The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1867-06-28
DAILY PRESS.
PORTLAND.
Friday Morning, June 90, 1867.
What will Congress doc

The nation would gladly have had summer
holiday from publicleares after four summers of
war, succeeded by two of political strife. The
wish might in a measure have been gratifed
but for the rashness and folly of him whose es-
pecial duty it is to take that the Repub-
lie receives no harm. The work of restora-
ton was proceeding so rapidly and successful
ly that the good old times of national integrity
seemed destined to be succeeded by the vet
more blessed period of genuine national unity.
This was but month ago. The public atten-
tion had to some extent been diverted from
affairs of state to matters of local importance,
to private enterprises and to many interests
that had suffered from the influence of seven
years of civil cOmmotion. But now the faith
full sentinels that watch with sleepless care to
warn the people of sudden danger have given
the alarm, and, as in 81, there is rush for the
capital. IH .G. -s.
1t was very easy for the President and his
counselers to raise this storm, but they are as
pOwerless as children to control it. 1t may
pass over and leave us soon to the enjoy
ment of halcyon days, or it may prove hurr-
cane that will shake the Commonwealth to its
AouAaoeAoho, mahihS ~ shc WOIh vi years 10
pair the ruins it will leave in its course. We
incline to the former opinion from a view of
such facts as have at present transpired
President johnson, with all his egoiism and
williulness, has more than once shown that he
can yield. He has already seen his pet
schemes thwarted by power greater than his
own. Every one of the positions he has taken
since his revolt, he has been forced to abandon
His more recent appointments to office have
been of men who are in full sympathy with a
party which he hates, and he has usually
shown disposition to execute the laws that
have been passed over his veto. In the pres
ent case he justifes his action in not execut-
ing the reconstruction acts according to the
intent of their authors by somewhat pIausi-
BILE construction that makes them more near
ly consonant with his own views of public
policy. If Congress can pass law that will be
Stanbery-proof his past record justifies us in
believing that he will not refuse to put it in
force.
If the danger of a serious conflict of authori-
ty between Congress and the Executive can
thus be avoided, nothing is to be feared from
the injudiciOus measures which few Sena-
sSAS
crystalized into laws These extremists, when
combined, form but a minority, and each one
is too much in love with his own favorite plan
to give efficient support to those of his asso-
ciates. Like the two rabid legal reformers in
our Legislature of last winter. each has his own
panacea for the evils which afllict the body po-
litc, and any other remedy, is, to his mind,
product of political charlatanry
The two measures which seem most fraught
with danger to timid people who have fallen
into the disreputable habit of reading the New
York World, are impeachment and confisca-
ton. But unless the Presidents late trip to
Boston shall so far turn his head as to lead
him into some new aggressive policy, there can
be hardly doubt that he will continue in his
present office till the 4th of March, 1869. The
Committee to which Congress entrusted the
investigation of the charges against him re-
ported against his removal several weeks ago
The rumor that this Committee is taking ad-
ditional testimony, in order that a complete
statement Of the facts that have come to their
knowledge may be laid before Congress when
it reassembles on the Sd of next month has no
tendency to show that the conclusion previ-
ously arrived at will be reconsidered, and if q |
majority of the Judiciary Committee are ad-
verse to impeachment it is useless for Butler,
Ashley or Stevens to try to force such meas
ure through the House There is another con-
sideration, too, which has very important
bearing upon this question. The Senator from
Ohio who is now PRESIDENT ii the upper
House, and who will succeed to the presiden-
cy of the United States il the present incum-
bent is removed, is by no means so popular a
man in the United States as he was when
Congress adjourned. That little speech at
Lawrence, whether seriously intend ed or not,
bids fair to prove to him what the Woodland
letter did to Mcclellan. 1t has excited storm
of execration in which many of his former ad-
mirers are not backward in joining. five are
to believe current reports many of those whose
agency would be required in securing the re-
moval ot the President would be no more
pleased with an agrarian, as they choose TO
consider Wade, at the head of affairs, than
with a wrong-headed conservative, like John
son. We are not of those who think that
Wade has been correctly reported, but the eff.
feet of his remarks whatever they were, has
been to excite feeling of bitter hostility
against him. -i-E i-,'
Stevens failed most signally at the last ses-
sion to gain support for his confiscation
scheme. What has since occurred that will
enttle it to any more favorable con sideration?
The South is not party in the present EN-
broglio. 1t acquiesced with seeming cheerful
ness in the legislation concerning which its
friends are now SO officiously interfering, and
the New York Tribune but expresses the gem
eral sentiment of the people when it declares
that the conditions which the rebel States are
required to fulfill should not be rendered more
severe than they are at present Gen.
Schsnck, chairman of the Republican Con-
gressional Committee, in his circular request
ing tho attendance of members on the Sd of
July only proposes that declaratory act shall
be passed to explain the meaning and intent
of the reconstruction acts. In this he of
course expresses the sentiments Of his col
leagues who are the representative men of the
body to which they belong. This certainly
does mot look lik cOnfiacs fion