New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1866-07-30

of the JacobinS is tending, with dlslngenu-
GUS attempt to divert public attention from
the responsible and culpnble parties, by
throwing the accountability in advance upon
the President It will be read, as q contem-
poraly remarks with profound interest by all
thinking men, as foreshadowing the probabili-
ties Of another war more terrible and formi-
dable than Die. one closed last year It shows
that the radicals intend to rule or ruin this
country at all hazards, while the blame of
civil war is to be fixed on the President The
Nation, it should be recollected, is Repub-
lican paper,
There is a strong impression atioat in political
circles that there is trouble of some sort ahead
during the coming year-troube more serious than
any which the country has yet had to encounter,
and it is but right that the public should know eE-
actly the nature of the danger into which, in the
opinion of a great many men who are neither
hasty nor simple, it is rapidly drifting.
There is now very little question that the Pres-
dent has fully resolved to commit himself to the
cause Of the South, and turn the government over
as tar as it is in his power to do so. He viii make
a vigorous effort to do this by the forms Of law
and by 6 liberal use of eorruphng official lutiu-
ences; bht he will not stop with these. He mas
entered upon path which may, aud, unless there
be more moderation in him than has yet been re-
vealed, probably viii lead him to an attempt to
carry out his theories by force Of arms, unless so
thoroughly defeated IN the elections this tan as TO
destroy all his hopes of dividing the North.
All our readers are familiar with tue threats
which have been made by the Presidents new
allies, OF his recognizing the Southern members
and those who might Join them, as the genuine
Congress This is not likely ~ be done at present
simply because quorum could not be got to-
gether in that way. When the Southern seats are
filed there will be " Senators and 242 Represen.
tAtives. But there are not more than 81 persons
q mo
claiming to be Representatives, who could posi-.
bly, be induced to take part in any such disorgaa-
lzing ana revolutionary proceedings, Tie scheme.
therefore, cannot at present be carried out Wit.
the slightest pretence OF Legality
But the next Congress will present an entirely
different question. There is very little doubt that
| the Republican party will lose one representative
| in Connecticut three in New York, one ii Penn
| sylvapia three in Ohio, three il Indiana two in
| Illinois, one in Michigan, one in Wisconsin, Two in
| Missouri, and one in Kentucky; while the four
| JOhns0n-UHiOn members from Maryland, Kentucky
and Missouri Will be succeeded by other johnson
men, if not reelected. Four of the members elect
| from Tennessee to the present Congress are too
| loyal to support MIR Johnson. Not more than two
OF these will he reelected. No members have
beenyet elected in Texas, -Four seGessionists will
appear from that reconstructed State next winter.
Thus at the opening of the Fortieth Congress.
one hundred und seventeen persons claiming seats
in the House, will certainly be prepared to sup
port hlr. JohnsOn's policy. 1t he can only carry
five more he will have a clear majority Of those
whom he will consider lawfully elected to the
/ lower branch of Congress. Now it is very proba-
Bile that, in addition to these losses which have
| before mentioned, the Republicans will lose one
member in Connecticut (bir. Hubbardl, two in
| New York (Messrs. Humphrey and Ketchum) two
| in Pennsylvania tMessrs Ihayer and Miller) two
in Ohio (Aessrs. Hubbell and Ashley, or Mr.. Clark
one IN Indiana MIR. Hil). one in Illinois (Alr Har-
ding), and one in Wisconsin (hir. Sawyer) ten in
all while it is not certain but that five or six other
| seats may be lost.
! Taking, however these estimates as a basis of
calculation, 1t Will be seen that the probable loss
| of tWenty-eight members though it would leave a
Republican majority of about forty in the House
of Representatives as at present constituted Tone
hundred and thirteen Republicans TO seventy-one
! johns0nlansl, would yet give the johnson party
\ one hundred and twenty-seven members out of
| two hundred and forty-two, in case the Southern
delegations were admitted.
| If the present programme is carried out, the
| Southern Representatives will insist upon their
right to vote for Speaker at the commencement Of
the next Congress- The clerk will not call their
names; and the plan meditated is for the 70 or 70
johnson members who are clearly entitled to seats
to unite With the % excluded SOutheruers, elect
temporary chairman in the place of the clerk
| choose Speaker, and apply TO the President for
recognition. This recognition is of COURSE to be
given, and the unrecognized House to be forcibly
elected.
We need not say that such conduct would lead
to the instant impeachment of the officials con
cerned in it, if the majority Of the lawful repre-
sentatIyes were allowed to meet anywhere, and
that the President would as matter of course
refuse TO acknowledge the validity of the proceed
ings. This would equally as matter OF course
bring about conflict of authority, the decision of
which by the Senate would be unavaiing to pre-
vent an appeal to force, If convicted by Two
thirds OF the court of impeachment, as now con
stiuted the President would still deny the validity
of the sentence the twenty 1.-TWO Southern senators
being excluded, and thus the issue would ne left
to the decision of arms.
If the new coalition carries SO of the 1874 undfs.
puted seats in Congress, Mr.. Johnson's triumph
may be as peaceful as it will be complete; CT if
1t fails to prevent the election Of l2Z Republicans
ne may abandon the hope of success in a struggle
wherein he can have no pretence of legality upon
his side; butwe think the former alternative highly
improbable, and the latter almost impossible
The only remaining prospect, unless the courage
OF one party or the other fails at the last moment
is civil war.
The disadvantages of the loyal North in such an
event must not be denied or moderated The
South would have, in such a struggle, exactly the
position which, II it had taken il in 1860, would
have insured its triumph. 1t would undertake to
crush a divided North in the name of the Federal
Government. 1t would fight its battles in the
name of the United States, under the command of
nominal President of the United States, and with
the sanction OF selfstyled Federal Congress- 1t
would have an equal chance for recognition by all
foreign powers 1t would have powerful aid at
the North especially in the States where the local
administration might be in the hands of johnson
men.
On the other hand it is favorable circumstance
that the governor of every Northern State is now
Republican, and that the only governors who can
possibly be displaced by Democrats next year Tex
ceptin case of death) are those of Connecticut New
York and Pennsylvania. The bulk of the Northern
States therefore, as far their executive author
tiles concerned, will certainly cooperate with
Congress. The militia would be placed under its
control, and, in the absence of large standing
army, this would be an immense advantage.
What has brought this government into such a
critical position? Why is it, that after such ter.
rible experience as we have just passed through,
we are again driving straight upon the same rocks?
For two reasons the perVerseness of the Presi-
dent, and the lack of true craftsmanship in Con
gress.
1t is however, more important to look to the
future than to the past. Imminent as are the dan
gers before US, we do not think it impossible to
avert them; but the effort will require the utmost
wisdom and tirmness on the part OF the Northern
people. timely preparation for the conflict of
1861 might have prevented it altogether, in which
case those who foresaw its approach might have
been rldlcnled as false prophets So at this crisis
If the President sees that the North is fully pre-
pared to meet him, be will be forced to abandon
his schemes, and those who now sound the alarm
may then be laughed at But this is a small risk
for as to bear compared with the dangers which
might betall the country through the unwise
silence Of the press The proceedings Of the Union
caucus at Washington show that our apprehensions
are shared by many of the Oldest and coolest poll.
ticians there's the language of our leading generals
shows That they foresee the same contingencies
aud Il we are mistaken in fears we err at least
IN good company and on the safer side.
tb-