Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1866-04-10
The VVrangIe Between ahe Presl-
dent and Congress-.


Even professed friends Of President
1oHNsoN inthe Republican ranks attribute
to him blame for the existing disagreement
between him and the majority in Congress.
Ofcourse, the Radical portion are insolent
and malicious in their abuse of him, The
English language has not words they con-
slider too vile for them to use in their de-
nunciations of him.
What is the truth about the disagreement
between President JOHNSON and those par
tisans In and out of Congress who appear
to be Influenced by the idea that he was to
Z be a suBservient creature simply to do
their bidding9 Did the Republican mem
bers of Congress, when they assembled at
Washington last December await his
communication in regard to the then
state Of the Union in becoming
spirit2 The Constitution made 1t his
duty to submit to them such communica-
tion, In virtue of his position, he was the
best advised man in the United States as TO
the true condition Of matters in the South
-he knew the temper of the people there;
he knew wtheir disposition towards the Fed
eral Government; he knew the nature of
the treatment they we're likely to extend to
the freedmen; he knew what sort of legis-
lation was requisite at the hands OF Con-
gress to perfect the work of restoration.
This knowledge was sderived through trust
worthy sources, running through a period
Of seven months. By an active anxiety to
promote the best interests of the whole
country he was animated in his dealings
with the Southern people. The Republi-
can Congressman did not wait to seewhat
the President would say to them on the
subject; did not wait to see whether he
should announce that his policy had
been failure; did not wait to
see whether he should recommend the
treatment Of the Southern States as con-
quered provinces or as territories, that
should be governed through Congress; did
not wait to see whether he should call for
more power as essentially necessary to the
, development of healthy Union feeling in
the South did not wait to see whether he
should call for an enlargement of the
Freedmen's Bureau to the end that the re-
Gently freed slaves should be adequately
protected; did not wait to see whether he
would call for the enactment of Civil
Rights bill, so that the civil rights of the
negroes should be made safe beyond a
doubt; but they assembled in caucus, and
chalked out line in conformity to which
the Government must be administered,
whether the best interests of the country
its peace and It's prosperity outraged
or not. tir
At the appointed time, the President
sent into Congress a candid and faithful
statement OF the condition and the needs of
the country. Everything was moving for
ward gratifyingly. All this sort of legis-
lation that Congress has sought to thrust
upon the country, and that the President has
felt it his imperative duty to veto, he did not
intimate was needed. He recommended
nothing of the kind, either in direct terms
or by implication. The authority in his |
hands for the protection of the freedmen
was ample, or he would have called for
more. Andjf the people will only reflect a
little, they can not fail to come to the con-
clusion that President JoHNsoN's means of
knowing what is needed to complete the
work of pacifcation and restoration, are as
ample as are those of JOHN SHERMAN or
BEN, WADE, and their gang of Revolution |
lists. -.. ill.,