The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-02-22
The Veto-A New Departure or the Disso.
luton OF the Republican n Party.

From the Herald. F.-.
The Presidents veto Of the Freedmen's Bureau
bill has fallen like an exploding bombshell
among the rank and file OF the dominant party
in Congress. Though somewhat prepared for
return of the bill with his objections, they did
not expect catalogue beyond the reach of a
compromise; they seem to have had no appre
hension that their pet measure Of Southern re-
construction would be cut up by the roots The
proceedings in both Houses yesterday betray an
extraordinary degree of disappointment, excite
ment, anger, and perplexlsy in the Republican
camp. All this under the circumstances, was
however to be expected. 1t is true the coAserva.
tiyes OF the Senate, on the vote to pass the bill
over the veto, finally met the question in the
proper spirit and killed this pet scheme of the
Radicals. But it is to be regretted, neverthe-
less, that in the midst OF these fulminations of
war against the Executive there were so fe w in
dicalions OF disposition in either House for a
treaty OF peace as TO suggest nothing but cross
purposes and confusion worse coniounded hence
forward. to the end at least of this session of
| Congress. r...r# s-.r.H
Unquestionably the issue presented in this
veto against the theory and policy OF the joint
! Committee on Reconstruction is 80 broad, so
distinct, and so far beyond the landmarks of q
compromise as TO submit but two alternatives
| to Congress IRON which to choose-the aban-
donment of the programme of the Reconstruc-
ton Committee or the abandonment OF Presi-
dent John-on. The House incline to the latter
alternative; but what can they hope to gain by
this course! The Southern restoration policy OF
| President johnson carried the Republicans vic
| toriously through all the Northern State cleo.
tions OF last autumn, from Maine TO California;
and III preparation Tor the opening New Enoland
elections OF the present year the party still
depends for its success upon its adhesion to
Andrew Johnson. What then. will mos. proba-
| bly, be the consequences of break bet ween the
party in Congress and the Administration? The
! Generalization and dlsintegraton of the party
throughout tbe country and in Congress itself,
widespread confusion in our political affairs,
end ruitless legislation, for year or two longer
at least, upon al the great questions of the day
50 urgently demanding a settlement. What else
Can We expect from declaration of war against
the Executive from the legislative department
| of the Government under The present state of
things? .- r..rT .. Il. ..' ~, al. ..'t o. .LT
The Administration may survive without the
cooperation OF CONGRESS but the dominant
party in Congress cannot survive rupture with
an Administration OF its own choosing. To cast
loose from the Administration is like cutting off
the right wing OF an army; 1t leads to the ineVi-
table rout and dispersion OF the main BODY The
time has come when fayorite theories, pet pro-
jects and foolish notions Of party pride must be
cast away in view of the paramount interests of
the country and the manifest line OF action
necessary to sustain the party before the neople
1t is evident now that the Southern policy OF the
Congressional Committee on Reconstruction
cans nothing but an '1rrepressbe conflict
W tn the Administration; that 1t is q policy of
distinctions to Southern restoration, and nothing
else. 1t is equally manifest that the Presidents
policy OF simple feasible, and positive measures
Tor the speedy restoration of the South has taken
a firm hold upon the public mind of the whole
COT ntry. Like Websters famous mariner, there
fore, the Republicans in Congress, with the
clearing away OF the fog and the first unclouded
glimpse of the sun, should proceed to take an
observation, in order to ascertain how far the
WIncs and the waves have driven them from
; their true course.
} In palmer terms there should be at once
' general caucus OF the Republicans in Congress
on the momentous questions OF their presen
: situation and their future course. The veto
inoicates the proper course to pursue. It sug
5 getts the saving necessity of a new departure
!, the abandonment OF the course marked out bl
y the Committee on Reconstruction and the dis
2 charge OF the committee itself the admission o
the members returned from the South upol
q their individual merits, as IN other cases, an,
y the general adoption Of the simple, safe, AM
q popular pl ploeramme OF the Administration, Il
Z tn way the integrity of the Union, of the Tres
i ury, and ofthe Republican party can be secure
.ts