The national Republican. [volume] (Washington City [D.C.]) 1866-1870, 1866-04-02
THE NATIONAL SITUATION

tation stirs the political world. However
sincerely we may have toiled and prayed to
have the cloud pass by, IT is certain that the
tempest will soon break over our heads. 1t
Is time 10 look at the chart to see how we are
sailing, and now, II ever, we should watch
the landmarks and look at the bearings to
knoy in< ~6at channel we are drifting and to
what point we tend.
The day Of practical and final peace for
this distracted country is yet postponed. The
work Of restoration has not been completed
A disunited land still remains after hostilities
have forever ceased, and an unrepresented
section still argues that in some way and
somehow the war goes on. The dawn Of re-
instated harmony, of interstate comfy, Of uni
versal cooperation and reciprocity is need
lessly and unreasonably delayed.
This Is not the fault Of the President Of the
United States. He, and all the executive
and administrative departments Of the Gov
eminent, have not only aided in bringing
about a satisfactory settlement Of our diff
culties, but are conducting their various
Offices as though we were in fact, as we are
in name the United States Of America. The
responsibility Of the wicked Encouragement
Of public affairs, and the consequent injury
to public welfare, and the disturbed political
condition of the land, rests solely upon Con-
gress. II there be glory in preventing the
natural result Of our great triumph by keep
ing the country where the rebels tried to
place it, discovered, the glory belongs to
Congress. II there be shame in defrauding
the present of the priceless fruits Of victory,
to that body is due the shame.
We maintain that in opposing the carefully
considered policy Of the President, Congress
has not only discarded the plain precepts Of
the Constitution which, by oath, it is bound
to take as guide, but has been needless of the
repeated decisions Of the people, and unfaith-
full to the very pledges with which its men,
bers went to the country. We do not in
dulge in idle statement, but proceed to dem.
onstrate that the policy Of ANDREW JOHNSON
was initiated by his beloved predecessor at
the instigation Of the declared opinions oil
our countrymen, and that its subsequent pro
mitigation by Mr.. JOHNSON has received the
tacit and expressed reimbursement of the
same high authority.
On the It'll day Of June, 1864, in the
fourth year Of our fearful struggle, unde
tered by many repulses, unencouraged by
any conclusive campaign, but with an unfal
tering determination to fight on while drop
of blood or q dollar Of treasure remained
unexpended, the loyal people Of Americs
met in convention at Baltimore. They met
beside the graves Of three hundred thousand
Of their fallen brethren, and in the presence
Of one million Of armed and undismayed
American soldiers. GRANT commanded Oul
legions ABRAHAM LINCOLN was the civic
head Of the Republic. Our debt was so huge
that aught else but Christian patriotism
would have staggered beneath it, Mourning
was the costume Of our stricken people, and
wax the condition Of the country; and the
fate Of . nation and the manhood Of race
wavered in its uncertain balance.
AT such time men did not play with
principles or toy with speculative ideas A
solemn earnestness, made SO by the awful
character Of the times, inspired their moment
Gus action. What they did was of the gra
vest import. Their example at such period
cannot go unheeded, except with a reckless
ness amounting to impiety. We recall theil
deeds and words; and if ever in this world
the classic prophecy that the voice Of the
people ID the voice Of God" was true, it was
then and there verified The five following
resolutions, among Others, were passed in
that convention by reclamation:
"RssOIVsd, That 1t is the highest duty Of every
American citizen to maintain against all their enc.
mics the integrity Of tie Union and the paramount
authority Of the CONsfitHtiOH and kaDs Of tie UAi.
tsI States, and that, laying aSids all differences aud
political opinloaI, pledge OHy'sivs', as Union
s.sn, anissAted By a common sentiment aud aiming
AZ a object, to do everything in our power
to aid the Government in quslng by force Of arms,
the rebellion raging against its authority, and