The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1866-11-14
Frronean oniniong Of Our Affairs.

european OpIu1UUS u Jul G1AoeAAS'
Two years ago, when the American civil war,
though nearing its end, was still raging with
undimnished fury. the majority of the north |
ern people raised to the second place IN the
Union a man who was universally looked upon
as the incarnation Of the fercest patriotic splr-
it. The federal cause had no more single
minded advocate, no more active and resolute
champion than Andrew Johnson.
He was nominated for the post Of vice presl-
dent amid the general applause Of the zealots
of the republican party, AID his success was
taken as a remarkable proof Of northern de-
termination. 1t may be that if those who pro-
posed and elected him had known that he was
so soon to take the highest office in the State
they would have hesitated before they chose
one in whose character energy approaching al
most to violence was the principal feature. Bat
when the assassin's weapon deprived the re-
public of its late chief, and it was known that
Andrew johnson was president Of the United
States, there was, perhaps, not one among
those millions who anticipated the policy which
has since revealed itself. On the contrary,
thrill Of anxiety passed through the moderate
men Of the victorious party-those whose opIn-
ions were represented by Mr. Lincoln and MI.
Seward. When one of these lay dead, and 1t
was thought scarcely possible that the other
should survive, men feared to see the high
minded governor of Tennessee invested with q
power almost supreme. Only the fercest adj
vocates of punishment and confscation for the
PROSTATE south were inclined to rejoice that
. the genial Lincoln had found stern and re-
N lentless successor.
This is The man against whom the tide OF
/
and stronger President Johnson is no longer
rallied against in tie south, but the republicans
Of New England and the west have hardly
any terms harsh enough to express their de-
testation of him. Three-fourths Of the men
whose suffrage gave him his present position
are now his bitter opponents. On the other
hand, he is, or rather was till few weeks ago,
the hope of those whose rebellion he had de-
nounced, and so boldly striven against. Yet
there is no reason to suppose that the presl-
dent has changed his creed, nor is he one t
allow the possession of office to modify bis
conduct 10 an attentive observer he is the
same Andrew johnson who carried matters
with 50 high hand against the rebels, and j
these were to rise again he would show him.
self as unsparing as ever. The truth seems
to be that he belongs to party which has 8
settled doctrine with regard to the rights Q
, American States and citizens, and that ht
= maintains that doctrine without regard to tht
, circumstances of the time or the changes o
( public opinion This doctrine is, the consti
tuition as ii was the theory that, that though
a State has no right to leave the Union, anC
may be coerced if it attempts to do SO, We
there is no federal authority, not even in con
gress itself, to interfere with the internal at
! fairs Of any State, and that when State &C
= knowIedges the federal government it is emit
. tied to all its former rights. But it ought +
! be evident to any American statesman, as it j
to obseryant foreigners, that oneof the chief re
> suits of the past war is the great increase G
the power of congress and a general modifca
+ ton of the relations of the States to eacl
other and to the federal government Betor
. the war the most remarkable feature Of tn
: American polity was the weakness of the cen
:, trail authority. The constitution is unchangct
: in the letter, but its spnit and practice are n
: longer the same. Amid the commissions {
four years a controlling force was necessar
for the safety of the republic, and congress
;, assumed power which is not likely again {
be seriously disputed. The Union precisel
= as it was can hardly exist again. In all i'm
;, portant matters congress will be practically a
i most as supreme as the British parIiamen
North and south, the Atlantic States and til
! west viii probably have in turn to bow to til
=, colossal authority derived from The entiI
: Union. At present it is the turn of the soutI
4 and whatever may be the letter Of the const
tution, or The CLOSES which lawyers may pl
upon it, it is certain that congress must in ii
II end have its own wav.
IS If, then, the forthcoming elections result !
the defeat Of the presidential poIity it will
b useless for the chief magistrate and his adyi
re ers to pcrseyere further in opposing what
e manifestIy the will of the majority Of Anne
8 leans. London Times, Sept. e.
is SINKING MoSIroRs,-A writer in the Lo1
&c don Times, who has seen our MiantonomaI
r: thinks he has discovered the certain way
v destroy all such vessels. The fact Of liz
n showing no side above the water for a shot
d, strike, instead Of securing her inyunerabilit
n is the indication Of the true point Of attack.
n is useless to attempt to smash such yesse
d. either BY shot, or shell, or ram, rs ordinar
?, constructed, he thinks, but a whole fleet
E. such vessels can be annihilated-that is III
lie down and sunk, one after another-withoI
IS the firing of a single shot. The monitors b.
20 ing low, he would have the attacking vess
ID high out of the water, with an overhangn
rt bow, capable of great speed-say sixteen mil,
d ali hour-and BY running with force would Z
right upon her and run her down to rise i
more in fact she would be made to sink Ill
le lead in the mighty waters. The attackn
u vessel would be subjected to severe trials; b,
= size need not be Of iron, only subdiyidcd III
y a hoDeycomb into numerous alright cells. {
u course, she would have to run the gauntlet
the monitors fire from heavy guns but
! She would not have q large, but only dete
: mined distance to run, the writer thinks 81
. could not be stopped before she would reac
!, her antagonist, although she might have holt
7 knocked into her beng kept afoat by Il
i i watcrtight compartments. The Great Eas
u crn, properly prepared and strengthened il
. side he thinks, would make a model yess
: for this sort Of work.