St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1867-09-06
The National Crisis.

Mess we are greatly mistaken, the
country is about to be brought, through
The reckleSSne>s of Andrew Johnson and
the maIignity of his ins,igators, into a
situation of renewed trial. if not of per-
il. 1t is we'll to consider the prospect
calmly and soberly. We see the PreSi-
dent, at Il time when there appears to be
no special provocation, acting with mere
bitterness and also with more adroitncSs
than al any previous time. He SuSpcnds
The Secretary OF War and removes the
most active OF the District commanders,
and i'll each case cnltavorS to lull the
public indi ignation by the selection of
unobiectionablc successors. lie threatens
the two other District commanders who
nave shown themselves most efficient in
cXcruting the reconstruction acts he has
already condemned in advance the pure
minded commissioner of the Freedmen's ;
Bureau his organ is setting back fire
to drive Secretary Seward and others
ont OF the cabinet while a sweeping re-
moval of Republican officers in the Treas
urv and Post office service is predicted
by those who have had recent interviews
at the White House.
What is the meaning of all this The
President, at the longest, has only about
year and a halt TO stay in his office,
and the ordinary pressure for appoint
ments must Lave been growing less and
/ less ever since he became President
Personal vindictiveness-even that of
! Andrew Johnson-is sufficient to account
for the wide extent of these changes He
mas an underlying, controlling motive,
and it can only be ihat which early crop
ed out in the shameful 22d of February
speech, in the ebullitions OF the Western
tour and in the general course of the Ex-
ecutive since, and that is, hostility to
the reconstruction policy of the people
and OF their representatives. The time
has come when final effort to defeat
that policy must. be attempted. Ii we
are to trust the toreshadowings of the
Presidents intimates, the weapon he
holds in reserve, when suitable prepara-
tons shall have been made, is universal
amnesty to the white rebels of the South
that they may rush to the polls and by
strength, fraud or intimidation, over.
bear the Union men. and ultimately die
tate their own terms of reconstruction
Whether this can he legally done in tho
estimation of others, may not be a ques
ton that will trouble Andrew johnson
lie has shown that he is capable of at
tempting anything which more ingenious
men may suggest for carrying out his anC
their unScrupulous ends.
Then it is considered that some sucl
scheme as this is all that is left to defea
the steady progress of reconstruction
and that nothing less important will ex
: plain the presidents recent course and tn
brazcn confidence now being displaye
by many of the rebel leaders at tn
South, pardoned by him, its probabllit
becomes more strong than all patriot
men conld desire. Mixed up with ii
probably, Is the plan of stimulating til
energies of the democratic party, so a
to tell upon the fall elections, and thu
give the appearance of a popular rea(
ton in favor Of the President, when h
:. shall renew the war upon Congress at il
ir 1r next session. This is the prospect lrol
the side of the president and the dlsloy;
, forces of the whole country. The peop
can contemplate it calmly, but they mu
meet it vigorously. 1t is bound to fai
like all those from the same source tn;
nave gone before it, and to recoil upt
It's authors and annihilate their treason
Die cause--bu: this will only come throue
5, the vigilance and untiring fidelity of Il
ier people.-BoSton Journal