The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1867-08-15
The President. Opposition.

| The Presidents Opposition.
The people have one cause of CON-
plant against the President. which is
of the unfortunate differ
ence of opinion between Mr.. johnson
and the nation He has refused to make
an honest straightforward opposition to
Congress. When his admins tration be-
gun, he began a course Of nnfairness
which, we fear. is not yet ended. Dem
ocrats claimed him as = Democrat, and
Republicans fresh from private conver
sations with his Excellency az emphat-
ically claimed him as . Republican. No
one then could determine his policy from
his words, and those who quoted his
strong language about hanging Rebels
| as high as Haman soon found that they
might as we'll quote, as proof of his in
tention, the bulls of the Pope. His ac-
tions were alone to be depended upon,
and these contradicted every loyal pledge
lie had made Even then no one could
tell how far Mr.. johnson had been con-
approved the Freedman's Bureau bill
when it was shown to him by Senator
Trumbull, and opposed it vehemently q
few weeks after, when it had been passed.
SO when the Reconstruction acts were
adopted Mr. johnson vetoed them on the
broad ground that they placed the lives
and property of alk the people in the
South absolutely within the power Of
the District Commanders. but when they
became laws his Attorney G General dis
covered that the military authority was
a mere police force, and the President
sent thai opinion to the Commander of
each District. 1t was also understood
that the President would execute the
laws in good faith, and in this belief
Congress adjourned last April. But did
he take any steps to carry out the intent
Of the laws! On the contrary, Gen.
Sicklss could not even obtain from the
Navy Department one poor gunboat.
The whole course Of opposition to the
will of the people is singular combi-
nation of stubbornness and insiucerity,
yet there have always been Republicans
ready to put faith in Presidential repent
ance, and the prospect Of his reconcilia-
ton with Congress.
We are disposed to believe that there
is no weapon, however petty it may be.
that Andrew johnson will not use, now
that we have read his last Message TO
Congress. Weakness of intellect and
strength of obstinancy could go no
further than in this argument that the
United States in recenstructing the Un
ion becomes responsible for the legiti-
mate debts of the Rebel States. This
is mere petifogging. The intelligent
Democrats who ironically commented
on it in the Senate indicated tue severe
treatment Mr.. Johnson will certainly re-
ceive from that party when his term Of
Office expires, Did he actually suppose
that the country could be fri ghteneti by
the debt of Sl00, ,O00, 900 he invented, or
that such self. evident stroke of dema-
gogism would affect single vote in
Congress, or the result of one township
election We are afraid that Mr.. John
son did entertain hopes of frightening
other people, though we cannot do him
the injustice to suppose that he was in
the least scared by his own imaginary
Those who manufacture bug
4 boos are not terrified by their horns
Or toll. 1t would be better for the Pres 8
dent we're he TO abandon this dubious
and trivial policy at once The best
part of his Administration is over, and
n the twenty months that remain there
$ no danger that his plans will triumph.
He will remain in Washington in defeat,
,e will leave Office in defeat, and had
better recognize his defeat But If he
will not surrender to Congress, we beg
lin to oppose it squarely, and to give 50
10 more double constructions of the laws
le don't like, and no broomsticks dress.
d up like spectres of National ruin.-9a
y. Tribune s - - eiacas kqaqaa2
8Tcaz fifs38 zfEf
The Kentucky Election.