The St. Cloud journal. [volume] (St. Cloud, Minn.) 1866-1876, 1867-10-10
THE SOLDIERS WITH COyGRrss
"Occasional'' writing from Washing
ton to the PHILADELPHIA Press. saya:

"AAsnS AOM W dSAluS-
ton to the Philadelphia Press, says:
General Grant openly expresses bis
opinion that the reconstruction meas
ures Of Congress are just and necessary,
and will prevail over all opposition. On
this subject he has not now, and never
had. the SLIGHTEST reserve. The same
the South. To argue that sucn 1uuz-
ment is better than that of J. S. Black,
Hester Clymer, Fernando Wood, C. L.
Vallandigham would be simply to in
suit the people; and yet it is precisely
these latter who are asking you to take
their word and to reject the testimony
Of Grant, Sheridan, Sickles, Pope,
Thomas and Scho6eld. These soldiers
have tried all the remedies. They
were originally inclined to treat the
Southern people on the conservative
system. They examined the patient
for themselves, aud they have come to
the conclusion that as the disease was
disease Of radical virulence it could be
cured only by radical means. Most of
them reached this judgment after they
had been betrayed into believing that
the measures Of Congress were harsh
and unjust, aud several of them only
yielded to it when they were forced to
realize that bad faith and cruel ingrat-
itude were the chronic characteristics
Of the Southern politicians. President
johnson, almost alone among the men
who voted for Lincoln in 1864, and
without the aid of a single Union SOL
der Of high repute, rejects these emi-
neut authorities, and, backed by the
Copperhead leaders Of the North, in
sists that the measures of Congress are
unconstitutional and null, and openly
prepares for their overthrow, for the
purpose of forcing the rebel States back
into the national councils with all and
more thar Ill their former power. Tie
duty Of the people At the coming cleo
tious is to decide which is right-Con-
gress, backed by the verdict of the gen.
erals who LED our armies to victory, or
johnson, backed by the Copperheads,
Who acted ~ the rear guard OF the reb-
81 forces all through the war.
In subsequent letter he says:
Republicans like Mr.. Bingham, of
Ohio, who were willing to give Andrew
johnson = new hearing, and for so do
ing had nearly lost the good opinion Of
their political associates, have vainly
attempted to arrest his career, and all
Of them, without exception, in both
houses, frankly confess that the only
way to meet the overwhelming public
danger is by Withdrawing all faith from
johnson, and by resorting to the stern
est remedies. There are therefore no
more conservative Republicans. The
Radical policy is now everywhere &C.
ceptcd as the only policy. As I have
before said, there is not tried soldier
Of the Republic who has not come to
this conclusion. The whole army Is
fired With the sacred principles that led
It to victory against the rebels. SOL
diers have become politicians from the
necessities Of the case; aud whether
they wear the Union uniform in active
service. or are attached to the mighty
in civil life-includine
the men who composed the rank and
fle that followed Sherman, Grant, and
Sher;dan-they are animated by the
same sense Of public duty aud public
danger. Can such men refuse to see
the peril Of the nation when the hand
Of the Executive is laid up.n their
idols? Would it not be monstrous if
they were dumb when the great chiefs
who led them to immortal victory are
everywhere calling upon the people to
rise in their might against the bet,ayer
in the Presidential chair? The peo-
ple at large must meet this issue upon its
merits, and not alone because these
brave witnesses are calling upon them
to stand fast to the right. It is ma
ked question OF solf- preservation. The
election Of the Copperheads is not the
triumph Of . political opposition, but
tho triumph Of the enemy Of the best
interests OF the country, 4