The Montana post. [volume] (Virginia City, Montana Territory [i.e. Mont.]) 1864-1869, 1867-12-14
THE MESSAGE.

We have before US the full text of an
elaborate campaign document prepared
by Jerry Black, Attorney Stanberry and
Mr.. Buckley, approved by Andrew
Johnson, President, and addressed to the
Congress of the United States Through
the obtuseness, perhaps, of the Associa-
Ted Press Agent, or some one else design
inc IN to the President, it has been pub
Eshed to the county as the annual mes
sage Of the President to Congress in ODE
dience to the following provision of the
constitution "The President shall,
from time to time give to the Congress
Information of the state of the Union and
recommend to their consideration such
measures as he shall Judge necessary and
eIpedient." In the document before us
there is a dearth of that information such
As usually characterizes and is provided
for by the above section. In its partizan-
ism il is voluminous in its information
concerning the great national and inter
national interests of the country, neces-
sary to guide Congress in it's legislation,
ueagreness is the chief characteristic.
10 such message ever before was ad-
dressed to that body by a President,
Two thirds of it is stale rehash of the
patitudes and insidious sophistries en-
bodied in the veto messages to the civil
nights, franchise and reconstruction bills
with scarcely the virtue of being clothed
in new expression, and violent denun-
ciation of all acts of Congress not in har-
mOny with the opinions of the self con-
stituted American Dictator, with recon-
mendations that they be Immediately
repealed If this is what Andrew John
son conceives to be the character of the
Message required by the Constitution,
he will find a very diverse opinion is en-
tsrtained by the people of the United
States. 1t is said,
"No rogue e'er felt the halter draw
With good opinion of the law"
In proof of this proverb the President
inyeighs bitterly against the Tenure of
Office bill which prevents him, an iras-
chile, passionate and obstinate Presi-
dent, from hurting out of office, except
upon evidence of mal-feassnce, incapac-
ity or disloyalty, men who had proven
their ability and loyalty in the dark
hours OF the war, and were the only
ones competent to speedily, successfully
and economically restore the govern
ment departments to the condition re-
quired by the return of peace, In the
he possession of as abitrary disposi-
ton as Jackson, with few of his redeem
ing qualities, this check upon his de-
signs against officers in whom the en-
tlfe country had full confidence, gals
and chafes him, and this is the key to
mat portion of the message.
The burden of the message is, how
ever, arguments against the reconstruc-
uOn policy Of Congress. Had not these
same arguments been presented repeat
Guy on the very same question, to al
AosI the same members and been as re-
Pea'edly answered by an almost unani-
nous vote against them, their presen-
'Allon as arguments might be less mex
cuSaole as a part of the measures
ceeIned necessary and expedient," but
'snonug the arrogance with which they
AIe presented, it is simply ridiculous to
repeat them when the measures are now
= Iuu force and working successfully
accordance with the design and in
'snt of those who framed them. In this
aspect the President has overreached
I.niSelf by prostituting the duties of
-'s Office Of Chief Magistrate to issuing
paign document under the trans
tsfent disguise of State message. This
some was its intent. Congress had plain
expressed its position on reconstruc
-O0 and he had no hope of inducing it
,'feeede from it. He asserts that he
-Ss no sympathy for the South by the
moving, but differs merely as to the
nude In which their crime shall be