The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1866-04-12
The johnson Union Meeting at WASH
-,- ingt0n.

The johnson Union Meeting at WASH
s- ington.
There was q very spirited mass
meeting of the friends of the Union
and Constitution, on the johnson
platform, in Washington, on Thurs
day evening last. It was meeting
of some Importance, too, as marking
the commencement of active work,
the breaking of the ground, towards
the formation of new national par
ty, on the basis of President John
sons policy. The managers and
orators of the meeting were not old
copperheads, casting about for some
thing to keep their heads above water;
nor was it meeting of reconstructed
rebels, anxious for vengeance against
the Abolition radicals; nor was it
Democratic contrivance designed to
influence any forthcoming political
election; for we shall have no more
political elections of any consequence
until October next, when Pennsylva-
MIA, Ohio aud Indiana will speak up
on the great issues of the day.
The meeting in question, regard
less of party distinctions, was meet
ing OF Union men, who believe that
the policy of President johnson is
good, and will restore the Union on
the solid foundation of peace and
harmony among all sections, all races
and oil classes of the American peo-
pie, and that the schemes of the
radicals are impracticable and revo-
lutionary. The great object of the
war against the late rebellion, as de-
fined in the resolutions of Congress
of 1861 and 1862, and in the Balti-
more Union war party platform of
1864, upon which Lincoln and John
son were elected, was the object of
this mass meeting-the restoration of
the Union. This, too, being the
great object of President Johnson's
Southern policy, the meeting was
harmonious and enthusiastic in his
support. On this ground such loyal
Union war men as Gen. Swift, an OLD
line Massachusetts, AboEtionist:
Senator Cowan, of Pennsylvania, a
steadfast Republican supporter of the
war for the Union from the begin
ming, and Green Clay Smith, of Ken
lucky, of the House of Representa-
tlves, q Union war man and Aboli-
ZIONIST of the Lincoln school-all
found in Andrew Johnson, rs the
case now stands, a satisfactory cham
pion Of the Union cause. The ga
thering of these conservative ele
ments at Washington in defence of
President Johnson's administration
is, we say, movement which marks
the beginning of the practical work
looking to the organization, upon the
living and leading issues Of the day,
of the great national party of the
future.
The example thus set in Washing
ton should be followed up by con
servative Union men throughout the
country. Men who carried the brand
ofpeace, copperheads, during the war
ought to keep in the background, and
be content rather to follow than to
lead in these movements for an indie
pendent Johnson Union party. The
true course for the men of the out
lawed Chicago Democratic organiza-
ton is not to wait for President John
son to come over to them; but it is
for them to drop their old, worn out
party uniform, leaders and bylaws,
and go over to President johnson
and the nucleus of the Union war
party crystalizing around his Ad-
ministration. This is the way in which
the johnson Union party movement,
inaugurated Mt Washington, can be
pushed forward with snch success
against the radicals as to clear the
track for the Presidential succession.
Ne'c York Herold