The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1866-12-13
CHI ARL ES r. ON
THURSDAY MORNING. DECEMBER IS 1866
TIE SOUTHERN Sta NDPO1vT


situation, cannot but afford something of a grim
satisfaction. 1t is true that the rights Of the
States arc not more likely to be preserved in
violate now than they were year ago, but a
falrer prospect affords itself that the integrity
OF the Constitution will be maintained; that the
Southern States will be admitted to their full
share in the Government, and that they will be
LETT to pursue the prosperity still in store for
them, freed from the em5arra ssments and diff
cultles incident to the present abnormal state of
affairs Then, however, We reasoned as 10 the
future from continually shifting base; then we
were continually perplexed BY the doubtful is
sues Of q conflict between two powerful
branches of the Government; ana arguing from
the right of our position, and our confidence in
the ability and desire Of the President to pro-
tect that right, we were induced joyfully to &C
cept, as conclusions, what proved as unreal as
the promises which supported them. Upon
what seemed the clear revelations Of one day
the glad assurance was based that our people,
though disappointed in their exertions for q
separate government, could still proudly claim
the title of freemen; while the doubtful inter
pretations Of the next mocked their hopes, and
OF subjugation Now the issue Of the struggle
seems no longer dubious, and, however gloomy
may be the thought that our expectations have not
been realized, still there is, as we have said.
satisfaction in finding something certain
in our situation from which we may argue as to
our future prospects.
It's argued by some that the power of the Presi-
dent, constitutionally exercised, may still prove
an effectual barrier against the further rapinrs
of the Radicals; that, as the executive he has
the right to Judge himself of the constitutional
ty OF laws, and to refuse to allow those to ope-
rate which, in his opinion, violate the provis-
ions of the Constitution.
We are disposed freely to accord this power
to the President, but we can feel no assurance
that it will ever be exerted. On the contrary.
he has exhibited disposition to interfere with
Congress no further than in the way of grave
protests in messages, and the use of the veto
power Laws have been passed over his veto
| for constitutional reasons, and however the Ju-
dietary have asserted their hi igh prerogatiye in
dealing with them, yet the President himself
mas offered no bar to their execution Besides,
# he should venture on such q course the OBJ
stacle he presented might be removed by his
impeachment, or he might be forced from his
constitutional basis to a physical issue with
Congress. a.
To US it seems certainAthat the President car
never carry the principles Of his policy to their
logical conclusion in any manner, without at
some point asserting authority not deducible
from the Constitution, and it appears very clear
I he b4 M IF Io;
kind.
! Armed, then, only with the thunderbolts we
have already referred to, the President can do
Congress but little harm, and he seems to have
virtually retired from the contest In his messare
he's says ssThe Executive Department found that
1t had accomplished nearly all that was within
the scope Of its constitutional authority He
goes On to say that one thing remained to be
done, that is, the admission to Congress of
members from the States which seeded. bpt
expressly recognizes the power Of Congress to
ht that Keystone in it's proper place The
Executive has done all that it can do or is going
to do, and it is WELL therefore, that the South
! ern people contemplate, with whatever com
placency they may, their situation and pros
poets under the sway Of the Republican party
AS one consequence of this situation, let US
recover from the delusion that we have anv
active part to play in the drama of national
affairs. Our people have been laboring under
this idea-as they generously responded to the
call Of the President and yielded as far as the
logic Of events required and their honor would
permit, to his exactions but, now that his
arms have fallen powerless, let them quietly
contemplate the spectacle as those who NAV
suffer but cannot resist; not. without interest
for that would be nnnatural--but an interest
made subservient to the calls Of duty in the
| ways Of usefulness and the paths Of prosperity
row opening before them. IN: enterprises for
local objects, projects for developing the re-
sources sources Of the State at rlarge for beneftting
ourselves, our neighbors and q whole commu-
nifty, the citizen may, fnd scope for his ability.
h1s talent, and his virtHe, and we can now see
no ground for apprehension that such exertions
viii be without their legitimate fruits.
CULTIVATION or W00L IN THE soUZH
The =: Baltimore Transcript, in referring to the
above subject, says the following, which We
! commend to our readers: tsThe increase in tia
Al ~ 49, TY.sx. 1ya. @4o