The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1866-05-25
WHEEITNG WEST VA FRIDAY MORNING. MAY 925, 1866 i
DIR, BELLows oNTHR PoIrrIc4I SIT-

DR.. BELLOWS ON THE PoLTTTCAh SIT
UAT1oS.-Rev. DIR. Bellows has, been
spending ten daystn Washington, and
has been telling his people in public
lecture how the political situation look
ed to him. he said Congress is a noble
body; though there are no giants in the
Senate, as in the days of Webster,
Clay and Calhoun, there are nopfgmtesi
and although the House Is inferior to
the Senate, it is a splendid Legislative
body. He proceeded to say:
..This was war Congress, and it
must be excused for not correctly esti-
mating the drifb of the popular mind
in u state of peace. 1t has been acctls-
toned TO pass strong measures and to
pursue an exceptional Policyi and II
was natural that it should still cling to
power and strive 70 maintain party sn-
premacy. Congress and the President
were at issue respecting Southern rep
resentation. It was not disposed TO ad-
NIT, without probation, to the cou ncils
of the nation, those who had but lately
been endeavoring to compass its de-
istruction. The President, on the other
hand, took the view which the great
mass of the people are disposed to take.
he assumed that the Southern States
that, therefore, they couldn't come in
again. He argued that the war was
over, end that all the States were eQual-
ly entitled 10 representation. The coun-
try must not be checked in its career of
progress by either a party or an idea.
Il was to the interest Of the entire na.
ton that there should be real as we'll
as political reunion of North and
South. The North was even more anx-
ious for this, in commercial point of
view, than the South, Hence the
strength of the President's position,
and Notwithstanding his, in some par
ticulArs, apparently retrogresSiYe poli-
cy, he (Dr. Bellowsl believed 1t would
prevail over that of Congress.
"Mr. johnson was a man whom he
had found honest In his opinions and
convictions, aud acting, he believed,
under strong sense OF public duty.
He was Southern man and an ex-,
slave owner, and he thought he knew
better than Congress what the South
needed and what course 1t would be
best for the government to pursue. He
was much maligned by his enemies,
and a false impression had gone abroad
of the character Of his private life. He
(Dr. Bellowsl had frequent opportunl-
ties while in Washingto of observing,
and he had the opinion that Mr.. John
son was avery temperate and well con-
uuGltu xAH
Iy In his manner of speaking, with a
good deal of rough yigor, but withal of
not uncomely presence, and It was i'm,
possible to speak with him without
feeling confidence in his power and
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES. BE thought he was
a much and undeservedly abused man.
There was, he regretted, sort OF i'm
perfaIism sprIngfng up at Washington.
It was with Mr.. johnson as with Mr.:
Lincoln. Cabinet meetings We're held
seldom and at Irregular intervals the
President acted for himself, without
consultation with his cabinet, in his
own sphere, and the heads of depart
ments were dictators In their own par
ticulIr spheres. This was a dangerous
feature. There was too much of the
one man power about It., and it called
for reform. On, the whole Washington
was a very pleasant and averagely
moral city. Congress was little too.
radical for the people and the times,
and the sentiment and interests of the
nation were with the President in his
ideas regarding reconstruction"