New-York daily tribune., 1866-02-17


rial OF the old Republican party men who agree upon
points OF primary importance and as TO all other
matters allow the utmost freedom OF opinion among
themselves. They will disagree upon the theoTetlca
question whether tho Rebel States in or out OF the
Unon whether the principal traitors ought to be tried
| by military commission or civil tribunal; whether
there ought TO be cOnscat0n OF Rebel property or
not; whether the President had right TO appoint Pro-
yisional Governors, whether he ought 10 have gov
errned the Rebel States by Major Generals; they may
even disagree as 10 the question whether this or that
Rebel State might not receive treatment different
from that meted out TO ohersalthough majority Of
the party agreo on that point Bntthey are hrmy
united in the conviction that the work OF reconstruction
is work that belongs to Congress and that 1t would
be fragrant violation Of their trust II they permitted
the Rebel States 10 resume their participation IN the
Government OF the Republic before their State Govern
ments are placed upon legal basis, and before the
rights OF the freedmen firmly secured against any
encroachment from the former masters.
The indeed few individuals calling themselves
members Of the majority who are always ready 10 follow
the lead Of the Executive power But their number Is
so small as 10 be hardly worth mentioning. And 1t IS
piece OF the most ridiculous impudence when men OF
that class speak of the waning influence OF the radl'
Gals while they Themselves any important question,
cannot reinforce the Democrats even with half dozen
votes. When the House voted on the District OF Co
umbia bin comforting the right OF suffrage on the coored
man tbey themselves did not dare TO vote against H.
And VIXEN the Constitutional Amendment passed the
House in the face of attempt at Executive dlctatlon
the honorable gentleman from New.fOrk must have
been proud find himself at the head Of two or three
men OF his way Of thinking as their acknowledged
leader.
We see il represented in some papers that 1.-THE firm
stand taken by the President" in his conversations
with the Montana and Virginia delegations completely
overawed the majority IN Congress we are tOlu thdt
many Of the former followers Of the Committee Of
Fifteen are heartily repentant Of their obstreperous
ness that they are secretly longing TO throw them
selves into the paterna embrace OF the Executive at
the first opportunity and that then Congress- tired OF
insisting on its prerogatiyes, WILL like flock of good
children, join 10 grand and universal chorus ringing
the praise OF 1.-THE Presidents policy" Now who
tell such stories for the pnrpose of making the people
and the President believe them either are lamentably
Ignorant OF the state Of the they pursue
objects of their own. attempting 10 cheat Others AT
any rate they tell stories which may DO taken with
smiles of qualification by the Democrats OF the North
and the Rebels Of the South, by the postmasters and
dewaers throughout the country and by the inmates
Of the White House, but which are looked upon as
foolish and absurd alsehoods by any one that some
what cOnversant with the temper OF Congress Tie
Republican majority in Congress is selfgoyerning
body; while IL does not acknowledge the Committee OF
Fifteen II ruler ii Is just little willing to yield any
Of ts pTerogatiyes the dctation OF the Presidents
least Of all would descend so far as to recognize me
leadership of the honorable gentlemen VINO SO ably
reflect the opinions OF the Executive"
As 10 the effect Of the firm stand taken by the Pres
dent in his interview with The Virginia delegation,
may refer you 10 the good-humored or rather the
condescendIng illusions 10 II which were induged IN
Yesterday In the alto accompanying Mr. Hen
dersons speech in the Senate. That the President
should have thrown out direct threat against the
radicals" treated rather as good joke. or, per-
haps poor one. AT all events 1t seemed more
cac uated disturb the gravity ofthe Senate than 10
strike and into the hearts OF Representatives
the people who think they have TO obey the comnaHds
Of their cOnscences in preference 10 those OF any man
in power. II the Presidents friends" were true
friends, they would have told him. not that by in.
dulDg In such unreasonable freaks OF temper he las
reganed bis influence the majority OF Congress,
but that he has put hmfef In Imminent danger oi
losing It's respect.
