The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-09-22

DuZZle0 ABOUT t0e claim OF Jne GTeSlOeOJ 10
exercise legislative functions n this matter of
reconstruction, and have occupied themselves
very busily In defending "his policy" so as to
avoid having to answer the very inconvenlent
question of how he. came to have policy at
all. The World however, had the good fortune
to disnter last week an act of Congress OF 1852,
| fixing the number of Representatives. at 24l,
| and then rushed triumphantly to the conclusion
| that any Congress from which portion of this
number was excluded was no Congress at all,
and that the President, as an executive officer,
was bound to execute the laws, and this law
| amongst others; therefore he was bound to in
troduCe the full number o. members, If need be,
by force. The Times the next day took up the
wondrous tale, and told us exactly how the
thing was TO be DONE and actually announced
that MIR. johnson would certainly treat any
Congress which did not contain the full num-
Der of members fixed by law as what he in his
concise and luminous diction calls Fan illegal
and unlawful assembly,
We need hardly point out that for the Presi-
dent TO undertake to put members into Congress
in supposed execution of this act, or TO refuse to
recognize as Congress body which failed to
fill its ranks up to the legal number, would be
to deEy 1t the power both of deciding what Consti-
tuencies may elect members and what members
are really elected, and would put it IN the power
of any State TO paralyZe the Legislature BY fail
ing 10 elect. In fact the whole argument is
that OF men whom much trouble has bewildered,
and who are at their wits ends to avert the
catastrophe which is impending over the
''poicy" and its supporters. If the case they
suppose should arise, we have no doubt the
country will deal IN a very summary manner
| with all these fne-spun theories OF the Presl-
| dents powers, and the authors OF them, II Mr..
| Johnson should be fool enough to follow
| their advice will be perfectly astounded by the
| popular contempt for their logic. The one
thing on which all parties may count as certain is
| that the Northern people consider the Congress
| elected by the Northern States the only true
Congress, and will see that its authority is re-
| spected
| view of the future than We were two months
| ago. The very fact that the people are becom-
ing awakened to sense OF the danger IS
healthy symptom. Such perlls are averted by
preparing for them, not by ignoring them; and
we have reason to believe that the necessary
preparations are being made; while we know
| that the people are being thoroughly aroused
| to the situation. Two months ago. moreover,
| we did not toresee the New Orleans massacre or
| Mr.. Johnson's stump speeches, or, to speak cor
| rectly, his speech, which he repeats everywhere
| with as much gusto as Mr.. Everett repeated his
oration on Washington. The mob at indian
apolis showed an amazing ignorance of party
tactics when they refused to hear the Presiden-
tial orator. If we could look at the matter IN a
| partisan aspect only (as we t1ust we do noN, we
should rejoice to have a speech from Mr.. John
son at every railroad station, and would have
every speech printed Uerbdtun, in large type, in
all the newspapers. General Scott was thought
to have reached the climax of suicide by speech.
making in 1852, but it has been reserved for Mr..
johnson to attain to height of achievement
unequaled even by Daniel Pratt, Jr., the great
American traveller
Thi stupendous combination of folly and out
rage will save the nation while huniliating it,
The result is distinctly foreshadoWed by the
victory in Maine. We desire to use moderate
language, but no ordinary phrases win do JUS
tice to that election. 1t was an exciting one in
which the State was thoroughly canvassed, and
IN which official influence and money were
freely used. All the chances of gain seemed to
be on the side of the Johnsonian party. The
pressure which they brought to bear may be
judged from. the single, fact that in Klttery,
where there is large Navy Yard, the vote in
1864 was 465 Republican to lSl Democratic;
whereas now it is 345 Republican to 304 Demo-
cratic. But such influences are of less account
than many suppose. Every town in the same
county shows large Republican gains. And it
| should be observed that the victory is not owing
| to any diminution of the general vote or the alb
sence OF, popular interest. The conglomerate
party fully expected to gain one Congressman,
and hoped TOR two. They struggled hard for
! this purpose, but signally failed. The Republi-
can vote is larger than ever before, except pos
! sibly at the Gubernatorial elections of 1856 and
1860, when the party polled almost exactly
| 10000 votes. 1t polls now at least 69000 and
probably over 10000. MIR. Lincoln, IN 1864,
received only g., 900. This large vote. in State
almost stationary in population, is OF itself a
| triumph. But the majority is far larger than
was ever given by the State before to any party
or candidate whatever. The largest majority
ever gwen to any Governor at previous cleo
tion was less than $4,000, and the Republican
majority IN 1862 was less than 5000. Now it is
close upon 80, 900.
We have dwelt upon these figures because all
experience has shown the important influence
of the Maine elections, especially for the past
twelve years, during which they have accu-
rately toreshadowed the state of Northern
feeling. In 1854, 1856, 1860, 1868, and 1864
this was specially noticeable; while in 1862 the
loss of Congressman IN Maine gave warning
Of the accumulation of political disasters that
followed.
We regard this overw helmlug victory IN
Maine as the precursor of similar victories
throughout the North. And if we are right in
, believing that New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio
and the West will take their stand beside Maine
| the War-cloud Will pass over, and the now
rampant ofhce-hunters will become mild al
doves. Such victories will secure the allim
portant point, the election of at least l22 Re
pubGcans to the next House of Representa-
tives; the only way, in our view, by which
| the country can be saved from the outbreal
. of violence That will certainly avoid thu
peril now contemplated, and 1t is at leas
I | doubtful whether anything else will. We no opI
! | for this result now with more confidence thar
we have ever felt before.
We desire to add a word of advice to thos
conservatives and cautious men who seek peac
above all things, and who may be influenced b.
5 the appeals or threats of Mr.. Johnson's organ
to believe that peace can be most easily securet
by letting him have his way; and that they Cal
best help to that end by supporting his candi
: dates. This is an utter delusion. The recen
elections have demonstrated the absolute impos
| sibility of carrying the North in favor OF MI
i | Johnsons policy. We admit that temporar
/ peace might be secured by the election of ninety
seven johnson men to Congress, since the
! would form majority OF the members from tn
States legally organized; and the minority woul
submit at once. But no man in his senses
! acquainted with politics, believes such a resul
to be possible Peace cannot be secured thi
, way. OF the one hundred and ninety'two recog
nized members OF the lower House, the coaltio