The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1866-04-14
COLUMBIA.
Saturday Morning, April IA. 1853
The Conflict at Washington.

In TINS nerce contest, the people of
the United States, as a mass, are ON
the side Of the Executive, simply be-
cause he has taken the Constitution
as his guide, and manfully, thus far,
has resisted the fierce onslanghts of
it's assailants. But the dominant fac
tion in Congress have succeeded in
passing over his veto their most radi-
cal measure. True, but it now be-
comes question whether the Presi-
dent viii regard the majority which
passed this bill as the constitutional
majority of the Congress proper. He
has been persistent, and on many
occasions has so expressed himself,
that the Senators and members elect
from the Southern States are entitled
. to their seats in the National Legisla-
ture. In his recent proclamation, he
has restored the States which these
men represent, and by this important
PRONUNCIATION not only endorses by
action his expressed opinions, but
fortlfies himself for line of future
action, which, addressing to his
policy, he may think proper to
adopt.
The line of action we allude to is
even taken by the radicals into their
calculations. One of the ablest
writer's for the Northern papers is
George Wilkes, who, as it is stated,
having access to the interior circles
OF the extremists, has the opportuui-
ty OF knowing their temper and pur-
pose. In the last issue of his paper,
after enumerating the several acts of
the President in opposition to the
radicals, and charging him with hav-
ing deserted his colors, he adds:
johnson having thus politi-
! calIy changed front, it must not be
supposed he viii remain idle at the
head of his new army. On the con-
trary, it must be expected that he
: Will advance In his campaign, at the
first favorable opportunity; and we
suppose that opportunity will come
when Congress shall have adjourned,
! and when Texas shall have elected
Representatives under her new Con-
kstitution. 80
: 1T is supposed that the President
viii avail himself of the latter event
to officially proclaim that peace is re-
stored throughout the land; and that
following it up, he win then formally
summons the Representatives sand
[ Senators of all the States to meet at
Washington In extra session. The
Apresent majority of the two houses,
which Will then be in minority, will,
Of course, dispute the right of the
Representatives and Senators of the
eleven un-admitted States to meet
with them In council; whereupon, it
Is expected that the President will
recognize the new majority as the
true Congress of the United States.
and assign to them the official cham
bers of the Capitol.
1.-The then minority, deprived of a
President. deprived too Of their sta-
tntory forums and even of Presiden-
t1al recognition, will perforce be
driven to convene apart, in some
unofficial place. Assuming, never
theless, still to be the true and only
ACongress, and as such to have ma
1 jority enough within itself to be in
dependent OF the Presidential veto or
approval, it Will go on with its lepis-
4 lation, and endeavor to establish its
authority under the auspices of the
Supreme Court. Here will be two
separate, distinct and rival Govern
ments in operation; not divided be-
tween the sections, as was projected
by the overthrown rebellion, but an
grily confronting one another within
the narrow circle of the Capitol"
Whether this will be the future
policy of the Presidentin completing
his work of restoration, is not yet de-
veloped; but the writer we have
RFqnoted, in speaking OF referring this
!. difficulty to the Supreme Court, seems
TO have forgotten that this depart.
ment of the Government has recog-
nized the Southern States as mem.
bers Of the Union. During the war,
:. even, they tried cases from Florids
and Louisiana, and have retained
about seventy cases from the South
ern States which wa lal;apa ,,,o,.-