The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1866-02-28
The Irrepressible Conflict.

The Irrepressfbie Conflict.
Early in the present session of congress Sena-
tor Sumner, on the occasion OF the reception of a
message from the president giving information
on the condition of the southern states, and
companied by a report from General Grant sus-
tanning the statements and opinions expressed in
the message, charged the president with sending
to the senate ga white-washing document He
called for the immediate reading Of report
made by General Carl Schurz on the same sub
iect, and characterized the report of Schurz as a
truthful one. plainly intimating by such char
acterization that the message of the president
was uncandid, sophistical and false. He was
Immediately reproved by republican senators for
his indecency.
few days later, Thaddeus Stevens, the leader
of the republican majority in the house, denounc-
ed the president as having been guilty of usurpa-
tion, which. had it been enacted by king of
England two hundred years ago, would have
cost him his head. The particular act to which
Mr. Stevens referred was simply some remark
made by Mr.. johnson, in conversation with
Senator Dixon, of Connecticut, touching The
impoliey of changing the constitution by number
less amendments, and of providing for a general
enfrancbisement of the freedmen in the District
of Columbia and elsewhere. Mr.. Dixon is repub-
lican senator and personal friend of the presi-
dent, and there was nothing either in the man.
ner or matter of the opinion expressed by the
latter on that occasion which trespassed in the
slightest degree upon propriety. The assault of
Stevens was entirely unprovoked, and was made
for the purpose of creating a public sentiment
hostile to the president
A few DAYS ago, when Mr. johnson s veto mes
sage was received in the senate, Mr.. Wade, of
Ohio, in reply thereto, denounced the person en-
PERTAINING the views and sentiments expressed in
the message as a rebel and traitor, and intro
duced a proposition to amend the constitution in
such a manner as to forbid the reelection of
presidpOt He sustained his rpeonti0O hr
speech, in which, with sufficient plainness to be
easily understood he charged that the policy of
the president in regard to restoration was sug-
| gested and enforced by ambition. In other
words, that Mr.. Johnsons official action was con-
trolled by wish to secure an election for a Sec
| ond term.
The approval with which these invectiyes
| against Mr.. johnson has been received BY the
| radical majority in both branches of congress.
| and the alacrity which that majority has shown
| in voting the measures proposed by the leaders
of the opposition to the president, are sufficient
| proof that between him and the present congress
there is "an irrepressibe conflict" and the
| facts we have cited show that he was not the ag-
gressor.
He has been stigmatzed by Sumner as a liar :;
| by Stevens as a usurper and by Wade as
rebel, traitor and demagogue, who prostituted
his high Office to personal ends. 1t is very i'm
portant, in passing Judgment upon this conflict
| to remember that 1t was not sought bv the presi-
dent. 1t has been thrust upon him against his
will and against his earnest desire to avoid it.
He stated in his speech in Washington on Thurs
day that he was but carrying out the policy pro-
jected by Mr.. Lincoln. He is sustained in this
statement by Mr.. Seward. He is sustained in IT,
moreover, by the proceedings of the last cabinet
| meeting held during Mr.. Lincoln's administrs-
ton, in which there was unanimous agree
ment that essentially the same policy should be
pursued which Mr.. johnson has adopted.
The radical leaders conspired for the defeat of
that pollcy before the meeting of congress. The
speech made by Speaker Colfax IN Washington
when he was complimented with serenade few
| days before congress came together, was an an
nouncement that 1T was intending to preciptate
| a contest with the president. Its first work was
| to carry into execution plot, formed in con-
gresslonal caucus, to defeat him and the work of
| restoration he had carried forward with such
signal success, and to results more fortunate and
happy than the most sanguine supposed could be
accomplished within so brief period as had
elapsed between its commencement and the date
of his annual message.
lie knows that either himself or the radical
leaders must be driven to the wall He spoke
very plainly on Thursday. He hurled back the
charges of falsehood, usurpation and treason
| made against him in the congress of the nation.
For this he has been denounced by the radical
press 1t was no impropriety in the application
OF such terms to him by grave-or those who
snouiu De graVe-senators and representatives.
Its sense of docorum was not shocked when Sum-
ner and Stevens and Wade were heaping vile
epithets upon him, when he had done no act
which could in the least palliate their unjustfa-
BILE assaults upon him, or given them any provo
cation. Why, then, shall the president of the
United States he held up before the people by
our national legislature as a traitor and dema-
gogue, aud may not he, conscious of his loyalty
and integrity, Indignantly repel the slanderous
assaults which are intended not only to degrade
him IN the public estimation, but to destroy the
work OF the restoration of the Union which he
has SO nearly carried to completion? AS to the
question OF loyalty raised between them, what
proois OF regard for the Union have Sumner or
Stevens or Phillips ever given? What proof of
devotion to it can be required which johnson has
given Chicago Times.