Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1866-04-04
The President Still Further Unrolls.
the Constitution. s4

In his great speech on tho 22d February, Presi-
dent JOHNSON claimed that he had .unrollsd the
Constitution, Weaaro rsjoiced tossse that b,
keeps tsyor iopon before him, following itsin-
letter andfin spirit.
In another column of our paper will bo found
a synopsis of Mr.. sJoNYsoy's Message vetoinc
the "civil lghts BllD az it is cail0l. T!iiSBill
assuinos to guarantee to all porsops "of every
race and cOlorY-tbat is, to all nryroes-.he same
right in every Stale and Territory to make and
enforce contracts, to sue aud he sued, to be par
ties and give evidence, to inherit, purchase, lease,
sell, hold, and coavey resi- and personal property,
and to be entitled to full and equal benefit Of all
white citizens.
According to the Constitution OF the United
states, The giving and guaranteeing of all these
rights and privileges to negroes, belongs 10 the
exclusive Jurisdiction of the States. Whom the
Government gave the negroes their freedom, it
gavo freedom and no more. Thi. Mr.. JoHXsos
knows and acknowledges and like bold and
honest man, ha has thrown himself iato tho
breach between The Radicals and their unronsti-
tutional objects, xud holds Lis shield oror the
Constitution in The discrimination he has taken
to save it FROM further violence. The President
is evidently determined to effect the reconsTtc-
tion of the Union by sueh measures as will meet
with the appreciation, not only of the South, but of
all the civilized world. Heis more than ever de-
ciled to loave the matter of negro suffrage to the
authorities Of the States directly concerned, and
will not suffer the ultra Radicals to rule in this.
With the views Of these ultra Radicals carried
out, the negro, in the Southern States, would boz
cUlnv of, more importance than the whites; snd
the natural result of tuca state of things risy
easily be forosetn.
The prc,idenes veto Of the Freodmsn'S Bureau
Bill has had the effect of checking the mad and
intolcrans legiGlation Of Congress. Several bills
haYo been postponed, several referred, several
withheld, and several retained under discussion,
which, juat before this veto, we're in prospect OF
immediate passage Let hopo that this second
veto will have still moro potent e8ect in this re;
apect.
Many thing, now secm 10 point to complete
breaking up of old party lines, and great con-
trolling Uuion Administration party getting in
the a,csndaut But tho success or dominance OF
this Administration party ia by no means abao-
latcly certain. The Radicals are mighty, and
will fight in a mighty manner. They will so
fight as to keep tho Southern Stass in their pres
ont anomalou. condition for long months to come.
Thorsccpiion, of these reaotionarE movements
on the part Of President JOHNSON again:t the
revolutionary frenzy of ths Aboiitiouist'' mD't
convince Mr.. JOHNSON that he has but bsSen tho
work of returning TO constitutional sorernmont-
He cannot now retreat, and overy step forward lie
one remove away from the most miserable and
iniquitous party that eyor di'graced nation,
and an advance towards tho groat majority Of the
people, Who, iristo be hoped, wiltsustainI in
adhoring to the policy of which those ystoas are
but the initiation. Tho POoplo care nothing about
his officer, but they are, or should be, concerned
about the preservation Of liberty, and tho rO'to-
ration Of tranquility and prosperity. He has, he
claims, unrollod the Constitution. Let him keep
it ever open before him, following its injuncsi0ns
in lsttcr and in spirit; and backed by tho enor-
nous patronage at his dispoaitiOn, hs may not
only ncutralizo the baleful legislation of hostile
Cougreaa, hut do much to remove and repair the
ruin of the last FIVE years.