The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-04-24

war, ard it looks to that party, under Andrew
johnson, Tor the complete restoration of the
Union. II IS timely flank movement from
leading Connecticut Republicans aGainst the
radicals IN Congress and IN favor Of the consti-
tutional right OF the excluded States to repre-
sentation in both Houses OF Congress- Upon
this question President Johnson has adopted
one policy and Congress has resolved upon an
other. His policy is the admission of the ex-
Cluded Stales IN the ground that they are suili-
ciently reconstructed for all practical purposes;
the policy OF Congress Is the indefnite exclusion
OF "a States, and evidently Tor no higher pur-
pose than The continued ascendancy OF the party
IN power The public sentiment of the North Is
with the President, but the managers of the Re
publican party are with Congress- They say
that Congress alone has the authority over this
matter OF Southern reconstruction, and that the
President In assuming this authority, has been
and is playing the part OF a usurper.
But the facts of history in this business should
not be overlooked. The collap'e OF the Rebel
lion occurred in the absence of Congress; but
considering the extraordinary war powers which
the two houses had conferred upon the President
he found himself in position to undertake the
work OF southern reconstruction and restora-
ton without resortinG 10 an extra session of
Congress. In the exercise of his discretion he
adopted this course. We presume there would
Lave been no complaints OF usurpation from the
radicals haO he imposed their terms as his con-
dit ons OF Southern restoration. He preferred,
however, to adhere to the landmarks set up by
his lamented predecessor, Abraham Lincoln,
between the final adjournment OF the old Con-
eress, March 4, 1865 and the first meeting Of the
new Congress in December last, the President
had substantially accomplished his measures of
reconstruction in nearly all the late Rebel States
What these measures have been we need not
here reUeat. 1t Is sufficient that they have met
the approval OF the North as well as the South
ano that the power to do these things was given
to the Executive by the war and by Congress to
prosecute the war and to restore peace.
President JohnsOns jusufca,ion, therefore,
in what he has done is complete. He has been
very careful in avoiding all rash experiments;
careful, while adheling to the logical and legal
results OF the war, to stick to the text OF the
Constitution. The only question, therefore is
Has he gone far enough in his conditions TO the
States rescued from the Rebellion? The public
sentiment OF the country responds yes out Con-
gress Indignantly cries no! The spirit OF the
Rebellion has not yet cooled do WI; the temper
OF the Southern people still disqualities them for
a voice IN Congress. II would be unjust to the
blacks and the people OF the North TO give the
excluded, States the whole mass OF their black
race Tor representation in Congress without the
equivalent OF black suffrage. Therefore the eX.
Guided States must stlll be excluded.
On the other hand 1t Is contended that sub
mission to the terms imposed and to the COnSti-
tuition and the laws is all that we can Justly re-
qulre oil the South that if there have been any
just grounds of complaint touching the civil
rights Of the negroes they are now secured in
the Civil Rights bill, and that negro suffrage and
in Congress can be regulated hereafter, but that
u is a matter OF the utmost importance now TO
the Treasury and the financial interests of the
country that the Southern States should be re.
stored TO law, order, industry, public confidence,
and the tull development OF their great CONNER.
cial staples. This is the argument IN support OF
the Presidents policy, and 1t cannot be success
lully answered.
Now, assuming that between his policy and
the do nothing policy OF Congress the issue is
carried before the people in our approaching
fall elections, how is the President to be sus-
tanned, with the managers OF the Republican
party against him He cannot go over to the
party OF the Chicago Convention, the peace
party of the war. 1t is impossible that he
can identify himself with that organization. 1t
would be a surrender to the left wing
the right and centre. The battle of President
Johnson is still within the lines of the Union
rarty OF the war, right and left, North and
South, and the way whereby he may defeat the
take the stanch old Union State of Penn
sylvania The Republicans there have nomi-
mated for Governor a good and tue Union man
of the practical johnson school, in the person
OF General GearY. The Democrats have set up q
peace man of the Vallandigham type. Geary,
therefore, is the man for the johnson Union
lists; but they have wide margin for initial
movements in regard to Congressional and Legs-
lative candidates. Here they NAV flank both
Thaddeus Stevens and John w. Forney. To this
end President Johnson may do much in hls dis
pensaGon of patronage; for, surely, he may use
all legitimate means at his command to
strengthen his position and his supporters within
the lines OF the Union war party.
The johnson Republicans of Connecticut are
entirely right In avoiding any entangling aifila-
tlOns with the CoppeIhead Chicago Democratic
party. That party, from its opposition to the
war, must 20 the way of the old Federal party.
It is under the ban of a popular odium which
'cEnnot be revoked. 1t is party which dug Its
own grave at Chicago, and which, il not yet
dead, must die and be buried. Then that por.
ton of the people identified with it crystallizing
around the new Union party of the administra.
great party OF the future. On tins road lies the
victory Tor the Administration, beginning with
the October election in Pennsy lvania. The Ad
mlnistraton and the Union is the ticket.