Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1866-10-18
President Johnson ana Con-
[From the London Daily News ]

Congress, though asserting the
unconstitutional character of Mr.. Jchnson's
SUMPTION of frecorsructive power, agreed
TO admit all that had been done and to car
ry on the work from the point to which Mr.
johnson had brought it. IL proposed that
an amendment Ia the Constitution should
be made guaranteeing the civil rights OF the
negroes, the public deht and the past legs.
lation of the North, and redressing the in
eauality of representation, which makes
| the Southern citizen weigh half as much
again in the scale of the Constitution as q
citizen of the North, Mr. johnson s friends
supported this, the South were known to be
willing to accept it. and the only comment
made upon it, even by those who we're hos
tile to it, was that it was q small result of
so much labor IL was proposed that on
the ratification of this amendment the
Southern representatives should be admit
ted, and the Union, rendered safe by this
simple redressal of representative Unequal
ity, should he restored at once. That pro-
posal was the test of Mr.. Johnson's states
manship and the touchstone OF his sincerity.
Ii contained nothing which he had not him
self advocated. and nothing which North
and South would not have agreed upon at
once had Mr. johnson Joined with Congress
in recommending it, But it was not need
ful that Congress should consult him in
making the proposal, and it passed him
over. Then it was that Mr.. johnson was
found wanting. Had he put aside his per
sonal pioue, and thought only of his coun.
try, he would have taken the Congressional
proposal as an olive branch, the South
would have accepted it at his hands, the
Northern States would have assembled their
Legislators in special session to ratify 1t, and
Lby the time Congress adjourned, not only
: Tennessee. but all the Southern States, ex-
ceping Texas, might have been enjoying
} fhe rri9ilerp Of representation in Congress-
But Mr johnson faiied his country. Al
s the moment sohen he cou1d hare done thu
q Union cssentiol service he chose to serge h''a
t self An ill-tpmrered message was fulmina
e ted against the proposal of Congress, anC
n the word went forth that the Union was no
J, to be restored if it could not be restored Il
Mr. Johnson's way. From that momen
n he threw himself into the arms ofthe South
+ Everywhere the old Democracy, who wonl'
!, have closed the war by installing Mr.; Davi
r in Mr.. Lincoln's place, rallied around new
1t leader. and the fight of Southern ascendan
o cy was re-opened on the field of Norther,,
g rolitics. The protests against "Radlcalism
:, are b'ind-the ascription to Congress
IT all the blame of delay is a nretrnsr the rro
,r object of The Increment uiich the PhitadeI
X mia Convention has sanctioned rs the resfo
l. ration ofthe South withom the guarantee
q, the Congressional proposal proutdes. IN
q choice is not between what Congress ha
70 talked and what the President has tried
D. do, but between what Congress has don
n and what Mr. johnson has desired Ih
real issue is ,chether the Constitution stdHh
e amended, so as to Gire equal c,rt rights Z
D. the .free1men and eq'nt polt'cdt representa-
n tion to tbe North whh Me South or ,cheilte
the old Union shall he restored rth Soun
ee ern prelJondennce and no procision TOR N
d Drotection ofhe freedmen, IN their rights. =
L. Congress represents the policy Of caution
r. and the wise healing its proposals woul
bring; Mr. johnson represents policy {
r. concession which would give back to til
re- South nearly all that the sacrifices of tn
L war have rrrchased from it, Congress
for lasting Union, founded on equal justic
> to both races aud sections; Mr.. johnson
l. for leaving the negro to his fate and IN
n North to it's diminished share of FEEDERS
s. mower Congress- would take rrecaution
m which are admitted to he wise and just be
80 fore entering again into federal alliance wit
those who have infused their powerful
'g johnson would have no real precautor
re- taken, but would rA,narry the snndercd ser
" tions IN a hurry, leaving the oou'n 10 n
pent at leisure, We are not, therefore, a
O. all surprised that our cotemporaries wh
'es supported the Sor;h all through the wa
81 are loud in their support of Mr.. Johnso
IS now but the same desire for the welfare {
e the great people who have sprung from tn
loins of England which decided our symp'
Is thy for the Northern cause, and made u
N rejoice in the Northern victory, determine
our best hopes and wishes to the side {
Z, Congress, which really represents all tn
J, best interests Of hnmsn progress in the re
q construction" strife which is raging now.