Weekly Calaveras chronicle., 1867-03-30
Congress.

the Fortleth on the 4th of this month, they
simply intended to secure its organization,
they certainly succeeded in their designs.
The present session has been convened and
the House of Representatives has been or
ganized and put in running order without
any question or even a chance for question
arising, Of the right of members from the
lately revolted States to claim seats and par
ticipate in the organization of that body,
while the Senate, which is always an organ
lied assembly, contains such an overwhelm-
ing Union majority that it is perfectly capa-
BILE of controlling the seats in its chamber. By
no meanly politica. coup detat can the Presi-
dent and his partizans now hope to secure
seats in Congress for members from tie rebel
States without the fullest compliance, on the
part Of those States, with the laws passed for
their reconstruction, and the day when the
application of forcible means for that purpose
weIe thought to be possible by any one, has
passed forever. This much has been gained
for freedom and the right, and should not be
overlooked in estimating the public services
of the late Congress. But if the Thirty
Ninth intended that the Fortieth Congress
should convene in March and Immediately
proceed to do what the shortness of the term
of their late session precluded them from do
lng-that is-remove the obstruction in the
way of speedy and thorough reconstruction,
h,-+ ~ / =. Il.
peachment, then the Fortieth Congress seems
likely to contravene that intention. Why
such delay should be necessary in carrying
to its completeness SO imperative and vital
measure as the removal of our treacherous
Executive, by which means alone the De-
partment of the General Government can be
brought into political accord. we are unable
to perceive. No sensible man, whose mind
is not clouded by partlzan prejudices, can
fail to sre the importance to our form of
Government of keeping the Executive power
within its due bounds, and that the encroach-
ments of johnson on the Legislative Depart
ment, if not sufficiently rebuked, will estab-
AiSAA q pAGSCuSIlI hIilCil DG lOllOWGu up
by him or some like unscrupulous accidental
successor, until we have reached despotism
under the forms of democratic government
As general principle, when public officer
grossly violates and abuses the duties and
powers of his office, he should be removed at
once, to prevent a continuance of his mis-
deeds, and also as warning to others in
official position to keep within the bounds of
| rectitude, and the circle of their legitimate
duties. By such means only can d sound
and efficient administration of the Govern
ment be maintained, and healthy public
sentiment cherished. But waving general
rules and the application of principles to the
past conduct of Johnson, his present attitude
and his future course as foreshadowed by his
character and associations point him out as
an object for fear which should be put be-
yond the power of doing mischief. The law
prohibits all persons who cannot take the
test oath Of past loyalty to the Union from
holding any Office under the Government.
The Amendments to the Constitution prohib-
it all the prominent participants in the rebel
lion from holding any Federal or State office
until the prohibition is removed by two
thirds vote of each House of Congress, and
the Acts of reconstruction now in force for
bid any person in the South from participant
ing in reconstruction or holding office who
are disqualified under the Amendments. Yet
notwithstanding all these prohibitions of the
laws, the President and his Ministers have
not only already appointed scores and hun
dreds of persons, who cannot take the test
oath, to Federal offices, but at the present
time, and after all the remons,rlnces and con-
demnations of Congress of such violation of
law, the two most prominent applicants for
the most lucrative Office in the United States
the Marshalship of Louisiana-are the ex-
| rebel Generals Kirby Smith and Frank Her
ron. The relations between the President
and his rebel coadjutors are too intimate for
such persons as Smith and Heron to be Pc
titioners for Johnson's favor if they had not
chance to he recipients, and as he could
not appoint either of them without again vi
olating the laws. the fact that they are such
petitioners plainly shows what Johnson's
standing is with the rebels, and what he is
expected by them to do in violation of law,
and in defiance of the Representatives of the
nation. Why should Congress delay in
oustinS such man, when they themselves
admit, in their resolutions on adjournment
that he cannot be trusted. A vote of want
of confidence from the House of Commons
is, in England, a sufficient cause at any time
to change the Administration of the British
Government. Our Legislature has voted,
time and again, in passing bills over the Ex-
ecutive veto, their want of confidence in
johnson. Every measure of theirs since last
December has been an expression of. their
want of confidence in the Executive head of
the nation. If they are afraid to trust him
till December, why they trust him at all is
question they will have to answer to the
people.
LIEUTENANT -GovERNoR.-Of the various
candidates who have been mentioned in con-
nection with the Lieutenant -Governorship,
we are of the opinion that Adjutant General
Evans, of Tuolumne, will be successful. He
is in every particular eminently fitted for
the position, and as a presiding officer has
no superior in the State. His administrative
ability being universally Acknowledged We
would have no apprehension in regard to his