The weekly North-Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 186?-1869, 1867-12-11
lIR. J0HNs0Nls NESSAGE. Z

MIR. JOHNs0N's MESSAGE, -
AZ the momelit when IN patriots arc
hoping for ascessatioi, Of q political and
quasi; sectional strife already too tpnSper-
sisted in and restoration OF Scaimness and
fraternity, Mr.. johnson hurls a fresh fire.
brand into the face of the country He
summons into new activity and acrimony
all the feuds and hates which good men
had shoped were quieted, and challenges q
renewal of the mischievous, perilous strife
already protracted beyond reason and for
which there is no longer shadow of excuse.
So nntimely, so wantonly, wickedly' balefuf'
an appeal to outwern prSudices 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 Impeach-
ment question (which is the special order
for today will be such as to perpetuate its
deplorable effects " p 'n' f'"t-' ih''i JOB
Mr.. johnson has much to say of the
Constitution, and of /" negroes in apparent
ignorance that the Federal Constitution ut
terly disregards any political or other dis
tinction founded on color. 1t recognizes
some men as citizens, others as aliens, still
others as " Indians not taxed" it, discrimi-
mates g free persons from /" all Others per-
sons" but 1t knows no man as black or
white, caucasian or negro. We turn, there
fore, the Presidents batteries on himself
He makes a grossly unconstitutional, in
yidious, unjust distinction between citizens,
where the Constitution and laws make
nome makes it for the express purpose of
putting Four Millions of loyal Americans
under the feet of unchanged Rebels. Right
well does he know that the Four Millions of
Southern blacks are and have been true to
their country, her authority, her unity, and
her flag, while "a majority of those whom
alone he recognizes rs the Southern people
were fighting to overthrow and destroy
them; yet he is doing his very utmost to
betray those loyal Four Millions into the
unchecked power of those who are in the
Union only because they were conquered and
compelled to submit to its sway. And he
not Congress-is, keeping the Southern
States out of their proper place in the conn
sells of the Republic, for no reason under,
heaven but to betray those l"yal -Four
Millions into the power of the eN-Rebels who
hold with him that the Freedmen are entitled
to such rights only as their late masters see
fit to accord them!
The amazing recklessness with which the
President makes assertions that the world
knows to be untrue has already been noted
But exposure OF this inirmity does not secure
its correction. He says in this message that
congress submitted an amendment to the
Constitution to be ratified by the Southern
States Gas they were,) and accepted their
,,ot, laxr rtl1l
exercise of their highest function" This is
not the truth. He says of the Reconstruc-
ton acts of Congress that
sit is manJestly and acoredly the object
of these laws to confer upon the negroes the
privilege of voting, and to disfrancllise such
number OF white citizens as will gice the
former a clear majority at all elections in the
Southern States"
He makes this assertion in the face of
official returns public, notorious, undis-
puted-which show a clear majority of regis
tered white voters, under the Reconstruction
acts, in Virginia, in North-C Carolina, in
Georgia, in Alabama, in Arkansas, and in
Texas-sx of the ten States IN question, in
Guiding the largest and most important,
which have all accepted, by large majorities,
the policy of Congress; while the four
States Of South Carolina, Mississippi, Louis
lana and Florida, wherein the blacks have a
majority of registered electors, have either
failed to accept the plan of Congress, or
have accepted it by very small majorities.
But why should we proceed to reiute,
item by item, assertions and fnputations 80
recklessly made, under the manifest aIsimus
of discontinue and spleen2 The great
party which Mr. johnson has betrayed is
known to detest him; the party which he
has served is very cbary OF indorsing and
fully determined not to be in any manner
committed to his fortunes. Hence the acrid
temper and truculent tone of this most un-
fortunate document. .a.t..-.. ''''
Mr. johnson charges Congress with seek
ing to keep ten States practically out OF the
Union at the very moment when they are
seen to be returning to it under the very acts
which he calls on Congress to repeal! If a
single one fails to do SO, it will be simply
because the ex-Rebel part of their popula-
ton, instigated and pushed on by him, have
refused to vote at an election held under the
authority of Congress. That body has pro-
vided for their speedy return, under con-
ditions with which they could readily reply /:
Mr.. Johnson's Rebel prOteges vote not to
come in, or refuse to vote at all (Which has,
and is intended to have, the same effect y
and thereupou Mr.. johnson turns upon
Congress and accuses it of keeping out those
States There never was more insane ex-
hibition of spleen and malignity. 40
fit were true that the States lately fight
ing to destroy the Union were entitled to
return to its counsels absolutely and without
condition, then Mr.. Lincoln was wrong in
countermanding Gen. 'Weitzers permission
to meet given to the Rebel Legislature of
Virginia, and Mr.. johnson was wrong in
every step taken by him looking to Recon-
struction. Just look for one moment at this
telegram: Ds soc D ,naia Ha
" His Excellency JAMES JOHNSON, i H
e Provisional Governor Of Georgia
"Your several kilograms have been re-
celved. The President of the United States
cannot recognize the people of any State as
having resumed the relations of loyalty to
the Union that admits, as legal, obligations
contracted or debts created in their name
to promote the War of rebellion. Il IN
~ 4 y $50 WILLIAM Ell. SEWARD
washington, October 30, 1865"
Here in matter purely domestic-which
affected no one outside of the State-the
President claimed and exercised the power
of refusing to recognize Georgia as in the
Union unless she would repudiate a deb
contracted by her regularly constituted au
thorities, and of which the proceeds wer'
paid into and disbursed from her treasury
| And this is but one of a hundred such re
QUESTIONS and exactions by which Mr.
johnson has committed himself firmly ant
inextricably to doctrines the very opposite
of those he is now propounding.s ,a
Mr. johnson has placed himself ineffacea