Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1866-03-09
Mr.. Garrison's Condemnation of the
President.


"On this occasion, some perhaps
NAV wish to know what think OF
President johnson and his reconstruc-
ton policy. First, as to himself. |
certainly am not disposed to forget
the important service he rendered the
cause of emancipation in Tennessee,
while governor, by prOclaiming slay-
erv abolished in that state; and also
what he dared to do and suffer IN de
tense of the country, while surrounded
by the wolves and serpents of seces-
sion. Moreover, having been unex-
pectedly called, like his lamented
predecessor, to assume the most ire
mendous responsibilities, and to fill
the most trying station ever yet oc-
cupied by any ruler or magistrate, |
cheerfully admit that it becomes him
to move with great circumspection III
the discharge Of his official duties.
He has his own line OF policy, which
he adheres to with great tenacity; but
until recently [ h ave not believed
that he would venture to infexibly ar
ray himself against Congress, an d
against the clear expression of the
popular will, as he is now defiantly
doing. He had better not do it, for
| he will be the loser by the encounter.
Enough that, however sincere or pa
tri0tic ne may be, his plan Of recon
8tructiOn causes great disquictude and
Ialarm among the loyal masses, and
that 1t receives the warm approval of
all the southern rebels On the one hand
and all the northern cOpperheadS on
the other. As sagaciOus man, what
further evidence can he need. in his
sober senses, that he is unfortunately
OH the wrong track, and, therefore,
should patriOticaily retrace his steps :?
But, if he insists on going ahead in
that disastrous direction. then | trust
that Congress will stand like an I'M
pregnable wall to prevent his doing
so, come what may. Nay. more
would have thai body wipe out from
the slate all that he has done in the
matter Of reconstruction, and begin
the work anew as alone constitutional
Iy empowered to imaugurate and per
feet it from the foundation to tie top
stone. With all Difference to his ex-
allied position, l deny the right OF
President Johnson. under the war-pow-
er, or any other power entrusted to
him. to do anothing more in rebeldom
than to hold it with firm military
grasp until Congress shall determine
when, how and where elections shall
be held, who shall be allowed to vote.
and what shall be the necessary con
dltlons precedent to the re-admissiOn
! to the Union Of the late self-stvIed
confederate states. Those states are
still reasonable i'll spirit and purpose.
and lack nothing but the power to III
duce them To try the bloody game of
secession over again. They do not
know-they never have knOwn-what
/ it Is TO be loyal or truly American.
Hence they are in no sense qualified
to have the reins Of government III their
own hands, but must be held under
guardianship for an indefinite period,
until free institutions are firmly root
ed in their soil.
lon this point President johnson
takes issue with Congress. and with
the loyal people Of the country, upon
whose sanction and support Congress
may rely with absolute certainty. He
insists that those conquered but still
reasonably disposed states are in the /
Union as Of old, and, therefore. enti-
tled to De Immediately represented in
both houses Of Congress: and he
ventures to brand that body as not
only contumacious, but guilty of des-
potlc usurpation, in refusing their ad- .
mission without additional safeguards
as to their loyalty. Yet he has not an
nounced by proclamation, either that
the war IS ended, or that peace is re-
stored: but continues to hold those
states In subsection to his will as com .
mandeT-ln-chief OF the army and navy.
under the war power-suspendinc
even to this hour the writ Of habeas
corpus; and thus condemns himself
out OF his own mouth, and fully vindi-
Gates the action of Congress- Con-
greSS, which, in the score of intelli-
9ence, ability, moral worth. exalted
patriotism, reverence for Justice. and
love for impartial liberty, has never
oeen equaled since the formation of
the government. The usurpation is
on his own part in attempting to bully
congress into seryiIe acquiescence
TO his demands; for it is the consti-
'utlonaiprerogativc ofthat body alone
TO decide when and how states NAV
DC admitted into the Union; and it
VIII not surrender that prerogative
at the bidding of an accidental occu-
pant OF the presidential chair. even
though all the powers of hell rally to
his support.
For whatever ofyiolence. or tumult
or division, or disaster, may grow out
OF this hlgh-handed procedure, the
dread responsibility will rest exclu-
sEely on his own head, and he will be
held to strict accountability by an
indignant and betrayed nation. In
putting his veto to the bill enlarging
the means and usefulness of that bene.
n 1 Christian and truly patriotic ,
department, the freedmen's bureau he
has, indeed, exercised a right accord
Ell 10 INN by the constitution; but the
1hlinus which pervades that veto. the
which characterizes if. and |
tne UNJUST allegations contained in il t
VIII oe perceived and pondered bv the '
mass of humane. loyaI t
patrlotlc Christian men and women {
q tne land, who, in their turn, will put t