American citizen. [volume] (Butler, Butler County, Pa.) 1863-1872, 1866-02-28
The Situation.

tne Treeutnen bureau. Inc present
law terminates in May next, and unless
some legislation is had in the meantime
the present system of controlling the tur.
bulent spirit of the rebellious districts
and especially so far as the rights and in.
teres is of the Freedmen are concerned
as also that of the destitute of all colors
will fall for want of law. All reasonable
persons, without reference to their politi.
cal or religious views, agree that "the
words of the nation" should be protec,
ted in their freedom, and in all those
rights without which, freedom is but an
empty name. For the purpose of seeur.
ing these desirable ends, bill was orig
mated, in the Senate. 1t is said that it
was written by General Howard, and af-
ter being revised with the assistance of
Judge Trumbull, was submitted to, and
approved by the President 1t finally
passed both Houses of Congress, we be-
lieye, BY strict party vote 1t was pre-
sented to the Presd ent for his approval,
but to the astonis hment of many, it
was vetoed. This was most gratifying
to every rebel in the entire country,
as it was the cause of universal regret
on the part of the loyal millions
This regretwas not stimulated alone by
the consideration of the fact that this
wise measure had fallen but because it
was an unmistakable evidence of the fu-
ture affiliations Of the President and prob
able tendencies of his future policy. 1t
was well known that grave difference
of opinion existed between the Executive
and Legislative departments of the gov
eminent, in reference to the best policy
to be pursued in reference to the restora-
tion of civil government, as well as to
where the power was vested by the consti-
tuition. The Executive has assumed the
whole control of this matter while Con-
gress claims that to the law making pow
er ofthe nation belongs this great duty.
The people naturally look to Congress as
their immediate representative to vndi.
cate the supremacy of the popular branch
of the government Still they were un-
willing to see any rash exhibition of feel
ing or dis;rust toward any department of
the government, hoping finally, to see
differences recanccled and all moving ON
harmoniously. No sooner had the veto
been made public than this fond hope
gave way. Mr. Stevens. on behalf OF the
Reconstruction Committee rose in his
place aud offered resolution to the ef-
feet, that no representative from any of
the eleven States lately in rebellion should
be admitted to seats on the floor of either
House of Congress, until Congress should
declare such State in proper condition
to be represented And on this resolu-
ton he called the previous question. The
minority at once set in to flibuster for
the purpose of defeating direct vote,
but after protracted struggle of over six
hours, the vote was had and the resolu-
ton passed by over two-third vote
This seemed to be plain notification to
the President and to the Rebel States,
that with the veto of the Freedmen's
Bill, all hopes of reconciliation had van
ished. That heuceforth, Congress would
act only upon its convictions of duty re-
gardless of the whines of traitors.
The usual vote was taken in the Senate
where the i'll originated, to pass it over
the Presidents veto. Upon this ques-
tien 30 Republican Senators voted in the
affirmative, aud eight against, Counting
Cowan Willy and some other weakened
Senator Republican,. But these eight
joined by ten Democrats, composed more
than one-third of the whole number vo-
ting, SO the bill fell.
As in Washington, so throughout the
whole country, those who felt that they
had the grea test claims on the Presidents
sympathy, felt too, that they were most
likely to loose it Every rebel in the land
whether pardoned or unpardoned, rejoie
cd. So did every Copperhead who had
rallied round Mcclellan in ga. Taxing
Wa'hington's birthday for the occasion
for a serenade, all the rebel elemer Is of
Washington waited upon the President
on Thursday last, upon which occasion
he made one of his characteristic speech
es. He talked about his origin, about being
Alderman and all that. In addition to
his usual variety, he made an undigni6ed
assault on some oe the leading Republi-
cans in Congress, but had no stomach to
waste his ammunition" on such "dead
ducks" as Forney. In fact, the speech
was revised, but not improved addition
of his fourth of March affair Nor are
we aware that the apology of drunkenness,
can be given on this occasion as on that