The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1867-02-16
The Work or Recon.tru.tfon.

The Work OF lkeconstructIon.
The following estimate of our present
radical Congress, from radical stand point,
is, in many of its points, entirely Just,
that We cannot refrain from copying it, for
the benefit particularly OF our republican
readers. If the Chicago Tribune, from
| which we copy, is constrained to speak in
terms like these, what estimate can demo-
Gratis be expected to place upon, or what
confidence repose in the labers OF q congress-
that can win for itself such an e1eoriatiou
from its sworn friends,
From the Chicago Tribune Feb. 5.
Less than one month Of the constitutional
term of the present Congress now remains
On the 4th Of March il will legally expire,
| and according TO present indications. it will
! give up the ghost, to the great relief aud
satisfaction OF ths country. When it met in
December last, its nsmbsrs came fresh from
an earnest and protrac.ed consultation with
the people whs. bv najoritiss wholly unpre-
esdented, instructed Congress to proceed di>
rsctly to the reorganization of ,hs rebel
States Oh plan. a. far as possible, opposed
II tkat of Andrew johnson. That dat, wa.
as PLAINLY Defined aud directly command
ell Dy the popular will, as was ever aEy duty
esjonea by constituents upo. their rsprs-
ssntstiYH. What has Congress done Ia this
nat!sr2 Has it made oss single step toward
a practical execution OF the popular man.
date, aud toward the practical execution Of a
duty required by evsry consideration OF Ma
tional safety and protection?
Instead Of di,poslng Of ,his matter in shs
first week Of the session; instead OF having
loyal Governments now ia operation in the
rebel States, and the johnson organizations
dspsSed and scattered, Congressmen have
been busy devinng tariff scheme, which,
for the snOrmity Of I,s oppression and for the
sweeping disregard Of the ri ghts OF the peo-
pie, bs. never osen paraelled in the history
of this or any other civilized country There
has bean Considerable bluster and iosd talk
INK about an in peaShmeut OF Andrew Joha-
SON, bat in the hgh! OF the tariff s~indls,
that ,chsme il rapidly becoming, in psb!ic
estimation. a mere threat TO frghiea the
President from vs,oihg the act Congrsss
has sern exclusively intent upon maturing q
,chrms to plunder he farmers and producing
Interests If the country. to enrich and PAM
per .ristocracy Of spectators Every
thing las been sacrificed to this scheme OF
robbsry. Reconstruction, Suffrage the Ma
tional Finances, all have been made subssr-
Went to this enc thirg-to this I'M position of
= seventy per cent. Tax upon the producing
slsises Of tina country, tor tie benefit O. the
rnonopolsu.
The cowardies which i. inherent in oil neu
doing a wrong act has held Congress spells
bound. II dars not Teorgaaize the rebel
Statos; it dare not lay hands upon Maaroe
and his mgrdsrous assoclates in Now Or
-, :, '"f7 "ot YtTsUiHiuT suHaHss ~ s;Ir
free aus loyal men Of the rebel States il
dare not 10 anything that IS right in Itself
or undo any wrong Of the President and
why IL vas necessary t. secure the tariff
OF seventy per cent; II WAS necessary 10
lew new ard oaerogs tax upon the pillow oi
tbs farmer, and the clothing o. h.s family
Tor which ms whea. and corn re exchanged
The people hate cow4rdic-, whether i. he
he prudence aud cautIOusuess yt til. pick
pocket, or the timOrousnsss of tho lna1 WAC
sariuks FROM duty. Andrew Johnson 10 no
coward. The weakness OF Congrsss aas had
40 o,hsr effect upsn him than 10 excite bic
contempt. They have refused to execute ihs
popular will by proclaiminr universal suf,
frage in the rebel States. Hs is NOT afraid
Of it. They have sacrificed duty 10 the in
terests Of an uascrupu0Gs lobby and now
the country may look forward at any mos
nlent to the inauguration OF negro suffrage
oy Andrew Johnson himself. II has been
in;imated more than once Of late by BIZ,
newspaper organ, that he was about to Fro,
pose qualified suiir .ge" which would be
satisfactory to ths country. Cons gress has
not done even this, and according to al ap,
pearsgces will not. Ii Andrew johnson shall
now give the substance of what the people
have unavailingly demanded at the hands OF
their representatives. let Congress look to il
that they are not hankcd by the Exeeutivs,
and driven from the popular camp.
There is 10 more damoralzing policy than
for an army in the face Of the enen my, TO re,
lax discipline and devote their energies 10
pillags. Had Congress gone directly to its
duty, and driven the tariff lobby out of
Washington, instead Of surrendering to
them. the country would, before this time,
have had the satisfaction of seeing the rebel
States governed by loyal men. with the bal.
lot secured to every freeman. But plsnder
has delayed them Andrew johnson may at
any tin 9 taks-iAe- -ceuntry with him by pro-
claiming the boon Of universal suffrage, and
by vetoing the very tariff to secure which
Congress has sacrificed sll else. @