The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1867-06-27
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KEOKUKs IOWA
E - N
THURSDAY MORNING. JUNE 81.
THE MEETING OF CONGRESS-.

THE MEETING OF CONGRESS-.
The Republican party of Iowa have de.
the July session of Congress, and the
reaaisite legislation for making the Recon.
strnction Acts effective. The wisdom and
imperative character of that demand is daily
becoming more apparent. Andrew Johns
s1ia s6rmness is his own boast and the
- S2f his admirers. Palmer. seeing
80 see 10 that g frmness nothing but
bIockhead obstinacy. AT any rate, we could
easily know, that his comparative quiet, fol-
lowing the adjournment of Congress in the
Spring, and his seeming disposition to give
honest and fair enforcement TO the Military
Reconstruction Acts, was only spasmodic
fit of sullenness and not TO be trusted. The
mule is a very quiet animal when it isn't
kicking, or pulling backwards. Andrew is
himself again now, and having found an ex-
ceediugly Ct tool and accomplice in Mr..
Stanbery, he has taken a fresh start in balk-
ing the work of Congress, and thwsrting the
wish of the loyal people Of this country in
the matter of Reconstruction.
Nothing remains to be done but
for Congress to meet and put such en-
phatic construction on its law as will render
nugatory and supertuous the fine spun logic
aHd professional hair-splitting of the Attor-
ney General. Let Congress meet them at the
appointed time in July. There should be,
too, a full attendance. Let all the members
20 up as representatives Of all the people,
and speak for all the people The session
will demsnd all the brains, all the modera-
ton. all the pluck and all the wisdom Of the
whole Congress. 1t Will not do for merely
the restless, unquiet spirits of that body-it
has such in ito 60 up to Washington next
The substantial, solid representative men
must be there, and act sensibly and efIectu-
ally, not hastily and badly.
The situation shows what we have repeat
eddy urged, that Reconstruction is the one
great work demanding the united, earnestla-
bors Of the | Mon Republican party. Every
thing else should be secondary to this, and
this idea should take deep possession Of
every Union man. 1t is remarkable how
good comes out OF evil Had Andrew
johnson really learned sense and wisdom,
and not directly have opposed himself now,
to the work Of reconstruction under existing
law, Our people might largely have concluded
that that work demanded nothing further OF
their attention; they might have given promi.
hence to other Subjects and disturbed the
harmonious unity, and distracted the en-
deayor ofthe Union party, by the .iutroduc-
ton Of other issues. We urge now, as re-
Gently we urged in our letters from the South,
melted by personal look at the situation
there, that the necessities Of loyal men in the
South, and the very life Of Unionism there
require that the grand, patriot party, that
saved this nation by its bullets and ballots il
war, should stand true to its spirit and it
mission, until it has completely saved th,
nation i'll Reorganization. The force tina
has kept rebellion under in the South sine,
the close OF the war, so far as it has beer
kept under, is the Radical party il
the North and its legislation il
Congress. Left to themselves, Unior
men wenld be powerless in the South.
left TO local and State laws, ,unfriendly legis-
laton would soon drive them out, and maxi
the rebelocracy, with its malignant proscrip
tive spirit supreme in all the territory Of III,
Conederacy
We have little to thank Andrew johnson
for, but we are glad that his stupidity is like
:. ly to do US some good. If there is one thin
more definitely clear than another, il is tina
: the purpose Of the American people
that the rebels, in rebel spirit, shall not rul
the South, or rule the country henceforth
just as deep.set now as in 1854 when Nj
Lineolp was reelected. The Boys in Blu
all over the land have sworn that their labor
shall not be in vain; all loyal men hav
phghted faith with them in this determine
ton. The malevolence and pure deyilishnes
of Mr.. johnson cannot change this purpose
but it can make Union men more earnest i
A4carrying it out TO this end we are dispose
10 thank him for showing so persistently hi
/ cloyen foot at this juncture.