Holmes County farmer. [volume] (Millersburg, Ohio) 1857-1926, 1866-01-04
The President and the Radicals,

s shN ENshutbt uuu thC EshuisuES'
In this paper we publish letter, headed
Bullying Il President" written by Rad.
ical, to a Radical Journal the Chicago Tti.
5aae, from Radical stand point, giving the
substance of an interview between certain
Radical members Of Congress and the Pres
ident. There are no grounds for doubling
the writer's statements.
The point of chief interest disclosed by
this recital is the Presidents maturing de-
termination to use the executive patronage
against the opponents Of his policy. Mr.
WILSON, Western member of the House,
called on the President, with number Of
other Radicals to to have free interchange
Of sentiments, and to reach, if possible, q
common understanding respecting the res
toration of the Southern States. The in
terview was couteous enough, on both
sides; although, by Mr.. WILSON'S account,
the Radicals were rather blunt in the ex-
preston of their views. They told the
President, without any circumlocution, that
they considered his policy in the South as
failure; that they did not, however, expect
him to make public recantation; but ask
ed that lie would not actively oppose the
measures of Congress intended to undo his
work, either by the use of patronage or 9th
wise, telling him that they would impose
disabilities on the South only in the form of
Constitutional amendments not requiring
his signature, thus relieving him from any
necessity of using his veto.
But the President showed no disposition
to accept the proposed dodge Onthe CON
trary, he, we are assured, expressed his sat.
isiaction with its results and his confidence
in its ultimate success. On this the writer
says;
Nor did lac say word, indicating an intcn.
tion to abstain from interference with Congress
IN its legislation upon reconstruction. lie did
not say that he would interfere; but neither did
he commit himself to the opposite line of uci ION
However pressed by Mr.. Wilson in this direc-
q him. That he would have made "A formal
disclaimer ora purpose tOmcddlc with Congress,
u, lLhe ~ h3t cntcriain 1t, may be fairly plSum-
TONE and tenor of his remarks on the minds of
his auditors"
The facts subioined by the letter writer
to this account to prove that the language of
the President in the interview was not mis-
construed. The Radicals were shortly af
terwardS thrown into a state Of intense rb-
ulatlon by IA reported direction Of the Pres
idcnt to certain heads Of departments "toI
make no further appointments on the re-
commcndaton of members of Congress at
Present This order was disclosed By |
come head OF a department in reply to an
application by Radical Congrcs,man.-I
But one constructions says the letter. wr- |
ter, il given to this executive mandate,
viz., Mat the sUpportof tie ,recuiirc po,icm |
" IN he hcroVtr Me price If patronagc."
These statement, are in Keeping with the |
recent public acts Of the President, of which |
the withdrawal Of SO many provisional gov-
crnors Is the most significant. During the |
summer and autumn, report was industr |
ousIy disseminated that the President re |
gasded his restoration policy merely AS an
experiment which he was ready to aban-
don it diSapprovcd by Congress. Congress
meets, and, by the exclusion Of the South
srn members, condemns it; but in the face
OF thu, condemnation, before Congress can
mature Il substitute, he declares the work off
restoration in most Of the States, complete,
ami surrcndcrs to the new State govern
mentS the entire control of their domestic
affairs. The President has committed hi, |
reputation to the success of these State
governments If they fail, his administers |.
tion viii nc the greatest failure in history.
llccame in just as the war closed, it became
his chiel business to supcrntcnd the great
work OF restoration; an opportunity such as
was never before offered to a statesman and
which he met with the promptitude and de
cslon Of a man confident of the Justice of
his IDEAS. Retreat now would be ruin. The
formidable character of the opposition will |,
compel him to use the influence of his office
to disable his foes. 1t was morally certain,
from the beginning, that things would come
to this pass. Though the struggle may be
arduous there can be no doubt that a ma
Jorlty of the people, North and South, will
be found on the side of the President
How Disgusting.
To what an extreme the people have ar