The Weekly Perrysburg journal. [volume] (Perrysburg, O. [Ohio]) 1861-1???, 1866-09-28
From the sAndusky Regs,er.l
Have we n Dictator Among Uei


The loyal portion Of the country has for
some time regarded Andrew johnson as a
bad, weak man but II has been slow 20
believe that he was also dangerous one.
This latter conviction 10 now forcing itself
upon the cool judgment Of the nation, and
the Presidents Chicago tour has done
much to change suspicion into positive
assurance.
In the Presidents reply to the Reverdy
Johnson Committee, in Washington, he TO
ierred to the American Congress Ne "a body
that assumes to be Congress" and "a chang
ing upon the skirtS of the Government, as
it were" 1hOse expression ., occurring,
as they did ia a speech which had been
three days in preparation aud every seu.
tenoe Of which waa therefore well weighed,
somewhat startled the country, and more
than auything else, gave rise TO the sus
| picion that the President had deeigus-
vague, perhaps aud yet underlined, but
none the less grave and threatening-
! sgainst the rights aud privileges, Il not tie
existence, Of the rrcsent Congress. II
those expressions meant nothing, MIR. John
son was fool ior using them, il they meant
| something, they meant that the Congress
as now constituted WAS an usurpatiou--an
illegG body, aud as such liable to be dis
perscd by the Executive with military
force, unless, on reassemhlng, il should at
once proceed to render itself legal body
according TO Mr.. Johnson's standard, by
admitting members FROM the insurgent
States.
All doubt regarding Mr.. Johnson's mean.
| ing n. Washington is removed by reading
the Enthusiastically revolutionary language
used by him at Detroit ln another place
We print the essential part of his Detroit
speech. In that Mr.. Johnson no longer
coutouts himself with inuondo and iusinu-
alton, hut boldly aud ,rithom qualification
pronOuncsS Ms highest legislative body Of
he land an unconstitutional Congress. II
would not DO wise to overlook the start
liug import of this Presidential declaration.
! 1t means somethuS. II tho present Con.
gress be au Illegal body, usurpug the
functions OF national legslatur9, the EN
eculive il bouud by his oH;G to disregard
its odicts aud prevent its assembling III the
nations Capitol II the Presiasnt believes
his own assertion, viulcuce against Con
Gress will follow M u natural sequence, aud
violence against Congress mesns u DiCta-
torshjp aud revolution. II tue America
Congress should unite in an address to the
country, declaring its opihOn that Andrew
JuLusuu MAS All illegal President aud there.
lore an usurper, il wOul most certainly
lollov up that declaration With impeach
meut aud removal. The President has
made an sdhrCss to the cuuniry declaring
his OpiGion that the Congress Id an illegal
body-ipWh he foHow up his declaration wih
tie Suppression of Congress-
To some We may sppear to place too
grave an Interpretation upon the unconsd-
cred expressions of all indiscroet President.
We hope this may provo true, but there is
evidence that neither drunkenness nor luna
oy can be pleaded in explanation of the lau.
guage we are discussing. There 10 evi-
dence that Andrew Johnson means all he
says, aud we believe that if the Fall cleo
tions streug thea his hands by bringing con
siderable Democratic victories he will no
louger hesitate to enact his OIS Of treason
and attempted revolution. Ho has showu
himself capable of going to the last POSSE
BILE extreme of violence in language; with
the slightest encouragement we expect to
soc him go to the last extreme Of violence
iu action.
1t is notorious that tho President is using
the most shameless devices to corrupt the
army aud navy aud biud to his cause, by
the ties of personal interests, the officers OF
ihe regular service. 1t 10 notorious that be
10 offering commissions in the new regi-
ments aud promotions i'll the old, IS the
price of indorsng his policy. II is notori.
GUS that he aud his Cabinet are using evory
art of the demagogue to commit Grant aud
Farragut to the support Of his polcy-and
thus far without success. What do these
facts mean except that Andrew Johnson, in
tho work of forcing his policy on the
country, anticipates the necessity of using
the army and navy against the peopleI
These dangerous and reasonable designs
which we believe Mr.. johnson to entertain
may never blossom aud bear fruit, but If
they do not, it will be, not because Mr.
Johnson ia too patriotic, but because the
loyal people are too watchful OF their liber-
ties. The fall elections, setting ont with
Vermont and California, will remove the
glamour from even JOhnsons eyes, and con
vince him that he has mol the support oil
the people, and that attempts at revolution
are as unsafe in 1866 as in 1861.