Clarksville weekly chronicle. [volume] (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1865-1867, 1867-02-01

and, 40 the caIe and the parties stand, nj.
johnson will have 10 retusn to Tennessee.
The above lie the language Of a
late number Of the N. Y. Eerald, and
as Radical organ, its uttersnees are
worthy of serious consideration when
disclosing the intentions Of its party.
The great struggle for liberty, inau-
gurated by the South, has degenera-
ted into a contest between Congress
and the President, whilst the masses,
whose all, Of liberty and prosperity,
hangs upon the issue, look on with
vacant stare, needless of the terri
bic disaster that awaits them. Con-
gress must stand still, or the Presi-
dent must be set aside. Since it is a
fact as old as history, that revolutions
never go backwards, no one can be
much at loss to say how this contest
viii end.
Had the President, months ago,
planted himself upon the old demo-
cratic platform and called upon its
former supporters to rally around it,
the Radicals would have been defeated
in the late elections, and the govern
ment saved. But, having suffered
that glorious opportunity to pass by,
| unimproved, he stands, to-day, dis
armed and powerless, while Congress
laughs at his professions and over
rides his positions. He had it in his
power to win the title Of savior of his
country, but his indecision when the
issue hung upon prompt and fearless
action, rather than patriotic profess
sions, has lost him that title, and his
will be the unenviable fame of the
man who could if he would, but fail.
ed for the want Of right motives, or
sufficient nerve, or the right sort of
sense.
But whether the President returns
to Tennessee, or not, the fate of the
Republic is sealed. The government
will never be restored to its former
condion. Il has proven a failure,
and the question now is, will it re-
main central despotism, holding
sway over the entire people, or be
broken up into an indefinite number
Of smaller governments. Either re-
suit might have been avoided, had
the President viewed, what he terms
treason, in the North, as he did re-
bellion in the South. In the latter
case, the constitution was rolled up
and laid away because it extended its
protecting folds over the cause Of
the South, and babe the invaders to
lay down their arms. But when
treason reared its head in the North,
and proclaimed its intention to break
up the Union and ignore, or destroy
the constitution, the President un.
rolled that document for his own gui-
dance, and keeps watch over its tat
tered fragments whilst the traitors
are consummating their schemes
As well might he attack Gibraltei
with a squirt as fight Radical treason
with the ragged parchment that was
once regarded as the source and the
limit of Federal and State powers
Without regard to that instrument
the President, as military Governor
waged savage war against. . the PEG
pie Of his own section and State, anc
never was his voice heard in opposi
ton to those who claimed that The
constitution was made for time O
peace, and must be disregarded il
time of war. Now, however, the cas-
is altered. The loyal North is tn
party guilty of treason, and the Pres
ident acts as though it were better Il
, let that treason triumph than that h
should even seem to violate a singh
clause of an obsolete document.