The New York herald., 1866-03-07


Several steamboat disasters have occurred on the
Western rivers before reported The steamer Lock
wood blew up and burned the Mississippi near Mem
phis, on the 4th instant twenty persons being killed
and twenty-five injured Loss estimated at sixty thou
sand dollars The steamer Mary Helm was burned ON the
2sth uit, on Red river The Diamond was also burned
on the Tombigbee river, last Thursday, with eight
hundred and twenty bales OF cotton.
The Great Issue ana tho Great Danger
Before the Country.
"Revoiutonr' said Henry Clay on an inn
portant occasion before Congress, "we are in
the midst of revolution" The remark was
not inapplicable in his day; but 1t is thou.
sand times more applicable to our present
political situation. We had yesterday, for in
stance, resolution from the Committee on
Reconstruction defining the position of Con-
gress in reference to the admission of the mem
bers from Tennessee. In order to show how
far the exclusive policy thus developed Is in
conflict with the Presidents restoration policy,
we reproduce this morning, in full, his admir-
able off-hand speech of the 22d of February to
visiting body of the citizens of Washington.
On the same evening, in support of the Pres
ident, we had here in New York a namby-
imby, milk-and-water speech from Mr. Sccre-
try Seward, according to which everything
was as 1t should be, and President and Con-
grcss would work affectionately together. But
what is the truth Let tho intelligent reader
look over this frank, earnest and patriotic ad-
dress Of President Johnson, and then 10 the
subsequent proceedings Of Congress, and Mr..
S,ward's speech will appear as mockery and
a delusion. To repeat an expression, to which
he owes his fame as the great leader of the
Northern anti-slavery crusaders, there il an
"irrepressible conflict between Congress and
the administration, in regard to which we have
no promise or prospect of compromise. The
issue and the danger thus broadly presented to
tue country, we think we cannot too often or
too earnestly submit as demanding the instant
and serious attention of the American people.
What is this rupture between Congress and
tho Executive? The President contends that
in the reorganization of the Southern States on
a basis which includes the ratification of the
great constitutional amendment abolishing
slavery, the reputation of secession and the
rebel State debts, the recognition of the SOW
ereignty of the United States, and the protec-
ton of the freedmen in their civil rights, the
States concerned are entitled 10 readmission
into Congress, SO farsas they can present repre-
sentatives OF approved and unddubted loyalty.
He pleads for their resioration; he protests
against the distinctions placed in the way by
ga central directory;"- he complains tina! the
course OF this directory, headed by Thad lus
Stevens, is disovganising and revolutionary {;
and no deplores the tendencies of Congress TO
constitution iinkering rs dangerous TO The gov
ertmens ia its pressci form, and preparing the
way for despotic system.
This Is The Presidents position and his IN
dicimeni aeaiist .hc Reconstruction Commit
tec and lie radical majority Of each House Of
Congress. Aud what is their response That
not one representative from the lately rebel
| lions States shall be admitted inio either House
/ short of law OF Congres. declaring each OF
| sud states in its tura satisfactorily recon
| slrac.ed and qualified for admission. Aud
| wha. are The qualifications deniap led On
Monday Last there vase report from The Re-
construction Committee to the House, pro-
posing 10 admit the Tenncssee members on
an equal footing with The other States, ON the
express condition tiat The people OF Tennessee
n a;niain their present local laws excluding all
rebels from the elective franchise for Eve years.
and from eligibility 10 Office as long. ana that
the State shall agree never in any shape 10 re-
cognizc amy of the debts oi tie rebellion.
nor claim or allow any comper aion
for emnncipatei slavcs: aud that these cond-
iions 40 ratified by he State before the net
of her admission shall take effect. This was
the repor, of the Committee; bn. il was referred
back 10 them with the objection from several
OF the members that this plan ''does moi afford
suiilcieat guarantees of fidelity to the Union
and of protection 10 tho freedmen"
With he return OF the report 10 the House
we shall doubtless have these omissions pro-
vdcd for; but we have enough 20 establish
The sp,rtanl purpose of this Congress- In ,hs
Indignant refusal Of the House to receive an
official communication from Governor Worth,
OF Norih Carolina, we have tue declaration in
effect 'ha, all the work Of Southern recon-
struc ion done by the President goes for moth
ing; that Congress rejects II, and will apply
is own conditions of restoration. The pros
pect, therefore, Of the admission into Congress
Of any Of the eleven excluded Southern States,
for at least two years to come, is very gloomy.
In this policy Of exclusion Stevens and his fol-
lowers are playing desperate game for the
next Presidency; but il is full Of mischief and
fraught with danger to the country. II in
wolves serious losses 10 rs oil and 10 the
Treasury, in the continued arrangements Of
Southern industry and trade, and the aggrava-
ton rather than the abatement Of the social
and political Generalization of the South
growing ont Of the rebellion.
But there ID still the greater danger Of re-
volution In the government itself, from the
system Of the fathers OF the Union to o central
tvod dn~uotiovv. Thoro arm o1rcodv ~cusxyt,,