Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1867-07-27
THE PRESIDENTS VETO.
From the New York Tribune.l


THE PRESIDENTS VETO.
From the Now York Tribune
In any trial of strength between Andrew |
johnson and the people, Andrew johnson
will be ovcrthrown. Of that he may be sure.
Yet II there is any man utterly blind to the
events of the day and alieneted from the
spirit and purposes Of his country, that man
is the President of the United States. He is
as far removed from sympathy with this
nation as is the Khan of Tartary, and further
than the Emperor of Japan. In his own
land he is as foreigner. He holds the
highest Office Of the Union in the interest of
Rebellion, and the whole aim of his policy
seems to be to substitute the defeat of the
Union for the victory to which it is entitled.
There is no man who talks more of the Union
than he, and none who now does more to
prevent its peaceful reconstruction. 1t is
his misfortune that he has forgotten the
Rebellion. Treason, to him, is neither q
crime nor mistake traitors and Rebels for
felt no rights; the secession of ten States
gives to the Government no control over
their reorganization; Congress, representing
the loyal people of twenty six States Is pow
erless to prevent the rule of minority of
Rebels Yet, few years ago Andrew John
son led the band of extreme men who de-
death, who proposed the gallows as the
solution of all National difficulties; and there
have been no acts as arbitrary as his when
| singly, and without consultation with Con-
| gress, he took the whole business of recon-
struction on himself. BY what miracle these
extremes have been reconciled it is useless
to ask it is enough that Andrew johnson,
in The Presidency of the Untitled States, is
now the worst foe of the people who placed
him there. At peace with tho whole world,
we are at war with him. t.t... s.1
We, who put down the Rebellion, have
the right to dictate terms to conquered
rebels. Who denies the right Not the
rebels. When they laid down their arms to
Grant, and Sherman, and Sheridsn, they
laid down everything. Technically, their
property, their lives, were forfeited by the
laws they had offended; but Humanity and
Christianity plead for them, and the noble
argument that mercy was but justice con-
vinced their conquerors. They had surren-
dered everything, and what did the nation
take Their lives and liberties it gave, their
property it restored, and all that it demand
ed was submission to the terms which, for
selfprotection, it had imposed. Who de-
MED the right to enforce these conditions 2
Andrew johnson. He inspired with pas
sion of new resistance a Rebellion that was
PROSTATE at our feet The fruit of his policy
was riot, and murder, and massacre; fresh
hatred between the South and North the
long and costly delay of Reconstruction.
The nation had resolved that certain things
should be done, and they have been done,
but at what costs Every step that we have
taken has been over Presidential veto
loyalty wherever it has advanced has found
Andrew johnson barring the way; we have
fought every battle of the war over again
with him for the enemy, till very weariness
of the struggle has given US new strength.
He has professed his willingness to yield to
the DEGREES of the people, and again and
again the people have decreed; and repeat.
edly he has refused to obey. Nothing can
teach him, and Congress, reassenbled to
prevent the notification of its laws, is again
met by the petty quibbling, the gigantic
obstinacy of this fai:hless servant His
message goes further than we thought even
he would dare to 60 He has hitherto op
posed the laws; now he would defy them
If the President should undertake 20 carry
, out his argument he will begin new re-
bellion-but, like the old Rebellion, it will
be crushed. ..I .....I
To the extraordinary argument which Mr.
johnson opposes to the Supplementary Re
construction act, the Senate replied with
contemptuous silence and the immediate
i passage of the bill over his veto. 1t is almost
> unnecessary to answer his evident sophistry
though Mr.. Butler ably exposed in the Hous.
t the pretense that the legislation of Congress
, in reference to Federal Courts in the South
and Constitutional Amendments, admitted
the power to place the Rebel States under
9 military rule. 1t is not with the President
, argument, but with the spirit of the mes
I sage, that the country will take issue. w,
! pass by his fimsy logic, but we must lister
1 to his threats To US the emphatic portions
t of the message are that which insults th,
q people by declaring that Congress has PLACED
: twelve millions of American citizens unde
i rule than which there has been none NOR,
r intolerant, and more especially that which
t refuses to execute the act His objection
= to the bill are worth nothing, now that i
; has become the law. He is bound to dis
i charge the high duties of his executive Office
i to the letter and in the spirit, and we neet
= not predict what would be the result, shoult
|, this servant of the people persist in affirm
: ing 81 will not" when the Nation has again
e and we believe for the last time, commando,
:. "You shall"