The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1867-02-07
THE RlIW.
The Contempt Int Which it Has
Fallen i'm the Estimation of
its Own Partisans.
Its Cewardice, Venality and Pref
ligaey.
Its Surrender to the Lobby in the
Passage Of an Outrageous Tar.
if Bill.
The Opinion Of Radical News
paper.
From the Chicago Tribune, Feb'y 5
THE WORK Of RECONSTRUCTION.


Loss than one month &c 49, ---,.its-s i..--i,l
term of the present congress now remains.
On the 4th of March it will legally expire.
and according to present indications, it will
give up the ghost to the great relief and sat
isfaction of the country. When it met in
December last, its members came fresh from
an earnest and protracted consultation with
the people, who, by maiorities wholly unpre-
cedeated, instructed congress to proceed di-
rectly to the reorganization of the rebel
states on plan, as far as possible, opposed
to that of Andrew johnson. That duty was
as plainly defined and as directly command
ed by the popular will, as was ever any duty
enioined by constituents upon their represen-
tatives. What has congress done in this
matter? Has it made one single step toward
| practical execution ofthe popular mandate,
| and toward the practical execution of duty
required by every consideration of national
safety and protection?
| Instead of disposing of this matter in the
| first week of the session instead of having
| loyal governments now in operation in the
rebel states, and the Johnson organizations
| deposed and scattered, congressman have
been busy devising a tariff scheme, which,
| for the enormity of its oppression and for the
| sweeping disregard of the rights of the peo-
! IDS iShci bttit III Sile iilStOiN
of this or any other civilized country. There
has been considerable buster and loud talk
ing about an impeachment of Andrew John
| son, but, in the light of the tariff swindle,
| that scheme is rapidly becoming, in public
estimation, mere threat to brighten the
| President from vetoing the act. Congress
| has been exclusively intent upon maturing a
| scheme to plumber the farmers and produc-
ing interests of the country, to enrich and
pamper an aristocracy of spectators. Every
| thing has been sacrificed to this scheme of
robbery. Reconstruction, suffrage, the ma
| tional finances, all have been made subservi-
ent to this one thing-to this imposition of a
| ~ per cent tax upon the producing classes
of the country for the benefit of the monopo-
| lists.
| The cowardice which is inherent in all men
| doing wrong act has held congress spell
bound. 1t dare not recognize the rebel
| states; it dare not lay hands upon Monroe
and his murderous associates in New Or
leans it dare not proclaim suffrage to the
| free and loyal men of the rebel states it
| dare not do anything that is right in itself, OF
| undo any wrong of the President, and why ?
| 1t was necessary to procure a tariff of 20
| per cent; it was necessary to levy a new,
onerous tax upon the pillow of the farmer, and
| the clothing OF his family, tor which his wheat
and corn are exchanged.
| The people hate cowardice, whether it be
| the prudence and cautiousness of the pick
| pocket or the timorousness of the man who
| shrinks from duty. Andew johnson is no
coward. The weakness of congress has had
no other effect upon him than to excite his
contempt. They have refused to execute the
popular will by proclaiming universal suff-
rage in the rebel states. He is not afraid of
it. They have sacrificed duty to the inter-
est of an unscrupulous lobby; and now the
country may look forward at any moment to
the inauguration of negro suffrage by An
drew johnson HIMSELF 1t has been intimat-
ed more than once of late by his newspaper
organs that he was about to propose EQUAL
flied suffrage" which would be satisfactory
| to the country. Congress has not done even
this, and, according to all appearances will
| not. If Andrew Johnson shall not give the
substance of what the people have unavail
ingly demanded at the hands of their repre-.
| sentatives, let congress look to it that thew
are not fanked by the executive, and driven
from the popular camp.
| There is no more demoralizing policy than
for an army, in the face of the enemy. to re.
lax discipline and devote their energies to
pillage. Had congress gone directly to it.