Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1867-08-30
The National Crisis.


Unless we are greatly mistaken,
the country is about to be brought,
through the recklessness of Andrew
Johnson and the malignity Of his in
stigators, into a situation of renewed
trial, if not of peril. 1t is we'll to
consider the prospect calmly and sob
erly. We see the President, at time
when there appears to be no special
provocation, acting with more bitter
ness and also with more adroitness
than at any previous time. He sus-
ponds the Secretary of War and re-
moves the most active of the District
Commanders, and in each case en-
deavors to lull the public indignation
by the selection of unobjectionable sue
cessors. He threatens the two other
District Commanders who have shown
themselves most efficient in executing
the reconstruction acts; he has al
ready condemned in advance the
pure-minded Commissioner of tn e
Freedmen's Bureau: his organ is set
ting a back fire to drive Secretary
Seward and others out of the Cabinet
while sweeping removal of Republi.
can officers in the treasury and post
Office services is predicted bv those
who have had recent interviews at the
White House.
What is the meaning of all this
The presidential the longest. has only
about a year and half to stay in his
Office, and the ordinary pressure fol
appointments must have been growing
less and less ever since he became
President. Personal vindictivenes>
even that of Andrew Johnson;
sufficient to account for the wide eX
tent of these changes. He has al
underlying controlling motive, and i
can only be that which early cropped
out in the shameful 22d of February
speech, in the ebullitions Of the West
ern tour and in the general course o
the Executive since, and that is, hos
tility to the reconstruction policy 0
the people and of their representa-
tives. The time has come when I
final effort to defeat that policy mus
be attempted. If we are to trust tn
foreshadowings of the Presidents in
Inmates, the weapon he holds in re
serve, when suitable preparation
shall have been made. is universe
amnesty to the white rebels of tn
South, that they may rush to the poll
and by strength, fraud or intimidf
ton, overbear the Union men, and u
: timately dictate their own terms o
reconstruction. Whether this can b
legally done in the estimation of otI
ers, may not be question that wi
trouble Andrew johnson. He ha
shown that he is capable of attemp
, ing anything which more ingenior
: men may suggest for carrying his an
! their INSCRIPTIONS ends.
When it is considered that son
> such scheme as this is all that is lie
l to defeat the steady progress of +
+ construction, and that nothing lie:
n important will explain the Pre-,
\ dents recent course and the brazC
+ confidence now being displayed |
, many of the rebel leaders at Il
South, pardoned by him, its probab
I ity becomes more strong than all p
e triotic men could desire. Mixed l
it with it, probably, is the plan of still
- ulating the energies of the Democru
, ic party. so as to tell upon the fa
u elections, and thus give the appea
l. ance of a popular reaction in favor
4 the president, when he shall! rene
his war upon Congress at its ne
u. session. This is the prospect lrC
: the side of the President and the d
loyal forces of the whole countl
g The people can contemplate it calm
W but they must meet it vigorously.
to is bound to fail like all those from t
ID same source that have gone before
. and to recoil upon its authors a
annihiIate their reasonable cause
ID but this will only come through
re vigilance and untiring fidelity Of
as people-BostOn Journal.
or