The Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Ohio) 1863-1886, 1866-03-08
From the Springfield (Sass.) Republican,
ARE WE TO BE MEXlcANIZED !

tFrom the Springfield (Mass.) RspubHesn.l
ARE WE TO BE MEXlcANIZEDi
1t is most unfortunate that the lead.
ersbIpo Of the RepubIicanmajority in the
House has fallen into such hands. Mr..
Stevens is strong man, but his forte
is destruction, not creation. His opin.
ions arc extreme his declared policy
reactionary and ruinous. And yet he
intends and expects to lead Congress,
step by step, 10 the adoption Of that
policy, and will know too we'll how 10
use tho present infamed state of feel.
ing among the members for the accom-
plishment of his purpose. 1t is his
avowed determination that the existing
State Governments Of the South, organ.
lied under the direction of President
Lincoln and President johnson, shall
be annullcd and destroyed, and militia.
ry or civil governments established on
their ruins.
1t is his determination that the pro.
pcrty of the people Of the South shall
be confscated and distributed among
the freed negroes and Union soldiers,
and that the Southern States shall be
ruled as territories for an indefinite
period. Suppose Congress shall be in
duced to adopt either OF these measures:
suppose bill passed for suppressing
the State Governments which the Exc.
cutive has recognized az regularly
formsd and legitimate. 1t needs no
words to show that this must lead to
actual collision. The President would
refuse to enforce such an act
he would resist its enforcement, with
all the power in his hands, and consdi.
er himself bound so TO do by his oath
to maintain and defend the constitu.
ton. The consequences ofsuch con.
fict ofanthority between the President
and Congress are too fearful to coniem.
plate. And yet to inst this calamity
does the declared policy Of the trusted
and followed leader of the House point.
The catastrophe is clearly possible
it is in the direct line of present ac-
ton; what is called the Radical poll.
cy of reconstruction, can not be even
inaugurated without it. Will it come
to this? We hope not; we believe
not we think Congress will pause long
and consider well before it follows its
leader to that precipice. While the
great question hangs in suspense, let
all true men possess their souls in pa
tience, doing justice to the motives Of
the President, giving all due weight to
his opinions and arguments, and treat
ing him, in all respects, as the execu-
tive head Of the nation deserves to be
treated, even if some Of his public ut.
terances are as indiscreet & undignifi.
cd as the congressional assaults upon
him. Andrew johnson has not the in
exhaustible patience and long suffer.
ing Of Abraham Lincoln, although like
him in disregard of the official proprie-
ties; but it must be conceded that Pre-
sident Johnson has exaeted more
radical and humiliating concessions
from the South than President
Lincoln could have done. Let US
also Judge Congress fairly. Its con-
trolling purpose is to protect the freed
men and to secure the restoration of
the Union upon a secure basis. The
majority of its members are not actu.
ated by hostility to the South, and their
love for country rises above regard to
party interests. If Congress and the
Executive shall unfortunately be plac-
cd in an attitude of permanent hostili-
ty, it is for the people to hold the bal
ances impartially and to give righteous
judgment between them. Forget par.
ty forget men forget every thing but
the constitution, the laws, and the
eternal justice enthroncd above both,
and all will yet be well.
HANDSOMELY CAUGHT.