Cleveland daily leader. [volume] ([Cleveland, Ohio]) 1865-1873, 1866-04-21
President Johnson.

The action of Congress, in overriding
the veto of the Civil Rights Bill, is a
heavy blow to the President. 1t indi-
Gates not merely that he has so far failed
in his policy-but that he is losing ground.
Mr.. johnson does not occupy so strong a
position as he did two months since. His
veto of the Civil Rights Bill was con-
demned by many who sustained him IN
the veto of the FreedmaD's Bureau Bill.
In the Senate, for example, his first veto
was sustained by q vote of lS against
3O-the Radicals lacking 6 of the required
moiOrity. His second veto, on the other
hand, has been set aside by a vete of SO
to l5-the majority having 3 votes to
spare. There never was very much reason
to expect that he would induce any large
number of the Republicans to follow him,
but the small body guard which he did at
one time seem to be drawing from that
party is rapidly dwindling away. Meth
er the State nor the municipal elections
have as yet shown that he is succeeding
better with the rank and file of the Re.
publican party than he does with its lead
ers. 1t is true, that to console him for his
want Of success with the Republicans, Mr..
johnson has the satisfaction Of being eulo-
gised and endorsed by the Democrats.
But the Democrats do not puff him be-
cause they have gone over to him, but be-
cause they believe he has come over to
them. Thus, even the little support which
his policy hes obtained, is due to circum-
STAGES which cannot be fattering to the
President. But the Democrats are pow
erless, even when reinforced by the
Conservative" Republicans, to carry Mr..
johnson through. That state of things
must continue during the present and the
next session Of Congress.
It does not seem likely that Mr.. john
son will be able to improve his position
much in future-even if he is ~resolute
enough to continue the fight with Congress.
Aside from the fact that his policy is one
which the dominant party at the North
will not accept there are other reasons
why Mr.. Johnson's position is a weak one.
He lacks net only the tact required to lead
public opinion, but he is, so far as national
politics are concerned, almost a new man.
What is best known of his record for a few
years prior to the death of Mr.. Lincoln,
is not calculated to make him acceptable
to the Democrats. They can only follow
him because 1t is the best thay can do. A
Northern man with Southern principles
has always been a weak one, and q South
ern man with Northern principles has been
far weaker, because the South did not even
tolerate dissent from its policy. But
President johnson was originally a pro-
slavery man, then an Abolitionist, and is
now Southern man again. 1t would be
difficult to devise a weaker position. Mr..
johnson stagge-s under a load of deserted
principles, which the strongest man in the
Republic could not carry.
Probably there will not be any mate
rial change in the political situation until
the elections in autumn. 1t is quite clear
that the Radicals will not yield before.
The President is not likely to recede, and
the South, too, will be disposed to await
the verdict at the polls, in the hope that
the people will accept Mr.. Johnson's po-
Icy. The issue in those elections will be
vastly more important than those of an
ordinary Presidential election. The ques-
ton will be-Upon what terms shall the
South return to the Union2 If the Radi-
Gals hold their ground, they will dictate
the terms. If the Radicals are beaten,
Mr.. Johnson's policy will prevail. We
may expect q canvass of almost unexam-
pied activity and bitterness.
We notice some discussion respecting
the course which Mr.. johnson is likely to
pursue in the meantime. Some violent
Democrats urge him to refuse to execute
the Civil Rivil Rights Bill, on the ground
that it was unconstitutional. But Mr..
johnson does not happen to be the au-
thority ~appointedto decide that point. So
long as the Supreme Court does not de-
clare that measure unconstitutional, it is
the business of the President as an execu-
tive officer, to enforce it, and the more
moderate of his supporters say that he
will do so. The contrary course would
be full of danger to him, and would weak
en- a position already n of the weakest.