Another thing OF significance s the semi.oficial an
nOuncement OF the Presidents intention, not indeed to
hsstow his patronage upon Democrats but TO discrim
mate in the distribution OF Offices against those Union
men who do not support the Presidents policy
This announcement made in the form Of a conyer
saon with distinguished representative mean.
ling the Washington papers tell US, Mr. Raymond.
IL then. the ayowed policy Of the Administration TO
rule the Republican party by the appliances Of public
pundei and 10 array the postmasers aid revenue ON
GERS against the popular conscience. Public opinion
here had been prepared for this foI time and 50
nobody was taken by surprise. Some rather singular
cases had become known IN which the President mad
oyerriden the recommendation OF Senator's and Repre-
sentat,cs and indeed OF entire delegations in
ng from office men who bad opinions Of ther own, and
appointing Others who could be counted upon under all
circuin stances 10 support the Presidents policy.
The most noteworthy circumstance connected Win
these thar the Senators and Representatives.
whose recommendations had thus been set aside, were
rather less inclined TO reflect TIE opinions of the
Executive the day after, than the day before
! 1t appears the powers at the White House have
| fallen into a fatal mistake They undoubtedly labor
under the impression that they have TO deal with the
old Whg, or the old Democratic party, and following
their old practices. they think capital expedieDt 70
nsc corruption where persuasion falls They evidently
do not understand the Republican party for they leave
the element Of conscience out OF the account But IN
/ the Repgblcan party conscience has 80 far been
stronger than posmas,crs, and II we may judge from
tie news received from the principal towns Of Con
nectcut the postmasters have already suffered signal
discontinue IN the contest.
have 10 repeat what have already remarked before
in my letters; The President is surrounded by set of
laterers who sudiousy deceive him a. 10 the temper
pf Congress well as public opinion in the country;
and AZ Mr. johnson has not that ntuitye perception Of
the current Of popular sentiment which distinguished
Mr. Lincoln the obstacles the atterer has TO overcome
TO take possession Of Mr. Johnsons confidence are not
very serious. And thus we hear OF the President ex
pressing opinions like this: '' / have humilated the
South enough 10 please the North; and am opposing
negro suffrage TO please the South and now We are all
agreed" This shows how clear conception he has OF
the situation. He is firmly convinced that he. with his
policy" is the idol OF the American people, that the
Republicans in Congress in the North as wei as the
South universally condemned as set Of iactious
fanatics and that even the majority in Congress is i'm
patient TO repudaie those who express any dissa,sae
ton with his policy.
Such Illusions are sudiousy nursel by his friends
and 1t is worthy OF note how carefully the papers
representing the feelings of those friends abstain nom
mentioning facts like the tremendous outburst Of
thusasm which followed the close Of Mr.. Wliamss
speech last Saturday demonstrations which surpassed
anything that had been seen III the House Of Represent
tatives since the passage Of the great Constitutional
Amendment, and which gave striking indication OF
the temper OF the House and Of the galleries VI tue
tone OF that speech will give you specimen; sept
mens like these electrified the House. and it Will be
long before their echo dies ont In the country.
The time has come however. to rectiy these ersr
and to and maintain the ghtfu jurisdiction and powers
OF this body, IL they to be asserted again WIN the
highest admiration OF the constancy and herosm Of the
en Executive under the severe trials and with every dspo
support bis administration far hdetyt my own
high win allow cannot consent that question like this
In which the interests Of many generations are involved
shall be withdrawn the people oil tie loyal states VINO
suffered sacrificed largely and settled by the de-
eson Of any seven men, no matter whence they
come or what positions they may hold No allow
myself to b. instructed here that while the power Of settling
the of readmson is with the President have no Ju
dction American egslator except to register the acts
that he his done, and then humbly inquire member OF
this House only whether the candidates who present them
selves for admission here have complied with the mere for
mses which his Legislatures have precbed Ii Is here
only-in these Halls, that American liberty can