The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-02-12
Martial Law for the South.

From the World.
Saturdays debate in the House on the bill for
putting the South under martial law foretokens
that it will receive majority sufficient to carry
it over the veto. The day it was introduced
Mr. Stevens, who had charge OF it, exhibited
much of the dictatorial arrogance with which
he bore sway at the last session. 1t looked as
if the bill was to be driven through without
debate by the sheer force of overbearing party
discipline. On Thursday Stevens wavered,
doubling if he had backing enough to strangle
debate. On Friday his power was tested. The
previous question was voted down by large
majority. The radical ranks being thus broken,
ana the widest scope opened for debate the
general cast of the discussion on Saturday gave
glimpses of such Generalization OF Stevens
phalanx, as indicates hat the martial law bill
will fail, and that an attempt will soon be
made towards genuine reconstruction.
The decline and tall OF Thad. Stevens ascen-
dancy can be as easily explained as its sudden
rise. The sharp crack of his whip, which ex-
torted ready submission before the Congress
sona elections, has lost its terror since. At the
last session, all the members of the House and
one-third OF the members OF the Senate were
anxious about the expiration OF their terms.
The Republican part of them knew that ii they
were reelected, 1t could only be in pursuance
of regular nomination, and that the agRres-
siVe intolerance Of the radicals, who. were
majority of the party in almost every district,
would defeat every candidate whose course
during the last session they disapproved. II
Stevens cry of mad-dog were raised against
them, they were doomed, and they had no
liberty OF action. Now that the elections are
past, many moderate Republicans are disposed
to exercise more independence. They will pre-
fer to see the reconstruction question settled
at an early day, in order that the public mind
may be engrossed with other questions before
their claims are again submitted to the people.
The passions excited by the war will gradually
abate under the soothing influence of time.
Many torecasung politicians who hoated INTO
power on the hoodtide OF those passions, will
take care not to be left high and dry by the ebb
Another cause, which is just coming into
| activity, will have constantly growing IN
| huence. We refer to the Presidential aVaia-
biity of General Grant. 1t was inevitable that
| he should be thought OF in that connection after
his great military successes, and the rare pru'
dence and retcence with which he has borne
| himself since the war favor his chances. he
has been especially chary of making party COM
| initials, or OF binding himself by antecedents
which would interfere with the most perfect
freedom OF action in any future exgeneieS OF
the country. 1t is easy to see that he Is too
valuable trump to be played out at random
In an early stage of the game. Now 1T Is evil
dent to all his friends, whether Republicans OF
| Democrats, that the great strength of his posi-
ton as a Presidential candidate would be
fatally hazarded by the use proposed to be
MADE OF him in the martial law bill pending
before the House.
The independence and moderation OF his char
aeter would prevent his admin nistering it with
such unscrnpulous vlgor as to please the ex-
uemlsts, and no man having anything to do
With II would be likely to please the other party.
Inc whole drift and spirit of the measure is
pohucal, not military; it demands no soldier
snip, Dut only talents for political and civil ad-
mlhslratlon. The duties will be so vague and
olscrenonary, being guided by no law or settled
principles OF Jurisprudence, and moreover so
ueicate, so htted to kindle complaints, so liable
W erluclsm, and so little capable OF defense
aealnst criticism, since they could rest on no
eo nAeo law Tor their just6cation, that the ad-
fHlnisrauon OF the system, and responsibility
UNs tVL us success, would inevitably ruin General
1[ahts ts pohucal chances. In the speech
SSaue Snt IN inc House by General Banks on
7 Saturaay, he seemed to have a clear enough
perception of this conseonence of the
: ohli but the restraints imnosed nv his
position caused him to express bimsaiP with
l some reserve. He said lille had no fear OF
Ueheral Grant; on the contrary he was sorry Il
say that ne believed General Grant was the only
man 10 Whom the country could .urn i'm its
1 present disturbed condition. It was not i'm
3 posslple That the friends of Generai CRAM
= might, through this bill place him in a nositior
which would lead either to h,s sa "a q 20 20
course OF conduct which no friend OF 6Is yvonlf
e like to suggest for his adontion IF Sanera
5 Grant acted with the President in fbe avecutioI
Il OF the law, Congress would not have much n
i hope Tor unless the President CHANGED hi
9 course; ana II he acted against the President
4 ne would nave against him the hiober oficeri
s OF the Government and the lower Officers nj I'M
7 commana' and between them he would b.
4 The cord touched in this PASSAGE ~ Genera
BankS speech gives a keynote with WhicI