Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1867-07-24


have insisted that under his obligation
to support the Constitution, the Presl-
dent was not at liberty to execute a law
palpably unconstitutional on its face,
and that he had no right to surrender the
executive power at the moment 1t was
incumbent on him to exercise it, and
would be recreant to his duty in permit
ting the usurpation of a department only
coordinate and equal to his own, we
confess we expect nothing, we have little
hope from him, we think he is likely to
be written down in history as King Log.
We would be glad to support the views
of bis late message, but he will not sup
mort them himself He talks and writes
beautifully, but the liquor don't
come" Our townsman, Glenn, who
used to sleep and take snuff
with him. told us formerly that he was
sure to do great things for us; that he
had not only the intellect but the firm
ness and fidelity, too, of Old Hickory
himself The bulletin exceeds the per-
formance. A Southern President has
deserted his own people, and left them
TO the tender mercies of a usurping
mower in nothing superior to his own.
II NAV not be too late, if he has the
nerve TO stand with manhood to his con-
etitutional duties at the hazard of what
may come. He is the only barrier against
n tyrannical exercise of despotic power;
and liberty is worth more than his life.
Howard or Washington in such case
would. if need be, give it to his country.
Jackson would restore the Constitution;
he would preserve the Unionin form and
in the hearts Of the people. But John
son, we confess, appears now to be
pIayed out and failure He will act
now or never.
In commenting on the message, the
Louisville Courier very aptly says:
president johnson can talk and
write. but that is all. As the action upon
the latest reconstruction bill has already
shown, more than the requisite two-thirds
majority stand prepared, at all times, to
carry any measure over his head as soon
as il is vetoed. Not only this, but he
has been legislated out of his legitimate
official power-that power which might
have enabled him to avert much evil
from the country. There was time
when things did not stand thus. There
was a time when Andrew johnson had 1t
in his power to do something more than
write state papers, however able, upon
the infractions of the Constitution by
the Radicals, and when, if he had had
the nerve. he might have averted from
the ten Southern States the despotic ru lie
that he now so strongly and eloquently
denreeates. Alas for the lost oppor-
tunity -,
"if Andrew johnson had been An
drew Jackson when, on the close oil the
war. the Senators and Representative
of the South made their appearance IN
Washington, and it became apparent
that the Jacobins intended to refuse
them admission into Congress, he would
have notified them, in conjunction VIII
The conservative members, TO organize,
and then, as constituting what would o.
that time have been a majority, he would
have recognized them as the Congress
OF the United States, by communicating
officially with them, and not with the
Radical minority. After that, If the
Radical members had chosen 10 take
their seats. well. Ifnot, they could have
cone home. and their constituencies
micbthave remained unreprssented until
such time as they could elect more
reasonable Representatives. But We are
convinced there would have been no oe-
casion for any new elections, for every
one of the refractory members would
epeediIv have come to terms. Nor DO We
believe any actual conflict would nave
resulted from such a proceeding A.
commarder-in-c chief Of the army, be
could easily have overaFed anything like
rebelious sentiment II this course had
been taken. what calamiiies would have
been averted The country would nov
he AZ peace, aud, instead Of The SECTIONAL
Jacobiu crew nov legislaiiug AZ Washing
ton for vengeance aud despOtism, We
should have a national Congress legs.
Iatinr for the good Of the whole couutry.
Again We say, alas for The losi opporiu'
nifty -,
Is the opportunity then entirely
roue7 We have 10 hopes from Ohm
son: but even yet, were Andrew Jackson
ar msnv nan siill living, in his place,
he you'd find, or make an uTpouuniiy
offainr something Tor his connify, and
constitutional freedom.