Holmes County farmer. [volume] (Millersburg, Ohio) 1857-1926, 1866-01-18
Congress and the President--
The "ErEcRreSsibleC Conflict


between the devil and the deep sea. If
they break with the President, they incur
the risk Of so weakening their party that
they can no longer command majority in
the Northern States; if they acquicscc in his
policy, the admission of the South into Con /
gress and its participation in the next pres
idcntial election threaten them with more
certain ruin from another quarter.
In the difference which has arisen between
Congress and the President, Mr.. Seward
has avaiied himself Of convenient pretext
for absence from the scene of conflict. He !
might have derived equal advantage to his
health from a voyagcin the month of Fcbru-
ary; but he could not have remained in
Washington during theorists of the conflict,
without actively excrting his influence on
one side or the other. He is statesman
Of too much standing in his party, he has
personal relations with too many members
of both Houses, his social and political in
iluencc is too great, to permit him to stand
aloof rs a neutral spectator. He could not
continue to hold his office and opnose the
/ President; he could not retain his standing
in the Republican party and actively support
| him; and 50 he flies from the field Of battle
| to return when the smoke of the conflict be-
! gins to lift, and enable him to see on which
ofthe opposing standards victory is likely
to perch.
! Meanwhile, his faithful organ in this city
is attempting to demonstrate that there is
really no conflict, nor any ground for conflict,
between the President and Congress. Con
grcss, it says, cannot undo the work of the
/ President in the Southern States; the Pres
ident, ON the other hand, cannot admit
members Of either House to their disputed
seats; and so long as each confines itself to
its own sphere, there is no possibility of
collision. There is, in all this, an artful air
Of innocence, which walls stroke Of con
summatc political cunning. The most de-
sirable thing for Mr.. Seward, as a prcsi-
dental aspirant is to have the existing dif.
ference kept open. Fit were closed, by the
admission of the South with white suffrage
Mr.. johnson or General Grant would be the
next President; if by admission with black
suffrage, Mr.. Chase would be the inevitable
candidate Of the Republican party; but by
keeping the question unsettled, Mr.. Seward
hopes to slip in as the compromiscr Of an
otherwise irrcconcilnblc difference
The Times reasoning ON this subject is
technically plausible, but practically absurd.
1t is true that the President has no rightiul
voice in the admission of members in the
two Houses and that Congress has no au
thority to oust the new State governments;
and that if neither intrudcs into the province
of the other, no conflict can arise at these
particular points. But who can be blind to
the enormous incongruity of the executive
department Of the government acting on the
theory that eleven States are in the Union
and entitled to all federal rights, while the
legislative department is treating them on
the opposite theory? If they are in the
Union, they are entitled to fair share of
the cabinet offices and foreign missions but
if the President hcstows on them such ap-
lpointments, how can n Senate which regards
| them as out Of the Union confirm his nom.
v lnauonS, or Congress consent to appropra
tionS for their salaries? For these tive
great departments Of the government {,
I proceed on opposite theories would happiI,
:. accommodate the wishes of Mr.. Seward
I both as po,tponing the reconstruction o
the cabinet, and enabling him (if the Times
theory were acquicsccd in) to give guaS
support to the President without breaking
= with the Republican party.
But the executive and legislative depart
mcnts OF the government cannot long pro
coed in Independence Of each other. The
executive department becomes defunct un
, less we can elect "A new President; and the
question between the existing President anG
, Congress must be settled before a prcsi
dental election is possible The next prcs
dent must be elected on one or the other Of
these conflicting and irrcconclable theories
! If those eleven States are excluded, the
election will not be valid ifthcy have u gooG
title to vote; and rice reI;Sn Unless the
question is decided, the presidential election
will plunge us in another civil war If one
, candidate has majority of all the clcctora
votes, and another II majority Of the State.
which Congress considers rs entitled to hC
counted, II question will arise which only
the sword can decide, unless the government
T. is previously brought into harmony with it
self
1t is very certain that the President vii
not yield; and there are abundant indications
that the Republican majority in Congress
V hold of the same temper rs on the first da.
: of the session The House resolution passe,
l. by a large majority, ON Monday, was vot
- ofcensure against the President. For wha
other purpose could they have rcmonstratc
= against his Withdrawing troops from tn
= Southern States, than that of censurc ?
|. | / meant as an instruction to the President
. il was uSurpation and an insult. TIL
Constitution makes him the Commander
I n-Chicfofthc Army; and, in that capacity
II he is superior to all dictation rs to how it
5 movements shall be directed. lie can max
i any distribution of the troops he pleaScs
and Congress has no more right to inter
" ierc than the Supreme Court has to serv
l. on him an injunction restraining him trol
h issuing certain orders to his subordinat
:. commanders. After this gross afront to tn
- President, supported by so large majority
y It is absurd for the Republican journals
N descant on the prospect Of reconciliation
lOrk World
.
Democratic state Convention