The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1867-06-26
Tho New Conflict ON ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Will COngross Doe


The President through his Attorney Cen
eral, one Of those Hudibrastic lawyers,
Who can hair divide
Betwixt its south and southwest side,
has revived the conflict, which we had sup
posed to be ended, on Southern reconstruc-
ton. He has again thrown down the gauntlet,
and the Executive Committee of Congress has
promptly taken 1t up In call urging full
meeting Of the two houses ON the Sd Of July.
at is thought essential" says Mr.. Schenck,
chairman Of this committee, ito secure quorums,
II 1t should only be to remain in session long
enough to pass some declaratory act on the
subject Of reconstruction" II may, then, be
considered as settled that quorum Of each OF
the two houses will be present in the capital on
the appointed day, and that their frst proceed
ing will be the sending . joint committee to
wait upon the President announcing that the
two houses are in, session and ready to receive
any communication which he may have to
make
The answer Of Mr.. Johnson will probably be
. message explaining and vindioating his
recent course Of action, under the opinions Of
his learned Attorney General defining the
metes and bounds Of the governing powers
conferred by the acts Of the last session upon
each Of the Eve Southern military district COM
manders. The action Of Congress will doubt
less be q new law Of reconstruction, 80 clearly
and infinitely establishing the powers Of the
five district commanders as TO admit Of no
evasion Of the conditions Of registration, the
qualifications Of electors, and the rules and
restrictions applicable In each Of the States
concerned to is State convention, constitution
and Legislature, and to its elections Of Sena-
tors and Representatives to Congress 1t may
be safely assumed that under this decaratory
act more rigid enforcement Of the general
terms to the excluded States laid down at the
last session will be exacted than would have
been required had the President, in his execu-
ton Of these laws, leaned more to their "true
intent and meaning" and less to his exploded
policy. Had he desired the special interview
ton Of Congress to rectify the irregularities
and harmonize the action Of the five district
commanders he could not have adopted more
effective measure TO secure his object than in
the course he has pursued; but wiser expe-
dent would have been simple proclamation
recommending the presence Of quorum In
each house on the Sd Of July.
| 1t Is evident however, that his purpose has
been rather to embarrass, delay and defeat the
reconstruction programme Of Congress. than to
Assist In bringing II to successful Issue. With
the failure Of the appeals to the Supreme Court
Of Sharkey, Walker, Jenkins and company, q
general spirit Of acquicscence in the opinions
Of such men as Generals Lee, Hampton and
Longstreet, and general disposition to fulfil
the conditions Of Congress, Immediately fol-
lowed, from Virginia to Texas. But when II
became apparent, after the Southern mission Of
Senator Wilson and the coniscation hints OF
| Thaddcus Stevens, and from the move
ments Of the Freedmen's Bureau officials,
and from the proceedings Of the military dis
| trict commanders and their subordnates, that
| the Southern blacks en- masse, and q portion
Of the Southern whites, were rallying TO the
| republican party, and would probably carry
| two or three OF the ten States concerned, il
would seem that President johnson took the
alarm. But In undertaking to defeat the radi-
calls with their own weapons he has been again
playing into their hands The Attorney Gen.
erals remarkable rigmarole on registration,
though incomprshensible to the Southern anti
radical elements, was still encouraging, and
his more extended opinion on the laws Of re-
construction would, perhaps, have brought
every man to the registration once who
breads the ultimatum Of Stevens, but for the
immediate warning Of July session Of Con-
gress. From that moment, ~ We learn from
careful observers on the ground, those Southern
opposition elements 10 far rave nm the aeht