The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1866-10-19
The Verdict and the Result.

Six States of the Union have now given
their verdict on the issues raised between
the President and Congress in regard to
the question of reconstruction. and it is
wholly and decisively on the side of Con-
gress. 1t is, in fact, the verdict of the
whole mass of the loyal people of this
country, for those that have spoken are
representative states. Two of them re-
cord the unanimous voice of New England.
Two-for Ohio can hardly with propri-
ETY. be called Western state in these
days-represent the great middle section
OF the country and the other two speak
for the great West. The Presidents po-
sltlon has been presented under every cir
cumstance of favor which it can ever en-
JOY hereatter-a new party, bright hopes
and the use of patronage in which the ell
ement of expectation was most efficiently
welded. When the contest is renewed in
November by the johnson party, it will
be under serious loss of advantages To
speak of nothing else, the example of these
six states will constitute reinforcement
TO the Republican side sufficient TO turn
the scale, were it evenly poised-which ii
is not. The country is with Congress
was so from the first, and it is growing
more and more so every day.
What principle, what measure, then, is
it that has triumphed in the recent cleo
tions and is going to triumph throughout
Let us say it candidly in the moment of
victory. 1t is the constitutional amend
ment-nothing else, certainly nothing diff
| ferent from that Prominent individuals
haze talked about the Impeachment of the
President and about the insufiiciency of
the amendment: but these things have not
gone into the canvass and they are not
comprehended in the result. What DO
the people care about Impeachment If
they have power enough in Congress TO
effect that, they have power enough by
their two-thirdS vote 10 achieve all they
wish, over and despite the President. Be
sides. they had rather establish one good
principle at the SOuih-we were gong TO
say, raise 10 the full rights of citizenship
one freedman-than 10 depOse a dozen
Presidents. Still, the future, In lis now
unseen exisencies. may require such a
, measure: and 80 If may require that the
constitutional amendment shall be super
Seded by some fiat of impartial suffrage
but for the present, the people abide 10y
the amendment Will the President. vii
the Southern states heed their voice
That iS the question. If they do, then the
whole trouble Is over The peace. which
the loyal masses as deeply as any long for,
will be established. and the Union will b,
restored. But if they are still defiant o
the popular will-if the Southern state:
| reject this most moderate and beneiicen
: measure. and the President uses his powe
! TO encourage them in 30 doing-then new
: issues must succeed, and it wants no sec
, ond thought TO see that Freedom mus
: have interest, if not penalties, for tn
! time she has lost.
| But whatever degree of wisdom or o
: folly may be shown by the adverse parties
E there Is only one course TO be pursued bl
: the loyal masses. They must fight th
: battle through. Amid the auspices o
these six victories, we must press on will
increased arlor. vigilance and faith Th,
rest of New England will follow lis pio
nccrs with intensified unanimity. Tn
Empire state must outdo Pennsylvania
and Illinois and her emulous sisters mus
bring mp the Northwest. We have all on
work To do No matter whether We ar
sure OF local majority OF not; we ar
contributing TO great national demon
stration. and precisely the same duty rest
upon every man of Us. Let us see TO i
that We discharge it.-Boton Journal