Columbia democrat and star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1867, 1866-06-20
A Civil Necessity.

|. A Civil Necessity.
Office holders and those dependent upon
their smiles, affect to be much embarrassed
to ascertain which side honor requires them
to take inthe contest between Radicalism and
the President
Strange that they should misunderstood
the practical workings Of the maxim to the
victOrs belong the spoils. Since 1861, the
Republicans have had justclaim to the en-
joyment of Office, and most valliantly have
they asserted their right The records show
that twice as many appointments were made
in the civil service under Mr.. Lincoln as had
been made by all of his predecessors. Ofthis,
Democrats have no right tocomplain, and for
five years they have patiently stood out in
the cold and despite the subtle acts of
despotic foe have calamity maintained their
principles and their organization.
Suppose their is difficulty in deciding which
wing Of the Repubhcansis the party that tri
umphed In 1861 and 1864, it stildoe not aft
ect the Democracy, and can in no manner en-
title them to claim the spoils of Office.
If the President would assume to dictate
to Congress whom they should select to ill
the Offices at their disposal he would justly
merit and would undoubtedly receive the Sc
verest rebuke, and yet he has precisely the
same right to do this that Congress has to
dictate TO him the recipients of his official IA
vors. Upon this subject the Radicals have
themselves settled the question. Who does
not remember that within a brief two years
the Radical shibboleth was, THE PRESIDENT
ISTHE GOVERNMENT. Oppose the President
and you oppose the Government. All men
are traitors who do support the President
Such were the daily utterances of the shOddy
loyalists; Mr.. Lincoln himself sanctioned the
I IL, Il. 1
The unlawful seizure ard imprisonment of
thousands of Democrats have indelibly i'm
pressed upon our minds this doctrine in all its
length and breadth. Ifthen, Lincoln as Presi-
dent was the Government, so johnson as
President is the Government, and we COM
mend to their lips the chalice so rudely press
ed to ours
The offices are in the gift of the Execu-
tive If he believes his policy viii restore
the Union and give prosperity to the whole
people, and if he believes he can strengthen
his cause through the offices at his disposal
he should at once and determinedly use the
means the Constitution and laws have given
him. Three ffths of the Republicansare with
the President, but through the controlling
influence of their machinery their voice Is
stifed, they are induced to be silent by the
false assurance that all will yet be well that
Tile UiHtItICcS WIZ ytG bC liCdiCu. IllCl
forget that ANDREW JOHNSON proclaimed
from the steps of the Presidential mansion,
that THESE MEN ARE TRAITORS. The
hour for fTaternization, has past, the breach
is irreparable, the separation is final
Upon the question of Reconstruction the
Democracy in solid phalanx are supporting
the policy of the President. They seek none
of the offices. They have no just claim to
them. They regard the contest as one OF
principle-one of greater importance was
never submitted to the American people. Its
defeat viii forever sink the last hope of our
free institutions, its triumph will make a
glorious future possible for our noble coun-
try.
The influence ofofice holders for good is
butslight; for evil they may be all powerful
As supporters ofa measure they weigh but
little; as its opposers they are always felt.
In a close contest. their opposition NAV turn
the scale La deadly struggle with ''trai-
tors, can it be that the President viii per-
NIT his office holders to range Themselves
under the banner of treason and throw into
the breach against him the influence and po-
sition they hold at his pleasure? Measur-
ing the vigor of the foe and the magnitude
of the issue, is it not plainly his duty to use
with unsparing hand every means that the
Constitution and laws have cast upon him.
Under the sway of the Radicals, MILL
TARY NECESSITY was held to justify any vio-
lation of the Constitution and laws, and now
we hold that CIVIL NECESSITY enjoins the
vigorous use of every means that are vested
in the Executive under the plain terms Of
the organic and statute laws. The union
Of the States is the life of the nation. Let
the law of the land be welded to preserve
that life The foe is dangerous one and
must be vanquished The disease is desper-
ate and efficient remedies must be resorted
to. Hating measures will not answer. A
clean sweep must be made. Pretended sup
port of the President viii not do. Works
must show the faith of these gentlemen.
They cannot support johnson and Stevens,
they must love the one and hate the other.
They must support the Presidents policy,
they must speak favorably of it, they must
support those who support it and oppose
those who oppose it. Determined, prompt
and energetic action on the part of the Ex-
ecutive, isvitally essential. He can afford 10
be bold IN sustaining the right.