The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1866-10-16
NEW YORK HERALD, TUESDAY, on


lance 20 the Country.
What is the position in which President
johnson now stands before the country What
course will he pursue henceforward in refer
ence to Southern restoration? Will he fall in
with the constitutional amendment Of Congress
and bring his powerful influence to bear in
favor OF Its ratification by the excluded States (!
or will he adhere to q line of policy which has
been so emphatically rejected in the late Sep
TENDER and October elections that we cannot
doubt the verdict Of the Northern States which
are to speak in November!
These and such as these are now the lead
ing questions Of the day among the people. All
men Of all parties and all sections are discuss
ing them. The predominant public senti-
ment Of the country is in favor of the consti-
tutional amendment. The time has come for q
response from the administration; for from the
lights before us We can give no answer in its
behalf Some say that Andrew johnson, .
man Of the people, will accept the results OF
the recent elections as the voice Of the people,
and that accordingly he may be even expected
to issue proclamation, write letter, or make
speech, urging upon the Southern States the
ultimatum Of Congress - their only way Of
restoration. But still there are others who
say that the frmness, tenacity, or obstinacy,
II you will, Of Andrew johnson will not be
shaken, come what may; that, like a maddened
horse that has seized the bit between his teeth,
he will be checked by nothing till tumbled
into heap with the wagon over precipice
or against stone wall. Between these con-
ficting opinions the evidence, as it now stands,
is such that we can give no decision upon the
subject. We are all in doubt, and doubts and
begin to affect our financial
securities abroad.
President johnson, however, cannot be
hesitating for want Of light. He is embar-
fassed, no doubt, by the question Of con-
sistency, and shrinks, perhaps, from the idea of
striking his colors to Thad Stevens and the
radicals But these are absurd notions, and
Mr.. johnson cannot too soon dismiss them.
The amendment, after all, embodies nothing
more than his own terms and recommends
tons to the Southern States, proposed from
time to time. Consistency, therefore, invites
him to cooperation with Congress. The
amendment is not the plan of Stevens or Sum-
ner; it is substantially the original plan of
Andrew johnson; something less, perhaps, in
its exactons, but nothing more. The terms of
the amendment involve his terms exacted of
the excluded States; and the power of Con-
gress to accept, reject or modify his provisional
measures he has himself admitted. The con-
popular verdict Of the North all invite him 10
that new departure which will identify him
hereafter with this amendment.
That shallow consistency which adheres to-
day to certain theory because il was advo-
Gated yesterday is not the consistency Of
statesman. True statesmanship is guided by
the prevailing tone and manifestations of pub
lie opinion and the pressure Of great events.
The cabinet OF England, the councils Of Napo-
leon, the diplomacy Of Bismarck, and the abb
solute autocrat Of all the Russas, in this age Of
public enlightenment, are governed in all great
measures by the developments among their
subjects Of public opinion. II, then, even the
absolute despotisms Of Europe have learned
to look for their strength and stability to the
good will Of their peoples how much more il
this sound policy required Of the President Of
the United States, the creature Of the people,
and on trial for . limited term as their servant?
We cannot comprehend what possible advan.
tage to his administration Mr.. johnson can
expect from standing out against Congress,
when, from this course, working majority is
assured in both Houses against him to the end
Of his term. On the other hand, by co-operat-
ing actively in behalf Of the restoration plan
Of Congress he may secure balance Of power
in each House, even before the expiration Of
the present Congress, and position in the
next which will shape its legislation according
to the recommendations of his annual message
of December, 1867.
Consistency, safety, power, honor and sue
cess are offered the administration with the
constitutional amendment and the opening of
new chapter, with new Cabinet, in regard
to our foreign relations and our financial sys-
TEN. The opposite course, Of continued re-
sistance to Congress, will delay, but will not
prevent. the final ratification of this amend
ment by three-fourths Of the Legislatures Of
the several States: but from such course the
Executive will be rendered powerless, except
for mischief to himself, the South, the Treasury
and the country to the end OF his term. On
the one hand, he is invited TO historical repu-
tation as the worthy successor and finisher
Of the work assigned TO Abraham Lincoln;
while on the other hand nothing better awaits
him than the inglorious record of poor Pierce
or Buchanan.
NEW YORK A RETREAT FOR POLITICAL IVA
s. s. Cox, OF Ohio,
having reached political sunset in the West.
abandoned that rich old State some months
since, came TO New York political invalid,