The New York herald., 1866-09-26
| President johnson and Congress During tho
Post YeQr.


Past Year.
When the rebellion terminated our country
| comman ded the admiration and respect of the
whole world. The zsal energy, discipline and
wonderful adaptation to the vast and pressing
emergencies Of the crisis displayed in every
| department Of the government exacted lauda-
tions from the proudest and most envious Of
European kingdo Congress, tho Executive
and his Cabinet ministers conducted their con-
situations and deliberations in mild and con-
ciiatory spirit. The intercourse between the
President and Congress was distinguished by
| dignity and courtesy on both sides, and each
| seemed to vie with the other in showing defer
cnce to their respective positions in the govern
ment During the political canvass that fol-
lowed the close of the war great deal of
dignity and self-respect were exhibited by
most of the contestants. II ia true some
Southern fire-eaters, together with portion of
| the Southern press, at this time displayed
most shocking degree Of bad taste and bitter
ness in discussing public events. They applied
epithets to Lincoln and also to Johnson that
could scarcely be equalled for vileness-epi-
thets that could hardly have been expected to
have emanated from the lowest characters.
This was never the case with the Northern re-
publicans, who, while they listened to the vitu-
| perations of these Southern malcontents, did
not take the trouble to denounce them or 70
reply to them in kindred spirit
!, What change has been wrought within
Var, nay, within half that time! After sup
| kha off wit naoin ha
dignity md decorum that then marked tho in
tercourse letween the executive and legisa-
tive branches a the government, after extin-
gushing, in soma measure, the spirit for
ribaldry in the South how humiliatins ia it fo
witness, as the country has within the past six
months, Congress and the President pitted as
rivals in bestowing invective and rituperative
language upon each other! We mus find Thad
Stevens in the House Of Representatives speak
ing contemptuously of "A,e man at the other
end of the avenue" declaring that the Pres-
dent was "traito, "an usurper," that if he
had "lived in the time of Charles I. his ,isurpa-
tions would have cost him his head" and in
similar strain, of vituperation We thus find
| Senator Chpldler referring to the President
declare that he had as much right to a policy
as his ((nandler's) horse, and at the same time
intim"ing that if the President became an OBJ
STAGE in the way of the radicals he would
| repeat his declaration OF 1861 that "a little
3lood-letting would be necessary" In the
same spirit, but in another place, did clergy
man, who opened the proceedings Of radical
convention, invoke Divine vengeance upon the
President for his s.iufamOus policy Such
terms us "perjured and usurping traitor"
man who has the face Of demagogue and
the heart of traitor" who is consumed with
egotism,' "the basest citizen of the re-
public" ga trickster," "liar," o soul
prit who has "blood-stained and cowardly
hand" are among the expressions applied
in and out Of Congress and by dvines,
to the President Of the United States. Al
though men of but little character and respon-
sibi!ity uttered epithets like tho above in
Congress, yet they stamped the whole body as
one utterly wanting In selfrespect and capa-
bic Of the most revolutionary and violent
measures That character adheres to them
throughout the world and brings about confil-
sion and discord at home. But fortunately
for our country, while decent men were
obliged to listen to these harangues there were
Others present in sufficient numbers to defeat
the destructive designs of the radicals
Happily for the President, In all his public
communications with Congress, even up to the
latest moment, he has preserved proper de-
gree of dignity, respect for his exalted position
and Difference for Congress as the legislative
power of the government. With such record,
which would have placed him 40 prominently
upon one Of the brightest pages In the history
Of the country, why should he descend into
personal controversy or squabble, az he did on
his late Western tour, with every ribald mob, and
byreplying to their remarks and repelling their
insults place himself on par with his asssil-
ants In Congress and bis frenzied foes outsides
AT Cleveland he had words with some fel.
low who called Lin a traitor, and said>sif YOU
could see that mans face you would find
cowardice and treachery In H." Whom accused
Of want Of dignity he exclaimed, Il care
not for dignity" and proceeded to deuounce
bis enemies as subsidized gangs OF hirelings
and traducers." AT Battle Creek he bad a
wrangle with mob Of fanatics. and, af,sr
vainly cndeavoring 10 make himself heard
amid their hootings, 'touched them up little"
by accusing them Of a want OF hospitality.
Wherever cheers on the route would he pro-
posed for Congress he would stop to argue The
case between himself and Congress, as IL he
were upon an electionecring stump canvass in
some remote Western Congressional district.
But 1t Is unnecessary to prolong the catalogue
OF these painful quotations. 1t Is mortifying to
see man occupying the lofty position Of
President OF the United States descend from
that position and join issue with those who are
dragging their garments in the muddy cutters
ofpolitical vituperation. Such a course might
do very we'll on a campaiun In tho interior az |