New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1867-07-11
CONGRESS And ITS WORK.


Let Congress do its work we'll We want no
botching no supplementary bills, no explana-
tons recurring explanation. The one point to
he kent well in mind is this: that any contest
is between the President and Congress, and not
between Congress and the South All this
troublc was made. not by the South, but by the
President We only desire to bring the South
bocI, 70 the Union upon the basis of Uni
versal Amnesty ard Impartial Suffrage.
That must be well and quickly done.
The war left us Reconstruction. The abOli-
ton of Slavery made it necessary that 1t should
be radical. We had to return to the old plan
when the majority of the members of Congress
were the slave drivers Of the South, and the
Slavery spaniels of theiNorth, with the inevita-
bic payment of the Rebel debt, slavc-laws, and
the negroes as freedmen, and not freemen, or
else make a new South. This was the practi-
cal problem Andrew johnson could have
solved it in an hour if, instead of bowling
about hanging people for treason, he had
made one brief proclamation covering this. lie
put stumbling blocks in the way, fired the heart
of the North, injured the South, kept the coun-
try in turmoil, and had his great Office clipped
and shOn of two-thirds of its power. Under
the present bill the Southern States might have
finished registration, held their conventions
adopted suitable constitutions, and taken seats
in the next Congress. A great amount of money
would have been saved. Sheridan's work, for
instance, was done, and in other Departments 1t
yas nearly finished. Now it must be done over
again, with additional expenditures.
Let this bill he well nmturcd. Two weeks
more are trivial compared with the great in
terests at stake and the peIils Of inefficient re-
construction. The Southfmust be pacified, aud
our Mexican affairs must be inquired INTO
| Congress cannot adjourn without a rgid IN
| auiry into our diplomatic relations with Mex
| leo II is said that during the war we were
| playing falsely. that we showed no real nett
| trality, that we made our Republic base ot
| operations for France, and denied the Liberals
any power. that while the people were warmly
| and passionately in favor of the Mexican Re
| public onr government was at heart in sympathy
with the French 1t is said that Mr.. Campbell
was not ordered to Mexico until after the sur
render at Queretaro. that his appointment was
not in good faith and that lac was directed to
! remain in New Orleans because we did not
wish 70 offend the Emperor of the French by
sending a Minister TO Juarcz IL certainly
| seems Suspicious tIhil ""ihe Wv $3.50 " -
strife, after the return of Mr.. 'Corwin, no NM
i.tcr was accredited TO Juarcz. 1t is even more
than suspicious when we reflect that Our diplo-
macy in many cases seems To have been die
tatod by England and France-tO have been
frequently ia direct antagOnism to the wlShcs
of Congress and the country. SO far a. Mex
! leo is concerned, our diplomacy has been either
imbecility or knayery. Our national honor has
been wounded. Congress should hold the
guilty to a strict reckoning, and let the truth
be known
1t might beywell TO do something with the
finances. but we dcprecatc anything hasty on
that subject The harvcsts are now our best
fnancicrs. Sunshine and good weather, and oc-
easonal ripeping. grateful showers, will do
more in tho next two months than two years
of debate. So, unless some necessity arises, we
think Congress had better do its work well
and quickly, and adjourn. Let Us have as little
talk a. possible, only earnest counsel prudence
magnanimity, and prOmptncss Let coniisca-
ton. and impeachment. and President making
rest SO far az the South is concerned We do
not want surgery, or probing the knife, or
blood letting, only generous, grateful medi-
cincs, that will make it comely and strong
comcy with freedom and justice, and strong in
contented and independent labor, bounteous
harvests, the cattle feeding upon a thousand
hills, school houses and spcling-books, mills
upon her water-cOurses and science tearing out
of her bosom rich and endless treasures.