The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-06-17
From Peace to War.

From the Tribune.
If this country is again to be plunged into a
maelstrom of political passion-if we are to go
back to strife and confscation rather than for
ward to peace and prosperity, the people will
not forget the good so nearly achieved, nor
excuse those by whose madness the cup has
been dashed from their lips. The Military
Reconstruction bill was passed in defiance of
the Presidents best efforts and those of the
Democratic majority in Congress. The latter
combined with the Stevens wing of the Re-
publicans to defeat the far milder measure
proposed by Senator Sherman, and thus man
aged to render the measure actually passed
much harsher towards the Rebels than it
otherwise would have been. Being passed. the
President vetoed it in a message of remarkable
asperity, even for him, but which exists to
prove that he thoroughly 'comprehended and
proclaimed that the power of the Military
Commanders in the five Military Districts was
made virtually absolute. They could not in
tiict the penalty of death without the Pres-
dents approval; beyond that, their authority
was bounded by no other limits than those of
their several districts. Within those limits
each was temporarily an autocrat, without
qualification or rivalry.
Three months of this rule has gloriouslv
vindicated itself. The South was never before
SO quiet, so free from violence and oppression,
Murders and murderous assaults are almost
unknown. Blacks have at length rights which
whites can only assail at their own grave and
imminent peril. No one is molested in person
or property by the ruling power. In spite of
famine and very general deficiency of teams
and implements, the people are generally at
work, and are steadily improving their condi-
uon' The sutferings are fewer to-day than
they We're when the act was passed. and they
= Al, : =
pro, ,"erty IS confiscated, and the last prisoner
on acc, unit of the Rebellion is out of iail. The
voters are being rapidly registered, and eyerv-
thing is being made ready for elections in all
the Rebel States at a very early day. In short.
while there are feWe." outrages reported in ali
y Ine ten States under military rule than in
zen tennessee alone, they are all moving rapidly
AM. anu pr0sperously towards speedy recOnstruc-
IiOn anu seli-government. The impeachment
project is virtually abandoned the PrasiJent
more kindly regarded, and the bitterness of
hate engendered by our terrible conflict fast
giving way to more generous and fraternal
spirit.
Such are the auspices under which the
PRESIDENT sees III 10 challenge Congress and
the people to new trial of strength For-
getting or ignoring his terrible lesson of last
year, he says, in e1eot-"I will cironmvent
and nullify the act of Congress which nv veto
did not suffice to defeat" And SO we are
plunged into new struggle, whereof the end
is clearly foreseen, but the progress cannot
fail TO prove disastrous.
President Johnson is playing directly into
the hands of Messrs. Butler, Stevens, Ashley
ETC., whom he seems TO dislike, and who GER
tainly have no partially for him. He is doing
for them what they could not begin to do for
themselves. Ifthe result shall be his impeaoh-
ment and deposition, he win have mainly to
blame his own folly in having lent willing
ear to the worst advisers who ever misguided
ruler or soourged nation.