The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1867-02-20
President JOllns0n,s Position.

Will Vll OOuuSUu cduCCiOu3 thS AOAAOW-
ing report of the views expressed to him a.
an interview held that day:
The President said that the light in
which he regarded public affairs at the
present moment was that a minority in the
country was seeking to impose its views
upon the majority That minority knew
the scale aoould be turned against them It
the full number ofthe States aecre resprc-
sented IN Congress, and hence they acre
mfeinJle IN their determination to keep
them out If once the people could be
brought to understand that the fundamen-
tai principles of the government were at
stakes, and not mere questions of party
supremacy, there would be hope that jus
tice would be done. In the elections last
autumn false issues were dexterously in
troduced, and upon them the people pro-
nounced judgment. They were told that
if the Southern States were readmitted
the national interest would be imperilled,
and they did not stop to consider whether
this was true or not. They forgot the
weakness to which the South had been re-
duced, and never considered that it would
still be unavoidable that it should obey
the North, the stronger power-the pow
er with available force at its back.
But, continued the President, it is i'm
possible that the question should rest here.
Little by little the Southern States had
been brought back into proper action
with the general machinery Of government.
The government and the States had gra-
dually approached each other, law and con-
stituted authority resumed their sway, and
everything was completed except the ad
mission of representatives from those
States to Congress. But here Congress in
terposed. and it said '.You are not States
at all, and you shall not be represented"
From that moment 1t begun to pull topieccs
the main fabric Of the government; it be-
gan to wipe out the States, from which
alone it derived its existence. The States
had brought Congress in to existence, and
now Congress proposed to destroy the
States. 1t proposed to abolish the origi-
nal and elementary principle of its being
It was as if the creature turned round up
on the creator and attempted to destroy
him. But suppose these States, aeih their
ufuzly appointed Governors and admin
istrato,'s, refused to obey this summons to
depart out Of life altogether? Suppose
they said eve are within the scope Of the
Constitution we are obeying the laws /;
the government recognizes us by the in
Fiction of taxes and the appointment of
\ public officers; and no Congress can de-
cree our dissolution" Could the govern
ment deny, repuaiate this argument? If it
came before the courts and they substan-
tiated it, what would remain to Congress
but the exercise of force in order to carry
out its views? Thus the country uould be
involved IN another revolution towards
that all the proceedings of Congress in re-
lation to. the South were tending. The
executive government were, at least, en-
deavoring to fulfil what was the supremelaw
of the land-the constitution There was
time when men considered the constitu-
ton first when they framed laws Now
they occasionally mentioned it in an acct
dental manner. Some one on looking
around discovered the constitution, with
much the same sense Of astonishment, ap-
parently, that a man who was watching
stars hight experience when he discovered
new planet. But the constitution was
on the side Of the Executive law was on
its side, and reason and justice. The peo-
pie would eventually perceive that it was
interposing to preserve the very basis of
this republican government, although
their attention might be diverted from it
now.
"There is" added the President, s'no
answer to this argument-no attempt is
made to answer it, except by the use. of
arbitrary power. You feel sometimes as if
you were following up principle straight
to its source, and had got tight grip up
on it; and it is exactly SO in this case"
The Constitution, the President further
said, had been solemnly received when the
people went into the federation No Sec
ton Of the people, Or their representatives,
could ignore OF overthrow it, except arbit-
rarity. By and by, when the people here
the crash Of the fabric which they had for
merly priced SO highly, when the sound of
the falling timbers reached their ears, and
they saw the dust and confusion, they
would stop and look up to ascertain who it
was that had been doing the work of de-
struction. Thatportion Of thepeople which
was now unheard would eventually demand
by what right Congress representing
part only of the States had assumed this re-
sponsibility. Formerly, when measure
was introduced, the first question asked
was, els it constitutional p and the next,
as it expedient 7"
/ Now, Congress only asked, lis it expo
dent ?" but, in the judgment Of the Exc
cutive what was unconstitutional could
not be expedieht. TIE constitution did,
indeed, provide for its own enlargement or
amendment, and it was competent for the
people to change it accordingto hemethod
prescribed. But now the majority of the
people we're voiceless on the question
they had opportunity to make themselves
heard. One duty Of the Executive was
undoubtedly to protect the rights Of the
minority, and hence Congrass was aiming
to pull down the Executive, and was even
threatening the Supreme Court. It was
opposed to the best interests Of the people
that this attempt should succeed, and the
Executive still had confidence that the
people would discern the truth for them
selves.
Gen. J. d. ImbOden for 1t. Governor.
FEBRUARY, 10Th 1867.
| Editor "KaHey Tayinian p have
been indeed greatly surprised to find that