Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1867-02-26
AlPressure Brought to Benr.


his approval to that iniquitous piece of leg.
islation mis-named ''Reconstruction" o
the South, whereby Civil Government is
stricken down and Military Government
enthroned supreme. That Republicans
should do this we are prepared to believe
but that any considerable, or even an in
considerable, number of Democrats should
give weight to such pressure, is more than
we are ready to believe. The bill has not
one redeeming feature. No Democrat car
appreciate it, and be true to his professed
devotion to the Constitution of the United
States, because that instrument does moi
contemplate a contingency in which q
State may, much less shall, be divested of its
civil functions and ruled by Military de
crees and proclamations. To thus rule a
State is to subject it to Military
despotism-a despOtism most offensive
to the feelings of the American people. Il
/ isa perversionof our form of Government
/ which is Representative Government
/ Republican in form. The Constitution
1 cOntemplates the possibility of treason, de.
/ clares of what it shall be constituted, anG
/ provides that it shall be punished; but il
/ does not, in even the most remote degree
/ contemplate the possibility of treason on
the part of State nor does it in anywise
under any given State sof circumstances
provide for the setting aside of the regu-
larly elected State Government of any
State, and. subjecting that State to Military
Government. ~ So
With his reading of the Constitution, the
President can not give his approval to the
Military Reconstruction bill, and be true
to his manhood and self-respect. He has
sworn to support and maintain the Consti-
tuition of the United States, and not the will
ef Congress. That's his duty, and if Con-
gress shall pass bills that in his judgment
plainly contravene any provision in the
Constitution it is his duty, though all the
furies should let fly at him their wrath, to
veto those enactments. What if Congress
shall pass them into laws by a two thirds
vote over his vetoes, and what if the people
of the Northern States shall for the time
being gjustify Congress in its suncOnstitution-
al action? This does not absolve him from
his sworn duty. We know that the Presi-
dents position is, a critical one. We know
that faithful compliance on his part with
the requirements of the Constitution, is
likely to insure an effort to depose him,
and we are not certain but that effort will
be successful. Should matters be pushed
to this extremity, the President will have
the consolation of knowing that in the
hereafter he will be pointed to as man
who digniffed. manhood by doing right
when by doing wrong he could have pur-
chased immunity from expulsion from of
flee.
How much of party capital the Republi-
can party will make out of his expulsion
from offi;e, is question that belongs ex-
clusively to the future. The Republican
politicians imagine that they. will make
party capital out of the business, or they
would not undertake it, that is clear. If they
had penetration they would know that the
deposition of the President, save on the
most urgent demand of the good of the
country, must prove damaging to them.
The Republican party, whatever it may
say to the contrary, is not secure in its
power. The mountain of debt it has
piled upon the people its legislation for
special interests that have mined and
sapped business and the industrial pursuits
until prosperity wears a ghastly and con-
sumptiVe look, admonish it that its
days in the land as party are few, unless
by some legislative device it intrenches
itself effectually. Hence the disman-
tling of the State Governments of the
South; hence their reduction to Mill
tary Governments, with view to supple
Negro Governments. This is not
intended for the good of the country. 1t
Is designed to perpetuate the Republican
party in power. It entertains the be-
lief, that if the Southern Whites shall be
allowed the privilege of voting it. can
secure the election of its candidate for
President in 1858; if the Whites of the
south shall not be thus politically hand
, lffed, it much fears that the Democrats
will carry enough Of the Northern States,
With the aid of the Southern: States, to elect
heir candidate for Presi lent. 1t is to de-
elt this, and n Dthing else, that the South
5 about to be put under Military rule and
he President deposed. If there is holiness
IN such action, we fail to discern it. .o
Even with this dlStranchlSem ent of the
South and displacement of the President
'he Republican party must do more to se-
cure its hold upon the North. 1t must put
;he business of the country Immediately
fairly upon its feet, as robust and vigorous
ls heretofore. To allow tito anguish as it
Is now languishing, will not only be death
20 the country, but it will be death to the
Republican party. A humane treatment
Of the South, by which that section of the
country shall busily go to work and aid in
the material interests of the
country, is. the only way, through which |
the Republican party can hope tor contin-
ued ascendency.
The Democratic Club.
Pursuant to the notice quite number of
Democrats met at the Club Room in the |
Messenger building, for the purpose of or
ganizihg and electing permanent officers, |
and upon which occasion the following Of |