Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1865-1869, 1866-03-01

VINO peTIillLcu the war 10 De conducted on q princl
pie which led them TO the present conclusion. j
they were not aware of the consequences Of the
course they pursued then, is it likely they are wisel
now
They are making up. an issue upon which they
cannot stand-upOn which nobody can stand. II
is just such an issue as was made by the leaders Of
the South when they resolved TO fire the Southern
heart and precipitate n revolution. This is an at
tempt to fire the Northern heart, to precipitate 8
Northern revolution.
Mr. c. examined the arguments by which Sum
ner, Stevens and their adherents attempt to justify
this revolutionary programme, and pronounced
them utterly unsOund and fallacious. They were
the piainest of sophistries, and did not begin to sus'
tain the conclusions based upon them. After re.
viewing and retuting the arguments OF these reyolu.
%tIonistS, Mr.. {. asked why, even if the powers which
they claim for Congress existed, should they be eX.
ercised! and remarked:
The only reason | know of may be stated substan-
TALLY In the language of an eminent member OF
Congress, that 1.-THE people of these States are all re.
bells, and not hit to govern themselves" This | do
not believe, nor do think that this Judgment ac.
cords with that of the American people. The men
of the South were foremost among those who made
the Constitution and Gov, rnment of the United
States, and for nearly a century they contributed no
little OF the virtue and wisdom whic made il so glo.
rious. 1t is true, they attempted to abridge its jnris.
diction, and to set up another Coniederacy for them.
selves. But they did this under the impression that il
involved no moral turpitude, and that it would not
initiate against the dignity, power, grandeur and
glory of the American people, or the American
name-that the two bodies, re- united upon another
principle, would enhance the prosperity Of both. In
this they may have been mistaken. If so, they have
seen their error. They have discarded their delu-
sion. They have returned to their allegiance.
They have given their honor as q pledge of their
fealty. Cannot such men be trusted? Cannot men-
who lifted themselves to a height of heroic endU-
rance, uneXampled in history, to make good n
cause, even thougha hopeless Onert0 which they had
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with the franchises OF 4 citizen II not, then there
are no principles of action to regulate the transac-
tons of men worthy OF a moments consideration
Nobility of character may he considered as of no
consequence in estimating the worth or dignity of
human nature. The people of the South are rs loyal
to-day as it is possible for any people to be. They
regard the Government of the United States rs their
Government. Under it they enjoyed prosperity
out of it they have incurred ruin. They may have
different views from the party now dominant in the
North, as to the true policy of the nation, on many
questions. They 20 doubt have. But they have no
views inconsistent with perfect obedience TO the laws
and Constitution of the country. They have no
Incompatible with the prosperity OF the whole
nation. The truth of these Impressions, it requires
10 special witnesses to verify. IL is manifest in the
nature of things.
Mr.. {. remarked upon the impolicy and danger of
prescribing such a people, declaring: These men Of
the South are of AnglO-SaXOn stock, aud their blood
Will asser: lis high quality under the most adverse
which can exist. The nation that
nurses, i'll its bosom, a body of twelve millions of
such people, cherishing a feeling of resentment and
bitter Indignation against it, is doomed to disaster.
II mould be wicked and insane TO peIpetuate such
folly. The proposition, therefore, deserves to be
condemned as wholly devoid of any feature which
can recommend it 10 sensible men.
After some general observations on the char
acter of the Government, and an allusiOn 10 the
proposed disiranchiScment OF the negro, which he as.
serted to be a question for the States, exclusively,
to determine, he said IL is manifest that in the dill
ference which has sprung up between the President
and Congress, the President is right and the Con-
greSs is wrong. Nothing is more surprising to me
than the disappointment manifested by Il large num-
Der OF persons at the course pursued by MIR. john
son. Could anything have been more obvious than
that this was the only course which he was at liberty
10 take
But it is said by some gentlemen that he should
have delayed the performance OF his executive ac-
ton IN order to give Congress time to rcOrgani2e the
local governments of the States. ! regard this Us
an utterly unreasonable expectation. In the first
place, 1t was not the province Of Congress to do any
thing of this sort. The powers of Congress do not
extend TO the making OF State governments. In the
next place, the Constitution does not leave il discre-
tionary with the Executive to postpone the enforce
ment OF Federal authority upon any consideration.
