Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1866-12-06
Congress.


tions will demand its consideration
and action. Yet there are cheering
indications, that the session will be
conducted with calmness, medera-
tisn and dignity, at least on the part
of the Union members. We trust
that the anticipatious of the country
in this respect may not be disappear
ted, fer in the present condition OF
the country lmpassioned partisan de-
bate and bitter invectIve are above
all things to be deplored. Congress
can not afford to waste its and the
country's time in scenes of that char
acter. The great questions OF ma
tional policy, which are now being
settled and which are to have so I'M
portant bearing not only upon the
present but also the future history OF
cur country, these questions must be
met with sound Judgment, discussed
and considered with calmness and
moderation, and decided as the high
est wisdom and craftsmanship shall
deem best.
We therefore welcome the indica-
tions Of a quiet session. The power
ofextreme radicalism over the Union
party was broken at the last session,
and we have every reason to antici-
pate that in the future, instead of the
iron rule of Thad Stevens and his Pc
culiar faction, we shall find wiser,
more practical and moderate men
ruling and shaping the policy of the
party. The furer of Presidential i'm
peschment has also subsidized, and
while it still furnishes the Phillips
with an inexhaustible theme for ex-
citing political harangues, the sound
sense and sober second thought of
the people have virtually decided it
to be both unwise and impractioable.
The President will have TO commit
much more fragrant acts than any vet
charged upon him, before an i'm
peachment can be sustained, and to
attempt impeachment upon mere
party complaints, and fail, would be
foolish and perniclous. Manifestly
Mr.. johnson can not be impeached
for his silly conduct and rude speech
es made on his grand ''swing round
the CIRCLE" nor yet for his ousting
Republican Office holders and filling
their places with Democrats and
Copperheads. And however dis
tasteful to the Union party these acts
of the President may have been, they
furnish no legal grounds for his i'm
peachment They were acts which
he had perfect right to do, and if
he saw fit to risk his reputation upon
the doing of them, well and good
The result shows, that they ruined
him, net US. His stupidity and folly
will not justify Congress in throwing
aside its own dignity, and attempt
ing impeachment or any other ag
sressive movement without reason
and sufficient grounds to maintain it.
Congress may be relied upon jeal-
ously to guard its own prerogatives,
and to resist the first indication of
any purpose of the President to as
sumo unconstitutional powers. But
it should not allow itself to be led
into passionate or merely partisan
action, at time when such weighty
and complicated questions ofnational
policy are calling upon it fer consid-
Grafton and solution. We are glad
therefore, that present indications
are, that the impeachment nonsense
will be wholly ignored at the present
session. The alarmist snd extrem-
lists will have TO take back seats.
Yet Congress need not be idle.
There is much and important work
before it. The great werk Of recon
struction still stands uncempleted.
The Southern States are still unrep-
resented in Congress, still virtually
out of their practical relations with
the General Government 1t is
true Tint Congress, ct its last ses-
sion, devised and embodied in the
Constitutional Amendment s plan of
reconstruction, wise, generous and
practicable, and that the loyal North,
at the Fall elections, approved that
plan with wonderful unanimity. But
1t is meme the less true, that this basis
sf reconstruction still stands unac-
cepted by the South who, as hereto
fore, refuse all terms and conditions
other than those dictated by them
selves. What further legislation, ii
any, is needed, in view of these facts,
must engage the early and earnest
consideration Of Congress. Our for
eign relations too are at this time as
suming very important aspect. The
Mexican question threatens trouble.
While absolute non-intervention in
the affairs Of that country would
seem to be cur true policy, late de-
yelopments strongly indicate pur-
pose on the part ofthe administration