The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-08-29

of the President challenges scfuglhy A"' -
sure because avowedly undertaken IN pursu,
ance OF a policy antagonisuc 10 OonBio'' NV
the wishes OF the country. -, Co.. |
Mr.. johnson. indeed has left no room lot
misapprehending his position, or the purposes
of his acts. He has convinced the hosC lI
credulous Of his determination to renew at all /
hazards the contest with Congress- and to /
avail himself of the powers which its fOroear-
ance has left in his hands to obstruct its plans
and emharrass its work OF reconstruction.
This fact it is which invests with significance
his present line of action. Stanton, Sheridan,
Sickles-all have been set aside as so many
obstacles TO the will of the Executive. Pope
and Howard are to suffer for the same reason.
The Cabinet is to be reorganized on Demo
cratic basis in pursuance of the same general
scheme. The intent is unmistakable. Mr..
Johnson proposes to do what he can to defeat
the aims of Congress. These personal changes
are simply incidental to his policy and are
important as illustrations of the dishonesty,
the bad faith, the utter lack of prudence aud
principle which characterize his course.
Henceforward the issues of the contest can
neither be concealed nor misrepTesented.
Though Mr.. Johnson swear by the Constitu-
tion every hour of the day, the country will
understand that his pTofessed zeal for the
letter OF the organic law is a pretext intended
to hide the pro Rebel procivities of his policy.
His appeals to the Constitution are identical
in the mouth of every unreconstructed Rebel
in the South. Both make use of the term as
the groundwork of their demands for uncOn-
ditional admission and their opposition to the
measures of Congress. The same species of
hypocrisy leads Mr.. Johnson to affect readi-
ness to carry out the Reconstruction law. The
trick is too transparent to mislead anybody.
For, if he desire to enfore the law in its inte-
gritty, why does he find it necessary to remove
officials whose only ofense is their faithful
and intelligent administration of the law,
as interpreted by its authors If he desire
to uphold the law, why visit with his
disapproval those in whose judgment and
fidelity Congress and the country repo5e i'm
plicit confidence The most ingenious
sophistry will tail to break the force of these
inquiries as they spring up spontaneously in
the minds of the people. Nor will the most
dexterous special pleading modify or avert the
real issue, which now is-Shall the Republican
party, sustained by the represented States,
control the work of reconstruction, or shall it
be seized with impunity by MIR. Johnson, who
is neither trusted nor respected by either of
the great parties, and whose instigators, asso-
ciates, and agents are known to be in alliance
with the unreconstructed element OF the South
This is the issue as it is seen by the country,
and for all its cOnSeq quenceS Mr.. Johnson must
be prepared. 1t is a contest which only folly
and recklessness could have provoked. But
having been begun by Mr.. Johnson, in spite
of Temonstrances, entreaties, and warnings,
we apprehend that it must proceed to the Bit
ter end. Who shall be master of the situa-
tiOn-Mr. Johnson, no longer possessing any
real representative authority, or Congress,
speaking for the people
The latest pretensions set up by Mr.. John
son add to the complications of the conflict.
! His defiance of Congress is but renewal of
| quarrel from which he was believed to have
| 4o1 sc lnY,N hon 4hof
he is not only prepared to circumvent the
| law, and so prevent reconstruction on the
conditions prescribed by Congress, but that
he is also resolved to quarrel with any officer,
whatever be his station, who dares to dis
charge his duty. The two orders which we
printed yesterday are an insult to General
Grant and an invasion of the authority with
which the law explicitly invests him. In his
original order in connection with the removal
of Sheridan, General Thomas was instructed
to continue to execute all orders he may
find in force in the Fifth Military District
at the time of his assuming command of it,
unless authorized by the General of the
army to annul, alter, or modify them This
assertion of the Generals absolute authority
in the premises is in exact accordance with the
provisions of the Supplementary act passed
during the recent session. By the orders we
published yesterday, the President usurps this
authority, and of his own will and pleasure,
in direct violation of the law undertakes to
instruct Generals Hancock and Candy as tC
> their duties in their respective departments
! AS instructed by Mr.. Johnson the successor:
OF Sheridan and Sickles may ''annul, alter OF
, modify their orders and proceedings, withou
? : waiting for the instructions of General Grant
. Such, at least, is the tendency of Mr. John
= = sons mandates, and we are bound to suppos,
. that he has contemplated the result to whicl
they lead.
u n Under this aspect of the question it is no
p possible for General Grant long to remain pas
y sive. 1t is bad enough that his views i
u regard to the exigencies of the military SCI
- :. vice are disregarded, as they are by the re
= moval of General Hancock from his presep
10 field. But can General Grant be a party I
~. orders at variance with his own, and with tn
% law of which he is the administrator Ca
T. he surrender his undivided authority to in
" " struct the District Commanders. and to revise
reverse, or confirm their action Can he eve
lmphedly sanction the illegal pretensons {
IS the PRESIDENT or respect orders which contrs
- yene the law If not, it is manifest ths
- General Grant will gradually be drawn int
~ the conflict, the further development of whic
70 will be awaited with profound anxiety. AT n
70 period since the termination of the war hav
affairs worn an appearance so suggestive
'ee difficulty and danger.
N Development of the Political struyvI
,e From the ". Y. Herald
a. The black wave that has so long threatene
% us is losing its force. 1t must soon break in
1s foam if the President only dares to meet u
issue like statesman. We care little for col
a IaaUa that for boppar 49,.