Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1867-08-01
UsURpATIoN AvowED.

We're the opponents of the recon-
struction law actuated by a lofty, unset
fish regard for constitutional principle,
they would be earnest in their repudia-
ton of the Provisional Governments,
which Congress thrusts aside. By Gu
rious fergetfulness, they make no men
ton Of the Executive usurpation OF 1860
while vehemently assailing the alleged
Congressional, usurpation of 1867. AS
between the two ''usurpations, however,
that of Congress, which they condemn,
is infinitely preferable to that of Presi-
dent Johnson, which they approve. The
President, in his day, pulled down and
set up without a pretense OF right other
than that of the conqueror, and without
consulting the people as to the time or
mode of the change. Surely that was
usurpation of the rankest sort. Con-
gress, on the contrary, in the name OF
the country, pulls down the work of one
man, and appeals to the people concerned
to frame O government for themselves.
True, there is not very great freedom
of choice; the conditions are specific
and the work well defined; but at least
there is a show of an appeal to the will
of the people, together with certain re-
spect for their officials and their institu.
tons
The above is the language of the au'
tocrat and tyrant, without "a pretense of
right other than that of the conqueror. "
1t is taken from the New York Times,
and is a pretty fair specimen of the tone
of the not very extreme Radical press.
1t is in keeping with the evil times on
which we have fallen. One usurpation
is justified by another, and crime OF
yesterday is the apology for that of to-
day. Did not the writer applaud the
President in establishing the provisional
governments And does he not know
full we'll that though his action in that
matter may have been stretch of the
executive prerogative and maladminis-
tration, it yet was not, like the action OF
Congress, trenching by one coordinate
department of the Government upon the
rights and powers Of another, as defined
and limited in the Constitution In no
such sense was the action Of the Presi-
dent in the establishment Of the proyl-
sional governments q usurpatlon. He
may have transcribed the powers really
eopfided to him. But on what principle
is this to excuse usurpatiOn of power
by the Congress not given in the ConSti-
tuition; and this to. the extent Of de-
stroying the executive department alto
gcther. Thus, Congress of two-thisds
of the States has usurped supremacy
which a constitutionally organized body
could not lawfully do; and, in fact, if in
existence, would reject with adherence.
To the last sentence of the above ex.
tract we call especial attention-as re-
markably and decidedly cool. Net a
very great freedom of choicel' Move
should say not much freedom, when it is
we'll known that if men are elected
whose opinions conflict with those Of the
Radical Congress they will be thrown
overheard. THE conditions are speci.
fed and the work well defined indeed
much like the hurdle or the auto dd fe
and the tub is thrown TO smuse the
whale in order to insure his destruction ;
not by any means to benefit him. 1t is
a show Of an appeal to the will Of the
people Of the ten States, nothing more,
just to amuse and pacifT them gilded
pill. a magnificent farce, this giving an
American people the privilege Of ehOos-
ing such officers as their Congressional
masters will What a free country this
isl
H6T The Radicals in Kentucky arr