The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1867-12-11
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TIE PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.
OPINIONS or THE PRESS.


From Tho National I.teaiqsacsr, (Ind.) Dec. A.
The message Of the President of the United
States, il eminently worthy of careful and
thoughtful psrusal. It's tone and temper chal-
lenge admiration, while its fervid patriotism,
its expressions Of devotion to popular liberty
and constitutional right, and tho conciseness
and cogency Of the arguments presented can
not fail to make profound impressions upon
every honest citizen, and to cover with con-
fusion even the most ebdurate Sf those plot
tiers against the life of the nation who have
made occasion for such message from the
Executive to the legislative branch Of the
Government
Frosthe N. Z. EDsning EEpress, DEM Dec. 8.
The Presidents message, it may safely be
said, is Of character to challenge universal
attention. Its spirit and tone, are fully up to
the necessities Of the times. In dealing with
Radicalism and the Radicals, the President
displays moral courage which will secure for
him tho respect and applause Of all who can
appreciate that, in these times rarest of all
rare qualities, while his views on the financial
question are set forth in q light which must
arrest and command consideration.
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From the Nsw York Post, (Rad.) Dsa.s g.
Mr.. Johnson's message is not so tersely and
forcibly written as some Of his previous state
papers, bat is nevertheless striking both 10
style and logical ability. Few Of our Presi-.
dents have handled the pen with the vigor,
perspicuity and general literary correctness that
mark the public papers Of the present Exc
cutive. But, we wish that his judgment in
public affairs we're as precise and just as they
are in composition. In that event VIC should
have been spared one-fourth at least of the
document before us. Nearly all that is said
of the Reconstruction act might as we'll have
been left out. The constitutional aspects of
it has been argued before, with equal force,
at least, and he adds nothing to the weight of
his argument. Neither can he instruct us
much by any new facts, as the experiment. is
still ia the course Of trial--scarccly begun, in
deed, in many respects--and he ought to have
awaited the complete results. What he does
say, we fear, will open old sores, and justify
that acrimonious retaliation of debate for
which Congress is only too ready. Nothing
more was due to the dignity Of the President
than to repeat his views in paragraph, to
urge briefly, if he thought proper, amodifca-
ton of those Of Congress, and to state the in
convenience of the Tenure Of Office BILL
This persistency in recurring 10 the old topics
will have no effect but to invite further an
tagonism, which will tend to prevent an ulti-
mate settlement.
From the N. Y. Herald, lind. Dec. A.
The impartial reader of the message will
find in it not much to condemn, but many
things to approve. The general tone is that
of calm and dispassionate state paper, al
though slightly tinctured with the oonstitu-
tional odor Of the stump in some passages.
The most remarkable thing about it, however,
is, that having by facts and arguments tho
roughly demolished the Southern negro SUI
premacy policy Of Congress, Mr.. johnson has
nothing definite to recommend in its place
This, we apprehend, means that the split be-
tween the President and Congress offers emo
diplomatic halfway house of rest" and that,
therefore, nothing in the way Of relief need
be expected for the South, until the people
shall have established at Washington new
President and a new Congress.
From the ". z. Times, (Rsp.) Dec 4.
AS whole we regard the message as the
least satisfactory ,--as calculated, at this par
ticular crisis in national affairs, to do the
least good and the most possible harm, fany
which President johnson has sent to Con-
gress. It will contribute less than any other
to the restoration of peaceful and consider
ate temper, and will do more than any other
to increase and confirm the rancor and acri-
mony of feeling from which the country has
suffered SO much already A stronger censure
could not well be passed upon it.
From the ". 7. 7si6nne, (Rad.) Dec. 4.
At the moment when all patriots are hoping
for cessation Of political and quasi-section-
al strife already too long persisted in and a
restoration Of calmness and fraternity, Mr..
johnson hurls a fresh frebrand into the face
of the country. He summons into new ac-
tivity and acrimony all the feuds and hates
which good men had hoped were quoted, and
challenges arenewal Of the misehievous, peril
Gus strife already protracted beyond reason,
and for which there is no longer shadow of
excuse. So untimely, so wantonly, vickedly
baleful an appeal to outworn prejudices and
dying factions has not been made in all our
past history. We sadly apprehend that its
effect on the action Of the House on the i'm
parchment question (Which is the special Or
der for today will be such as to perpetuate
its deplorablc effects.
From the N. z. Journal Of Commerce, Ind Dec. A.
This document will amply repay careful
perusal. The opening appeal for the restora-
ton of the Union upon the basis of the Con-
stitution is in language and argument worthy
of place among the best State papers ever
submitted to Congress. The Presidentshows
conclusively that the States lately in rebellion
are still members Of the national Union, and
that the Reconstruction acts by which they
have been deprived Of the rights of selfgov-
eminent are not only in direct violation of the
plainest provisions of the Constitution, but
subversive of the very form and substance Of
republican government. In a few brief, pithy
sentences he describes the evil effects Of this
unjust and arbitrary legislation upon the whole
country, North and South, and alludes with
just pride to Naturalization of his views in
the result offecent popular elections.
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AS whole, the message in its tone and
composition is creditable alike to its author
and the country over which he presides and
those who do not agree with its conclusions
cannotdeny the ability and dignity with which
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