When the President came into office he found the
States which had been the theatre Of conflict desti-
tute Of local civil governments. This was no busi-
lcSS u MS us Tcutlut EAtCuilNei tNCCpl lHSOldT as
it operated to disable him from the execution of his
duties. TO this extent he was concerned, and on
this ground he was authorized TO assist those in es-
tablishing local government whose function it was
to do it, TO wit, the people of the States. This is
what he did. The duty imposed on him to execute
the Federal authority implied the power 10 appoint
Provisional Governors, as helps to the people-to
this end. This action was not obligatory on them
it had no legal sanction but such rs they conferred
upon it. They made the Provisional Governors
their own in ratifying the Constitutions framed I'M
der the authority of those officers. As has been well
said by others, the action of the President in this
was simply - advisory" while the subsequent
action of the people legalized his transactions de
moro.
Nothing could be more correct or statesmanlike
than this action Of the President, and | am per-
suaded that, If sectional interests were not at stake,
the whole country would applaud the facility and
promptness with which, through his agency, the
people have been enabled to repair the shattered
OF government, and resume their wonted
The truth is, that from the beginning, Mr.. John
son mas cnmprenruueu the crHrdCJer or TINS strIIg-
thoroughly, and has steadily kept in view the
one object Of restoring the Union. lie was in COM
plete sympathy with the principles which were
adopted for this purpose, and, indeed, was the au-
thor Of the famous joint resolution of Congress,
passed just after the first battle OF Manassas, which
distinctly set forth and pledged the nation to these
principles.
DI. JOHIsOu II u ucNOuI hepuDllCill. ne HIS al
II religious veneratiOn for the stately fabric Of
government erected by our fathers. lie was
born Of the people, for whom this Government was
made, and has advanced through various stages
under the benign opportunity it has afforded, to the
highest position. IL is not wonderful, therefore, If
he should consider himself pledged by all the cir
of his career as well as his convictions,
to the cause OF our republican system over and
above every other object.
He has treated the whole subject of our present
situation in Il most mastery manner in his late an
nual message. He there presents a compendium Of
tile principles of the Constitution, aud applies those
relate to the existing ~eXigency with m elO-
Iuence and power of argument worthy of the pen of
Jefferson. There is no possibility Of escaping the
conclusions lie draws, aud with such CONVICTIONS,
maintained by Il firm will and an honest heart, he
cannot but triumph in the new struggle for the SUI
Dremacy of the Constitution, upon which lie has so
icarlessly entered.
There is something truly sublime in the ardOr, the
mercy, the enthusiasm, the steadfastneSS and in
purpose and spirit OF seli.sacriiice which,
Oh all occasions, he has displayed for the Federal
Union-from the time when, in the Senate, he con-
the imperiOus champions of the South, and
their doctrine Of secession, ~ the recent
demonstration ut Washington, in which he 50 fear
essly a%rraigncd other leaders for views supposed 10
to Il similar result.
Though he may shock fastidious scnsibilitics at
lines, rs it Is the province of every earnest man to
10, he is 4 born hero and no partisan bitterness or
can cIlace the record of his life.
1t is manifest that the party which carried the
country triumplantly through the war for the Union,
;annOt new prevail on principles calculated TO sub
that Union. ! may be %pardOned for saying it is
IT but little consequence to Inc the success of mere
] have never been a blind devotee of party.
have served my own convictions, and wherever
hey have led the way, thither have followed. So
shall it he in the future. The Democratic party was
hat of my nativity, my boyhood and my youth. ]
,lung to il with a fOndncss can never again cXpc-
fence for any political organization, but offered up
idol on the shrine of principle, and ! ain ready
% make the same sacrifice now.
If the Republican party will establish itself upon
:Orrect prime iples-upOn the rock Of the COnstltu-
ion-it may he the dominant party of the country
or years to come. Let it be equal to the emer-
,ency. What is it required 10 do Let i~tfrankly ac-
tie situation. Let it honestly acquiesce in all
he sequences of its own logic. Let it seek the com.
restoration of the Union, in spirit and in
ruth. Let it promptly accord to all the States Their
institutional share of Federal power. Let it en-
to the Southern people that generous treatment
which a fallen. but manly foe has a right To expect
rom a magnanimOus victor. Let it cover the er-
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