Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1867-08-23
A Warning for the President.

Let Mr. johnson beware. lie Is literal
let he cons very clos ly the letter Of the
Constitution we adyise him not to forget
that it has also a spirit. Mr.. johnson Is
following in Buchanan 5 footsteps it may be
well for him TO remember that the country
will not suffer itself a second time % be IN
iured and endangered by the refusal or neg
lect Of President to execute tie laws. IL
learned a Lesson from Buchanan which 1t has
not forgotten.
We are not OF those, it is well known. who
favor any extension of the powers Of the gen
eral government; We oppose Capitalization,
and shall always oppose it. We asset that
government Is the better the less il interiercs
in the concerns OF the people But We main
tain also that the great. and indeed the
single object Of government. is 10 see that
Iustic is done; to see that all men are
equally protected in life and property, and
in the pursuit Of happiness and 1t seems to
u that Mr.. johnson denies that this Is al
al an object Of government. lie knows that
Justice is not done to a very large class Of
people IN some Of the southern states, except
when the United States forces interfere. It
is q pity and disgrace that It Is so but
the fact is undeniable that in several Of the
southern states the local governments deny
and refuse Justice to the blacks
Docs Mr. johnson imagine that this Will
be endured ? or that the body Of the Ameri-
can people are going to suffer It on any plea
be can advance ? lie may talk what nom
sense be pleases about tyranny, about cen
tralization, about military despotisin every
man with an ounce Of brains in his head
knows that FOR the continu3tcc II the Tigor
Of military government in the southern
states, FOR all that the President doplores
and denOunces. he, Andrew johnson, Is
chiefly to blame If it had not been for his
mischIevous opposition the southcrns tates
would have adopted the constitutional
ameudment. and recOnstructiOn would have
been Completed last wInie! II it had not
been for bic atttudc and language they
would have, later, accepted the Rcconstruc-
ton act
Gen Grant has said that within ten days
after the passag ge Of the Reconstruction act
over the veto. last spring, the whole southern
states became quiet; crime and Outrage,
such as were before reported, absolutely
ceased. Bu it Is vell-known that they
CEASE. only for time. As soon a It be-
came Known that Mr.. johnson intended to
- make trouble that is the significant
phrase which we see used-the AwleSs ele-
ment plucked up courage and began to work
again. IL seems to US hat Mr.. johnson il
taking Buchanan, instead Of jackson, for bis
model. Who surround him, counsel with
him, have his ear? Is 1t Longstrcet, who
comes TO Washington to intrigue for SheTi-
dams removal? Is Orr there? or Forrest
Are the men who fought 10 the rebel armies,
4 l.. -
struggle, there around him? or are the
Union men Of the southern states his cOnfd-
ants? Neither are but We see there the
demagogues OF the South; the old politicians
who T.unged tho cOunTy into war and then
prudcntly kept out Of the fight the men
who hated the Union and hate it still who
hated republican government and hate 1t
still who hated the name Of Liberty, and
now curse her as the author ol their over
thruy. The same class which in the last
day. # his administration bcset Buchanan
hay, again found their way to the " bite
HUr @.
Of the utmost importance TO every in-
due al and commercial interest, that the
WORK OF reconstruction should be completed
AT once. as quickly as possible. Who delays
it? The President the ofieer whose sworn
duty 1t Is to faithfully execute the laws.
Mr.. johnson is very full of sympathy for
=. the South" by which be means only the
whites there he is very fond of talking OF
the dear, oppressed. abused southern people
and by that he means only part Of the
white half of them. Ii ought not to be ne
cessary to tell him that it is not the South
but the country at large-the North, the
East, the West, as well-whIch is injured
and endangered by the condition Of affair
which bis obstinacy and failure Of duty per
petuates, and for the continuance of whici
now, he and be alone, Is justly responsible
The South is well enough; every planter
every man who is not politician, but VIII,
has material interests at stake, will tell hin
that the South Is more peaceful, safer to in
dustrious men, now than it has been 70
years that the lawless class are better KEEP
under, that crime Is more vigorously punish
ed, that life and property are safer, thai
they have ever been before.
lie has no need to wall and groan over th
unhappy South. But his misconduct endan
gers the whole country; his influence an
ccuntenanee are given to the class who woul
like nothing so well as 10 ruin the country
he perpetustes bitterness and prevents ius
and honorable settlement be uphOlds th
vile demagogues who abuse Longstreet, an
the thousand of other brave men who hay
ing fought IN the war are now anxious tc
peace. lie keeps the country in turmoil
he discourages and disheartens the honei
and patriotic men in the southern STATE
who seek TO lead public opinion Alright. Il
purposely, and with an insane obstInae.
stands between the country and peace; an
|. if he persists in his efforts to defeat the Law
! Congress, as soon as it meets, will have
!. impeach and remove him. Bv bis own faul
i that will be theonly remedy.-N.I. Eoe
l. ming Post.
FALLING OF BRIDGE The bridge over
3 stream near Lacadis, on the Montreal al
: Champlain Railroad. about half way bctwe'
St. Johns and St. Lambert, fell Wednesd
evening. No one was hurt