Delaware State journal and statesman., 1866-10-19
THE CONSTITUTIONAL QUESTION.
From the London Times, Sept. 2s.1

THE CONSTITUTIONAL QUESTION.
From the London Times, Sept. 2S.1
Two years ago, when the American ciyi
war, though nearing its end, was still rag
ing with undminsled fury, the majority o
the Northern people raised to the second
place in the Union man who was uniyer
sally looked upon as the incarnation of the
iiercest patriotic spirit. The Federal cause
had no more single-minded advocate, nc
more active and resolute champion, than
Andrew johnson. lie was nom.
mated for the post of Vice President amid
the general applause OF the zealots of the
Republican party, and his success was taken
as remarkable proof of Northern deter.
minalion. It may be that if those who pro.
posed and elected him had known that he
was so soon to take the highest office in the
State they would have hesitated before they
chose one in whose character energy an.
preaching almost to violence was the prin.
cipal feature. But when the assassin's wea.
pom deprived the Republic of its late chief
and II was known that Andrew johnson
was President of the United States, there
was, perhaps, not one among those millions
VINO anticipated the policy which hns since
revealed llseli. On the contrary, n thrill of
anxiety passed through the moderate men of
The victorious party-thOse whose opinions
were represented by Mr. Lincoln and MIR.
Seward. When one of these lay dead, and
il was thought scarcely possible that the other
should survive, men feared to see the high
handed Governor of Tennessee invested
with power almost supreme. Only the
hercest advocates of punishment and confis-
cation for the PROSTATE South were inclined
TO rejoice that the genial Lincoln had found a
stern and relentless successor.
This is the man against whom the tide of
Northern opinion is every day setting
stronger and stronger President johnson
Is no longer rallied against in the South, but
the Republicans of New England and the
west have hardly any terms harsh enough to
express their detestation of him. Three
iourths of the men whose sufrages paye him
his present position are now his bitter oppo
nenls. On the other hand, he is, or rather
was TIL few weeks ago, the hope of those
whose rebellion he had denounced and so
boldlY striven against, Yet there is no
reason to suppose that the President has
changed his creed, nor is he one to allow
the possession of office TO modify his con
duct. To an attentive observer he is the
same Andrew johnson who carried matters
with so high a hand against the rebels, and
Il these were to rise again he would show
himself as unsparing as ever. The truth
seems TO be that he belongs to party which
rights OF American States and citizens. and
that he maintains that doctrine without re.
gard to the circumstances of the time or the
changes of public opinion. The doctrine is
the Constitution rs il was''-the theory
mat though State has no right to leave the
Union, and may be coerced if il attempts TO
do so, yet there is no Federal authority. not
even in Congress itself, to interfere with the
internal affairs of any State, and that when
State acknowledges the Federal Govern
ment it is entitled TO all its former rights.
but 1t ought to be evident to any American
statesman, as 1t is to observant foreigners,
That one OF the chief results of the past war
Is inc great increase OF the power of Con-
grcss and general modification of the rela.
tlons OF the States to each other and to the
Federal Government. Before the war the
most remarkable feature of the American
pollty was the weakness of the central au
thorlty. The Constitution is unchanged in
the letter, but its spirit and practice are no
longer the same. Amid the commissions of
four years controlling force was necessary
for the safety Of the Republic, and Congress
assumed power which is not likely again
to be seriously disputed. The Union nre
elsely as it was can hardly exist again. In
all important matters Congress will be prac-
tlcally almost as supreme as the British Par
iiahi0hl' Nurtn anu 0outn, inc Atlantic
States and the West will probably have in
turn to bow TO the colossal authority derived
from the entire Union. AT present it is the
turn of the South, and whatever may be the
letter of the Constitution, or the glesses
which lawyers may put upon it, il is certain
that Congress mrst in the end have its own
way.
If, then, the forthcoming elections result
in the defeat of the Presidential policy, it
will be useless for the Chief Magistrate and
his advisers to persevere further in opposing
what is manllestly the will of the majority
of Americans.