The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1867-06-26

| A new issue is fairly raised between the
President and Congress, or rather between the
| President and the people, by the Attorney
Generals construction of the Military gov
ernnent act, supplemented by the declared
intention of the Executive to be governed by
that construction in the execution of the law.
While it was yet doubtful whether the legisla-
tive or the executive branch of the government
had the controlling influence in the direction
| Of public affairs, the people received the sue
cessive evidences of JOhnson's apostasy with
| feeling Of excitement and sometimes OF anger;
but the events of the last eighteen months
| have taught that recalctrant President may
be left with as little power for good or i'll as
Queen Victoria herself, whose royal functions
| are now limited to the receipt of an enormous
| income, appearing as an ornamental part OF
the pageantry on state occasions, and scolding
his Royal, but not at all Serene, II ghness, the
Prince Of Wales. Consequently the new cri-
sis arising under the Reconstruction acts is met
calmly by the same people who were alarmed
at the 'whitewashing" message to the 39ih
Congress, excited at the first veto, and cnraged
at the 22d of February speech. With us The
English maxim, "1he King can do no wrong"
| may well be rendered "The President can 10
no harm" ga {H, 30 zecIav aEr
This accounts for the moderation displayed
by the Republican leaders and by the press in
considering what measures are TO be taken to
prevent any injury resulting from the nullify-
ing opinion of Mr.. Stanbery, which the Cap
tain Cuttles of tho Cabinet have received as it
it we're indeed An ambiguous and oracuiar ut
terance of Jack Bunsby, instead Of an unin-
l.. ~
occasion tor alarm even il Congress does not
meet in July. All the evil growing out Of this
last freak of the President must fail upon the
South. Ii the law is administered according
to the Interpretation of Mr.. Stanbery it is al
most certain that the States will refuse to hold
Constitutional Conventions. In that case they
will continue without representa- ton in Con
gress, and be deprived OF participation in the
next presidential election. The disloyal ele-
ment may obtain control OF some OF the local
offices, but the ineumbentS will be Liable to a
trial by military commission if they are guilty
Of any unauthorized acts, and i'll most matters
their authority will not be exclusive, but only
concurrent with that of the district commando
ers. They may hope that some future Con- \
gress will admit their representatives upon less
gress can assemble, if ever, the public senri-
inent OF the South will become SO enlightened
by the instruction of Northern speakers and
the free circulation Of Northern newspapers
and other publications., that no coeroive meas
ures will be necessary to secure the desired
notifications in the State Constitutions. Sem
ator Wilson says that in a few years the South
will complain of Massachusetts, as being too
conservative. President Johnson's policy
then, If permitted to prevail, can only secure
for the rebel States an unnecessary continu-
anes of their present. unsatisfactory condition.
of very great Importance Is fatfh Bsn nnafft9ng
up reconstruction. If the South does not par
sticipate in the next presidential election, moth
| ing but miracle can prevent its remaining in
power. If the South is restored, its strength
will be greatly increased, but being already
sure of supremacy it may safely 90 inc the
next campaign without the assistance of its
Southern allies. f..f-s5. ........4-..
The enemies of the party are, then, clearly
wrong in alleging that the Re publican leaders
in their treatment of the reconstruction ques-
ton have nothing but partisan ends in view
The Presidents would take such course as
would insure the indefinite postponement of
the restoration Of the Union, but members OF
Congress in concluding to assemble on the Sd
of next month show determination to thwart
this unworthy design. in this we see the ac-
ton of o body of men who feel strong enough
and secure enough to ignore all selfish pur-
poses, and act only as patriots and philanthro-
| pists. 1t is matter of pure benevolence for
them to hold summer session; but happily
they do not forget that the restoration of all
the States to practical relationship with the
Union. if it can be accomplished without sac
rifcng the rights of the freedmen or the future
safety of the nation, is an object the import
ance of which far transcends all mere party
| interests. They recognize the fac. that hold
| ing a part of our territory under military con-
troll by virtue of conquest Is not altogether
consistent with our theories of free govern
ment. They feel with all true patriots that
when the seats in the national Legislature
which for seven weary years have been vacant
shall again be filled by men truly representing
the Southern people, then the long agony
L