Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1866-10-04
New Series--V oil. g. No. SO.


dred and forty.onS members. One hundred
and twsnty-one are q majority,-a quorum
for business, If every State were represent
ed. or the present House, it is estimated
that forty y-six members are supporters Of the
Presidents policy. If to these we add the
fifty members from the ten States. the Presi
dental party would number ninety six, OF
twenty five only lsss than q majority Of a
full House. No view can be taken Of the
present House If Representatives more "a
vorsble to the Republican psrfy,-possibly
the Presidents force should be increased 10
forty-eight men. Itis worthy Of ohservs-
ten that neither the Philadelphia Csnvsn.
ton nor the President has brssthea the hope
/ that the Republicans osB be deprived Of q
majority OF the members from the loyal
States. The schsms Is to elect seventy ono
or more men from the loyal States. and
then resort to revolutionary proceedings for
the sonsummstioD Of the plot. The practical
question-the question on which the for.
tunes Of the country depsnd-is, Will the
people aid in the execution Of the plot con.
triyed for their own ruin? Upon the face
Of things, We should say that it is highly
improbable that the new party can make
any important gains; iadssd, it seems most
improbable that the President ran survive
the effect of hiso own speeches. But we must
remember that be is supported by tbs whole
Democratic party, and that the party cast a
large vots in 1864 and that 10 1862 the Re.
publican majority i1 the Hsuse was reduced
10 about twenty.
10 the Thirty eighth Congress the Demo-
cratic party had ten or fifteen more votes
thsn arc now needed to secure the success
Of the present plot. To ne sure, the cleo
ton Of 1862 occurred ct the darkest period
of the war The young men OF the Rspub-
lictn party we're in the army, and but small
number ofthsm bad an opportunity to vote
There was still hope that peace could be
made through the agency Of the Democrat
10 party. Thsss circumstances Wsrs In
favorable to the cause Of the patriots.
Tn. Democratic party is now weaker than
ever bsfsre. Its identity with the Rebellion
i. batter understood. The young man Of
the country. in ths proportion OF tbrss to
one, unite themselves with ths Republican
party. As an organization, considered by
ITSELF the Democratic party Ia utterly power
less and hopeless.
The detection Of Mr.. Johnson, however
inspires the leaders with fresh courage. 1t
ia possible for them to enjoy the patronage
OF the government for two years at leasr,
aud it ia barely possible for them 70 secure the
recognition Of the ten Rebel Bta'es or, in
other equivalent words, the ten Democratic
states, to the Uaion.
This combination ID Formidable but its
dangerous nature is due to the facts that
Mr. Stewards pams and means of influence
are still powerful in the State of New York,
and that he has joined himsslf to the new
purity and become on instrument in the
hands of designing msu for the organisation
Of another rebellion. Outside Of New York
Mr.. Johnson's gains in the elections will he
- small that the Union majority will re.
main substantially as in the present Con
grsss; nor can We conceive that the gains in
'hst State will hs adequate to the necessi-
ties Of the conspirstors. 1t is probable that
the undertaking will prove failure; but it
should never be forgotten that the country
is in peril; that it is in peril in consequence
of the uncertain psliliosl character of the
State Of New York; aud that that uncertain
character is justly attributable to the con-
duct OF Mr.. seward. Ii, then, Ar. John
son succeeds in the attempt TO change the
character sfthis government by setting aside
the Congress Of the loyal States, Dir. Sew
ard will be responsible, equally With hr.
johnson, for the crime.
Reverting to the statement already mads.
that neither Mr.. johnson nor any of his
supporters caa s'sa hsps to secure major,
ity OF the members elected from the States
represented in the present Congress, il only
remains fer US to consider more specidO4lly
the schems OF revolution and usurpaIiGn iu
which these desperate u su are engaged
The necessary preliminary condition is the
slectisn Of seveIty-ous members Of Congress
from the tventy-six States t. these will
he added fifty persons from the ten unrep.
resented States, making ous hundred and
twep.y-ons, or majority in Congress if all
the States were represented This accom-
pished, she way onward is comp paratively
easy.
When the Thirty ninth Congress re-as
semblss in December next, Mr. johnson and
his Cabinet may refuse to recogaize its ex-
istepcs. or. recognizing 1t AS 4 matter OF
form, deny its legitimate suthority.
He would summon tks members Of the
Fortieth Congress to assemble in extra SEES
sion INN msdiatey after ths 4th of March. -
Fifty persons would appear claiming seats as
representatives from the ten States. Tbs
Republicans would deny their right to seats
the supporters Of the President would
maintain it. The supporters of the Presi
uout, alucu uiFoCtIl VI iuuutCtty ny tue at
my aud police, would take possession of the
hall, remove the Clerk, and organize the as
sembly by force.
Whether this could be done without
bloodshsd in Washington and elsewhere il
the North remains to be seen; but as fal
as relates to the organisation Of the House
thers san be no doubt Of the success of th,
undertaking. We should then see united
South with the President at the bead, ane
divided North the army, the navy. th'
treasury, in the hands of rebels. This
course is the necessity of Mr. johnson.
| opinions and position 1t is the natural re
suit of the leCis Of the rebels of the South
and Of the Democratic party at the North
| Mr.. johnson believes that the present Con
gress intends to iu peach him and remove
him from Office. Admit that this fear
grouudless, yet, If he entertains it, he vii
act as he would act If such were the purpose
Of the two Housos. Hence he must destroy
the authority Of Congress. Hence hS
arraigns its members as traitors. Hence
he made the significant, revolutionary, ant
startling remark, in his reply to Reverb,
johnson as the organ of the Philadelpbi,
| Convention We hare seen hanging upol
the verge of the Government as IL ioere, 4
5ody called, or ,ohich assumed to be, The Con
ores of the United States. but in fact Con
gress Of only part efths States" This is
distinct, specific denial of the right Of Cor