West-Jersey pioneer., 1866-12-07
THE MESSAGE.

The Message Of the President does not. as
was hoped BY many. propose any plan by which
our national difficulties may be lessened. Its
assertions that the laws are in successful op-
Grafton in the scceeded States that violence,
bloodshed and oppression have disappeared
there, are denied BY Congress, and as this is
the basis Of much that follows, we do not see
any possibility Of good understanding between
the executive and legislative branches of gov
ernment. The statement that he had not ex-
ceeded his executive authority in reconstruct.
ing the Southern States is also denied BY them,
and as this is at the bottom Of the entire con-
troversy, there is little likelihood Of harmony
there. The further statement that the South
ern States have conformed their constitutions
to the requirements of the Constitutional
Amendment which abolished Slavery, and also
to the questions of secession and reputation
are again denied by Congress, and fresh diff
Guilty opens in this direction. The arguments
by which he attempts to convince the national
legislature of the necessity of admitting South
ern representatives have all been considered by
Congress before and their validity denied. AS
the present Congress have just received the
peoples verdict adverse to these views of the
President, it is not likely that they will change
their position now, and as the President re-
mains unaffected by the verdict, the opposition
between the two is likely to be stronger than
ever, and will only be limited by the actual
power in the hands of the respective parties,
and as Congress possesses the power and is re-
strained by no respect for the presidential in
cumbent it is easy to see what will be the result.
The weakest must 60 to the wall and just now
the President is weakest.
The same remarkable fact exists in this mes
sage which was observed in the last, which is that
there is no word to indicate that Mr.. johnson
considers the South much, if any, more to
blame in the conflict of the rebellion than was
the people of the Union. This omission was
remarkable in the previous message, but was
considered as an oversight. In this one it can
not be so considered and must be Intentional.
This is fact which the President should be
called upon to explain, for each party in the
North, Republican or Democrat, will cast him
off with adherence if it once becomes PLAIN that
his sympathy with the South is the result not
of generosity of feeling but of harmony with
their views. Some utterance Of his position
oughtto and probably will be demanded of his
actual position on this subject.
From the message we can gather but little
hope of a speedy restoration of the Southern
States. Influenced by his example they have
rejected all the offers Of Congress SO far, and
their recent legislative action leaves but little
hope that they will cease to follow him, while
at the same time it is perfectly apparent that it
is utterly impossible that his wishes will be
respected. But two courses are now open.
Either Congress will let them entirely alone,
allowing them to stay out of the Union as long
as they please or else it will take the matter
entirely in its own handsand restore the States
per force, by national laws for their government
which shall embrace all the securities it de-
mands, ignoring altogether all that Mr.. John
son has done in the matter and beginning de
moro, just as if nothing had been done at ALL
If this latter course should be taken the restor-
alton will be speedy and effectual.
The synopsis of the message which We give
this week is as good a comment as we can
make upon its other questions, and with this
remark we dismiss the subject for the present.