The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-07-20

rance and force, and unless the progress OF this
nation is 20 De arrested in the paths of liberty,
TO despotism, as other republics have gone
which have undertaken the great experiment
of freedom, then the reckless, headIong lawless
legislation OF to-day will yet be looked back
upon as men look back upon the murders which
they commit in some hideous dream"
The New York Herald says:-
Another veto has been added To the number:
and the Reconstruction bill has passed both
Houses over the Presidents head This veto
contains the usual fourishes about the 'intole-
rable' condition TO which Congress would
reduce twelve mil ion persons; IL declares that
the sentiments Of the veto of the first bill
apply also TO the present bill, and are Sound
ana unanswerable,' Notwithstanding the way
in which Mr. Stanbery turned them Inside out;
1t discusses whether the states are states or
not, and, finally, 10 expresses the fears OF the
President that his being left out Of this last
power This is the especial point of the
message. Within period of less than year
the legislation OF Congress has attempted to
strip the Executive Department of the Govern
ment of some af tts essential powers and this
tendency eliminates in the present bill, which
provides for its enforcement independently Of
his office. From the circle surrounding the
President. IL has been vaguely given out that
he could not recognize as q law an act that did
not contemplate him as its Executive; and
his declaration quoted above is somewhat
positive to the same effect. 1t remains to
be seen whether the President viii act upon
the existence of this law, proceed to the en-
orcement OF some exbumed and quite
constitutional statute antagonistic TO this, and
thus put himself in direct and open conflict
with the people. We do not believe he will.
We belle We that he will content himself with
war of words; but at the least indication of
tendency to do more, his impeachment and re.
moval will be matter of course His own
have been better IL be had been removed ere
this-if Congress, once satisfied that he would
not enforce law he did not like, had put in
his place man with different sense of duty,
and mplished the national purpose in that
way, instead Of accomplishing it by means
tending to contempt of the office"
The New York Times contains by far the
severest of all articles on the veto. AS it ex-
presses the views of the conservative Repubh-
cans, and shows how even they condemn the
document, we report it in eztenso;--
"The combativeness of the President might
be considered amusing If the interests affected
by his championship were not vital in their
character. If it were merely display OF dia-
lectcs, trial of relative degrees OF tenacity,
or contest to determine whether the President
or Congress could use the shaTpest words, the
country might look on with sublime indiffer
ehce, WheIner Congress 9lsposeu OF MT Jonn-
son or Mr.. johnson bullied Congress into polite
behavior, would be an issue calculated to keep
alive cur rosity, If nothing else. We could afford
TO watch and wait, confident that even on that
ground Congress would come off best out mean
while appauding the pluck of its indomitable
adversary. Unfortunately, more is at stake @ than
the prowess OF the Presidento or the power of Con-
gress. Though Mr.. Johnson wages battle in mis-
own name the people of &c n states are the vic
Tins of his rashness. Whatever pleasure he
may deriye from the maintenance or a tone of
defiance, on their heads the storm he provokes
South has had, and TO this hour has. no
worse enemy than the President, who never
loses a chance of quarelling in its behalf.
Az one moment inspiring them with false
hopes, at another he is the means OF infilcLing
upon them the deepest humiliation. But for
Mr.. Johnson, the South had not beeu deceived
into the rejection OF the constitutional amend
IIo msnt; But for him, there had been no occa-
which forms the subject of mis- latest veto
I'm It's matter, the message we print this
morning is q repetition OF a thrice told tale.
II is threadbare argument against the policy
of Congress in regard TO RECOMMENDATION. Butte of
wh9t avail is ali this? or what use is 1t TO APP
peal at every step TO n Constitution which has
no binding force or efficacy in the exigency
which Congress is required to meet? What can
possibly be gained by reiteration OF argu-
mept which circumstances growing out of the
Rebellion render inapplicable, or by appeals
which the country has pronounced inadmiss-
able? Al drst, unqueStionably, the argument
locked strong; assuming It's premises TO be cor.
rect, its conclusions appeared logical and Just.
Now that Its novelty is gone, however, the effort
is no longer worth the making. AS an argument
II is untenable, made so in part by the Presi-
dents own acts. AS an expression of hos
tlily to Congress. it has proved Intellectual,
and now falls TO command either attention or
respect from the country. In its spirit the docu-
ment is singularly unwise, because gratuitously
offensive. IL arralgns Congress as tyrant and
usurper The reported assertion at st Louis,
that Congress as at present organized Is an ille-
gal BODY managing TO the skirts of the Govern
ment,' was scarcely more insulting than the
epithets which close yesterdays message Mr.
Johnson may honestly condemn the policy he
resists-he may object to it's right as well as to
its expediency; but his position does not war
rant him in denouncng as the rod of despot-
ism measures which the people who elected
him have approved; or in talking of the armed
heel of power in connection with laws which
the country suslains; or in assuming that
he alone comprehends and upholds the
principles which give vitality 10 re-
publicanism. These illusions and assumptions
would be improper at any time as between one
branch OF the Government and another. They
are Indecent IN view of their reputation by
the people, who are the proper umpires in the
controversy. We apprehend That the tone of .
this message will reconcile many to q measure
which, with an Executive more happily consti-
tuted, might be considered of doubtful pro-
priety. Manifestly the administration of mea-
sures so complex In their nature. so delicate in
their working. could not be safely LETT to one
who has no sympathy with their aims and no
tolerance towards the agencies through which
they operate. II anything were needed TO
establish the wisdom of supplementary egtsla-
tion, designed to place the working of this par
ticular plan above the chances of Executive
meddling, Mr.. johnson has supplied IL over his
own signature"