The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1867-09-12
The Strength of the Dominant Party


is taking place at the North, which will
be plainly developed at the approaching
elections in the several Northern and
Western States and upon this belize the
hope of successful opposition to the pres
ent reconstruction programme is based
IN our humble judgment, no change,
promising better terms to the South, is
taking place; and we greatly fear that
the efforts Of the President to help us, hv
changing District Commanders and re,
constructing his Cabinet, however well in
tended they NAV be, will operate to our
prejudice, rather than to.our advantage.
We can see no prospect Of the power Of
the dominant party being broken for wears
to come, and therefore no hope that op
position to their plan Of reconstruction in
the Southern States can avai, us.
The Charleston News has some excel
lent remarks in this connection, which We
take pleasure in reproducing. However
we may be disposed (says that paper) to
conceal the fact from ourselves, or listen
10 the insdiops wiles Of partisan press,
we have no doubt Of the fact, tnat the
mass OF the people Of the North are on
the side Of the Republican party and
however they may differ from the extre'
mists Of their party, the ultra Radicals-
in case Of any vital issue the party would
Of course stand together. We cannot.
therefore, agree with those Of our friend.
who believe that de'iverarce is at hand
and that it is TO be effected by the ballot
box.
If not, what then Why. We must &C,
cept the terms nov offered us. and endea
vot, under this organic act, to become re.
instated as State in the Union. Unil
reinstated, we are utterly helpless. It
should be our constant aim and endaavnr
TO shorten this probationary period Of our
tuteIage. Our people should be on their
guard, and do nothing rashly. There is
disposition among many to rejoice at
the recent action Of the President, in re
moving Stanton, Sheridan and Sick les.-
We can see no canse for congratula,ion.
The President has never failed to declare
it as his purpose to execute the laws and
although Sheridan is removed. military
government. with all its concomi,a ants IN,
der the Reconstruction Acts, still remains.
1t may be that Hancock will prove more
acceptable to the people OF Louisiana
and Texas than Sheridan has done it
may be that Candy, our newly appoint.
ed Commander, will prove less objection
able TO the people OF the two Carclinas
than General Sickes. We say all this
may be. There can Of course be no Ger
tainty on this point. As we said before,
the Acts Of Congress, by virtue OF which
these military commanders exercise swav
over the ten Southern States, are sti, in
force. and are upheld by the President
bimself; and 10 the order. making these
new appointments, the President says
they Gems. Canby and Hancock will,
when necessary to faithful execution Of
the laws, exercise any and all powers con
ferred by the Acts Of Congress upon the
District Commanders, ard any and all au
tbority pertaining to officers in command
Of Military Departments"
So reads the commission Of these new
appointees and our thoughtful readers
will agree with US, we feel sure, when we
say that charge OF rulers is Of 'ii,le ef
feet, go long as we are governed by the
military code. These new rulers will do
one Of three things. They will either ab
rogats the orders Of their predecessors,
and issue new ones, or they will retain
the body Of miIisssy law, ssvsloped by
circumstances during the pact Six months,
or what is much faore likely, they willre.
tain some. and aunul othess- the only
wise course. sxsA,
While good may come oistbsse chan
ees, the result is at best dosbsfol. The
mere excitement, unrest, and anxiety ati
tsndant upon these changes, is prejudicial
10 its effec. on the peace, the business and
prosperity Of the country.
We have said nothing yet Of the ulti,
mate consequences OF these chan ges the
part we are again called to play 10 the
quarrel between the President and Con
g,es.. When Congress re-assenbles in
November, the very first thing they will
do, in our opinion, is to bring in articles
Of impeachment against the President
Wbssber justly or nhjustly, constitution /
sliy Aof aucoosdtationaIIy, will make no
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