwithstanding |
the speech he had made to the cOOred men |
of Nashville, and the herOism he had shown |
in resisting the neiarious schemes Of South |
ern traitors. The history Of the past did /
not warrant it, and the hopes of the future !
did not admit Of placing the national life I
and progress in the hands OF any but tried /
and true men. Elevated by accident 10 the |
Presidential Chair, made powerful by the /
result OF an atrOciOus crime, like all acct
dental Presidents, he proves a monstrosity,
and the rarest specimen of political abOr-
ton.
The party owe no allegiance to the man
who ILLS the Presidential chair without the
will or wish Of the people. Congress in its
action is carrying out tho peoples viii, and
were elected By the people to tho positions
they hold. In the question OF the deriva-
ton of power from the people, Congress
has everything in its favor; Andrew John
son, nothing Inundated in endeavOrs to
avoid giving him offence, for the sake of the
nation and the hopes OF the future, Congress
will no longer devote Itself 10 unmanly at
tempts to cOnciliate-nOr do the people ask
or expect such action.
The President has systematically attempt
ed in the present message to defend his pol
icy of reconstruction, and while depreca-
ting the violation Of the Constitution by the
provisions of the Civil Rights Bill, has gone
further in his exercise Of Executive power,
than any Of his predecessors. He denies
TO Congress the right, which is theirs by the
Constitution, to protect the citizens OF the
Republic in the exercise OF ''life, liberty and
the pursuit Of happiness, and himself as
sumes 10 organize civil government, in re-
beliOus States, and denies to Congress any
right to the powers which he has thus
usurped The powers he has exercised
have been subversive of all State rich g. for
he has dictated to the conventions OF the
rebelliOus States what they must adopt:
they must repudiate the rebel debt. anu
adopt the Constitutional Amendment. The .
ratification OF that amendment by three q
fourthS OF the States was duly proclaimed,
and jOytully accepted by the people The
day OF jubilee has come. we said, and slavery
is no more. We did not see then what We
now see, that the only object and intentions
was to fix his own position so firmly. that Con-
gress should be unable to exercise the pow
ers belonging to them. We were sold cheap.
We had fought four years that the South
ern States might again come back % ~
sumo their old power OF governing Us. and
to be told that these States, where TODAY :
rebels are shooting down with impunity.
men who dare to hoist the stars and stripes.
had the same right to be represented in the =
Senate and the House As the loyal sons of
Vermont, or tue patriotic men OF Michirqn
10 is the sublimest farce in the history ot
republics. Constitutional government u
is on trial in this Union. and the people =
through their representatives are dehar- :,
red its exercise The only hope len as with
the people. The President has faith in the
people, so he says. hut il is as certain that :,
The people have no faith in the President. "
Inc only power for action is with Congress. =
The Civil rights Bin passed both Houses !"
by more than two-thirls vote. and We !.
trust that that body will prove themselves u
worthy OF the trust OF the people hy AGAIN ,
passing it over the veto of the President. -
IL IS the plain duty of Congress 10 do it. -
and the Republican who shirks the ques- d.
uon' or votes against the bill. to curry IA "
Vor with the man of moods, will be buried "
beyond the remotest chance of a political ID
resurrection.
HE CIrf OF NILES,-By a letter of c. Il.
steobins, Dep. Superintendent ofPublic In O.
struction, to the Niles Times, we learn that s
Tue number Of children in that CITY are l. ii
AZ. SHOWING IL N ~, e. -