The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1867-09-22
AMERICAN RECONSTRUCTION.
English Views Of sh~ Effects Of "Ssi,iiar,
EaspOtis,p - in the soutb-Thr pr--i
dentimI Dfacr weakened and "ssrxvaAcd.'
and thr 4 ous.itutjop (Ssuncrd.

HaspOtism - in the south-Thr pr~-i-
dentimI OMer weakened and "Us,srsArd.''
and thr Consultations OssanGrd.
IFrom The London Tirses sent OF
The complication in the domestic Affairs OF tho Uui,ed
monion 1he work OF rcconstracscn has no. actually
made progress for ALI sections e parties admit that tho
framework Of society Ia The 5oataorn DIVISION Of tho
Union much dsarranged ~ ever has been.
Government by the bsyonet aud tie forr,bis aprssisn
Of hosgst which every reiectas man IN tho country
heartily dcplores and even the most extreme regard
with aversion and OtSe ng, likely 20 be
extended through the present generation Tho longer
rule of this kind is maintained the dnicoit IL be-
comes terminate IT, because be discomfort which 1t
excitcs renders Indispensable
The American people length accustomed 80 astae
Of AFFAIRS .ron which they would formerly have turred
with ndignaont0 the existence their continent OF
n par,i n;ory o. RIM, mt or-- ten rsRork Of their
f,.o,o c,t;s-as .ose repretaive sacp re pm mar
ban. 'cho not oriv erct!sd from lie J;derd gas.
Gtars ard se-c Offices bug re eeprlgsd q a. urce
munity which subjected to this treatment accepts It
without musmuring, but the passive attitude Of subms-
for the and welfare OF tho country than epen
sistancc. Fcrcibe opposition It any could I've made,
might easily be quellcd; but whom one nird % great
nation, whose concurrence IN the 7nera govern
meut is necessary TO us rrosreri'- am SECURITY,
'ist'ess adherence or despair. either ccorcve or
concihstory measures will preyo unavahcg Tho
Southern people say that since Congress nas determined
that the negroes must govern. snai De- but thoy
will not eve their sanction to the proceeding ny record
ing their names 10 al assured minority at the polls
There are not many even 10 the radca party who iook
with satisfaction the probably perpetual esrargement
OF The Southern people and the INCORPORATION Into tue
main structure oil the government OF the Gvs military
districts winch nave virtually superseded ten organized
/ States
In pscember 1866 the Southern States would gladly
have compiled with almost any for the sake OF
getting back into the Union; but the difficulty o. effect
iag reconciliation has been ever since steadily Ia
| creased, much by misconduct of tho
Southern peorle AZ 10y the unprecedented conflict BIS
tween the Executive ami the Legislature THIS
sntayonism has not only rnads Dictatorship
tho South inevitable but il has permanently chaaGei
the oonpoSticr # the corcosme,t No one caa suppose
that the intentions OF the founders o. the coastLution
that the three departments OF the government saocld
work harmoniorsly together, aud that the Executive
functions-can ever now be realized. There has al
ways been tendency tho uart Of the heg's'aure 70
encroach upon the Functions OF the Executive and more
than OF the Gathers o! the co,si,g,ion' foesaw
tina, II but question OF time when would snc
coed, the President isf with only the delusiye
| protection ~ qualified nesalVe. The ox!gencies 81
| the war led 10 TEMPORARY subvegsion OF the
legislative deTarimcn.s; for i vas necessary
that the Executive ehoui pct with D-crnp,.trde
aud vgor, and tho people stood ready 70
| support IL. Pres dent lohnson's fatal mistake
has always been the belief that in time of peace he
could exercise tho same sway which permitted to
Mr. Lincoln in time OF war He resisted the attenp,
of Congress to regain its former prerogatvss and the
has been that the Legislature has not only OBJ
tanned back its own but swallowed up al the consu
no apG y sob 1ne nsneeors h. more
than the nom nal Executive, the real power being alb
accord with the majority hs will probably be allowed
some liberty OF action but when he has senated the
ruling PARTY from him. as MI johnson has done no is
movement, and his srbordnacs are his masters.
