Delaware tribune. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1867-1877, 1867-09-05
NUMBER s6



The President must stand and fight. We
have been advancing and retreating long
enough. Too many white flags have been
exchanged. The President means war. War
be it, then, and God speed the right!
Nearly five months since, the regular ses-
sion of Congress was adjourned. The Win
ter had witnessed an angry contest with the
President. There were three parties: !. The
Democratic fragment, which gave the Presi-
dent undivided allegiance. 2. The moderate
Republicans, who, trusting in his honor, en-
deavored to make his duty so plain, and his
responsibilities so exact and limited, that he
could not escape them. They hoped that
the nation might be reconstructed without
violent appeals to the law. 3. The earnest
and extreme Republicans who felt that we
could not reconstruct the country without
the impeachment of the President. The
counscls of the moderate Republicans pre-
vailed. They carried the Reconstruction
bill. With the aid of one of these parties
they prevented Impeachment. This was ac-
complished by the assurance that the Presl-
dent, having protested against the action OF
Congress, would content himself to have the
law quietly carried into execution. He ap-
pointed Generals in command of the mill
tary districts who were most acceptable to
the country. In the case Of Gen. Sheridan,
at least, we know that some of these ap-
pOlntlllenlS were mduc hBulnSL Ills OWu
judgment, and in Difference to the wishes of
Congress.
The Senate and House adjourned. 1t
was felt that the virtual acquiescence Of the
President would make an extra session un-
necessary. Summer would see the States
reconstructed. Universal Suffrage would
be tested. The States would gradually drift
back into the Union. When Mr.. McPher-
son called the roll of the House in Decem-
ber, all the States would answer, and once
more full American Congress would sit in
an American Capital.
Then came the first crime This law of
Reconstruction, duly considered and well
approved, was assailed by Mr.. btanbefy.
We give Mr.. Stanbery the credit of bein
an able lawyer and upright man. But tn
President wanted an opinion that was nt
upright, and in an evil hour his Attorae.
General wrote it Ingenious and subtl
the country did not fail to see that 1t was h
fraud, and that the President, in inviting its
publication, was dishonest. 1t cut the heart
out of the Military bill. Reconstruction
was brought to dead lock. The opinion,
to use the figure of Gen. Sheridan, was q
broad, macadamized road to fraud and per-
jury, and the Southern States were thrown
into chaos. Congress was hurriedly assem-
bled. A bill was passed which even the
subtlety of Mr.. Stanbery could not misc m
strue The extreme Republicans conte' I'D
that even this would not do, and that |. I've
impeached. The counsels Of such men as
Mr. Fessenden and Mr.. Wilson, Ar. Colfax
and Mr.. Sherman, prevailed. 1t was l'''.s
that with law thus plainly writtcl. ..e
President would walk directly, and the
South would be restored. This assurance,
indeed, was given by men who claimed to
speak for the President. Congress believed
it, and again adjourned over until Winter.
Now comes the second crime. Stanbery
cannot explain the law. Blue is SO palpablyy
blue that there is no making even the Pres
ident believe it to be gray. The Presidci,t
has the best part of year before him. SiD, o
he cannot nullify the law, he persecutes
ministers. Stanton is stricken down. :
War Secretary, who has been retained ial
years for his disagrccable qualities, is ren..,-
we'd for his virtues. Because of the on
quality which the Republican party homo
| in Stanton, he is disgraced. Then comes
Sheridan This glorious soldier simply per-
forms soldiers duty. He executes the law
| in its true spirit. He does the work which
the country expects him to do, and is dis
missed. A few days pass, and Sickles is re-
moved for loyal devotion to Congress and
the country. A Tammany Democrat is pla-
ced in New Orleans, while soldier without
a record goes to Charleston. In few days
IOpc VIII Dc olucIcu DdCh W tut luOiiu
country, to assist Sheridan in guarding suit
lers posts and baggage trains. Grant has
served the Presidents turn in removing STAN
ton, and his Excellency, is impatient already,
calling the General of our armies, "a Rad
ical spy and traitor" He will no doubt
speedily asked to retire in favor of Steedman
or Black. That Christian gentleman and
soldier, Howard, who has shown in his high
place the philanthropy and piety. ofthe great
~ m ic w cl at nf
degradation. Holt will follow-and with
these men every soldier or civilian who will
not aid the President in his treason.
Where will this end? The President
means war. The country must stand and
fight, or be defeated. We believe anything
possible Of Mr.. johnson. His administr,l-
ton is a record of deception, cunning, dis
loyaliy-antag0nism 10 the best interests of
the country. He has made the administra
lion of Buchanan respectable by showing II
degradation to which even Mr.. Buchanan
could not sink. He has betrayed his party
he has betrayed his friends; he has bctray-
cd his country. Nothing is left of his adj
minisiration but few miser. BILE jobbcrs like
| those who hang around him, and few
wretchcd political adventures like Black.
| The men who accepted contumely for his
cause, like Seward, and Randall, and Welles,
he is impatient to drive out of his Cabinet.
The savage of Sahara is not insensiblc To
the obligations of friendship but even this
no longer remains with Mr.. Johnson.
We admonisl the people to prepare for Il
stern and high responsibility. 1t is n"arlya
hundred days until Congress lusvls. fill
then we are powerless. We can only bow
| to this dreadful tyranny. The President
| appealed to the country in his last message.
We join him in the appeal. Let our friends
organize everywhere Let us make the
canvass upon the inlamy of Mr. Johnsons
administration; and having defeated him at
the bnllui-boX, we can Prepare, through our
representatives, to consider the best course
to be taken to punish him for his crimes
against the sovereign will of the American
nrNnr