The which he was created to revise can negative
his every act lie has b. M office toaich has ceased
to be re0lrded vth respect and the responsibility OF
which can no longer be rewarded WITH honor.
His Qce being thus degraded what be anticipated
from the efforts which tho President Ia max to give IL
tho authority and distinction which belonged to il in
tue early or the federation? Mr. johnson believes
himself to be sheltered by instrument now OF com
paratively small validity, aud which IL by the viii OF
Both Houses have agreed that the work OF reconstruct
ing the South belongs exclusively to them, and when
ever the President interposss they niict still more
vigorous upon tbs excluded states. The i've
Military Districts the direct fruits o. the Presidents
injudiCious attempts to insst upon his own plan Of
restoration. We that he is now involved in
fresh quarrel by his persistent removal OF
the officers placed by Congress in command over
tue South Sheridan and sickles have bsen ordered
their posts and Mr.. John little unfairly "a II
to ushas endeavored TO drag General Grant into
his own troubles by charging him with the execution OF
these orders Grant already suffered greatly in the
estimation OF the republican party Or nc dppaT7 IN
tenanc be has given to the Prestent-hrst BY making
report nearly which held to be TOO favor
able to the South next by attending the Cabinet meet
inss and lastly, BY consen,ing to take Mr. Stantons
Office and thus enabling tho President to traHspose the
military commands The favortc Northern General has
listened TO the rebukes and reproachcs showsred
him with Characteristic impnssiveness; but hs friends
have convinced bin that afford 10 tride
longer with the sentiment of the people. He has
silence as well as by impruden, speech. and tia.
though some may coostrue his INTO mark Of
wisdom, the majority believe to BE- proof that ne is
opp sed to the popular cause. Thus urged General
Graat has written letter to the President in which ha
earnestly protested agains. the removal Of sheridan,
and followed II DAYS afterwards, according TO
tho Geographic news by positively refusing 10 carry out
subsequent order.
This result would not be likely TO deter the President
from continuing the development Of that singular hli
lucin1tioi acbch he calls his "polayu He probably
no, occur before. short sighted indeed must b, the
public officer who identifies himself with desperate
cause as that OF the President Mr. Johnson will fight
we fully tcIieve. with the dictates OF his
science Blow after blow is struck at his Office,
Of great though limited powers He still though
the people enthusiastically with him, and II the
johnson wip BE- a oeiioeren' 70 Ms last, and there is
something in his logged obsiinacy and 'pluck' not
Grant a spirit which Is a fresh challenge to congress.
That body separates from time 10 time after dealing
believes to be last eec,usl blow at the occupant OF
the white House. bat II has scarcely gone home before
tho President Is up again undong It's work. and sending
another blast OF defiance after them. sherdans course,
OF absolute tyranny without reference to the principles
Of the government the nature OF free institutions For
hImsel, he goes over the ground We all familiar
wfth and contends the constitution alone is his
rule and guide. "The constitution" he says, sig the
| Law when reflected In the manner which that
instrument prescribes."
We shall not discuss once more the fallacy which un.
deres this sentence and which ignores the palpable
fact that the will Of the people 10 law even when
IL transgrcsscs the letter of the constitution Any
other President Johnson's position would have
perceived months ago that these not days In
which to exact q strict Interpretation Of an ins,ru-
ment which the nation has ontgrown Grant has pro-
baby won back the goodwill OF some OF his sd-
mirers by his letter. but he is too moderate IN
his opinions gain the united surages OF the rcpub
lican party. II may easily happen that fresh events
arise before the Presidential election OF 1858 which
will give him an immense advantage all the other
candidates. but thing certain that the next Pres
dent will IND the work ~ reconstruction still undone
The full " the republican party might probably
lead 10 greater moderation 10 the Legislature and this
likely TO he the events will take, the mai
choice of candidates will be nar IF scarcely e 'ntres
here than TIE oer side NJ DE atlantic The somer
ofnrv mplseiy sld Me tsttr scfiI Dc for ne ret
Of ne orld II ony for commercial cons,dern;.y
We may venture 10 hope that the next two years will
j q -. -.-4l .-ls..L -..a- 49,.