The Tiffin weekly tribune. (Tiffin, Ohio) 1859-1868, 1867-09-19

The President, at the closo of the 1
armed rebellion, destroyed the gov.
ernments then in existence in the |
southern States, aud wont to work |
to organize new ones. These we're
gotten up at the point Of the bayonot.
The President instructed as to what /
should 20 into the constitutions and /
what should be kept out, aud he was
obeyod. But the people knew they
could not be held by those insiru.
mcnis, no more than man could be
compelled to pay a note sigued under
the moral suasion Of pistol in the
hands of a robber aud pointed at his
head Had the Southern States been
restored to power, and had their rep
rcseutaiivcs been admitted TO Con-
grcss under the johnson organifa.
tons they would have found an easy
way out of the position in which they
had been placed.
But Congress disapproved OF the
Presidents plan, as it had a right TO
do, and as il was its duty to do. Mr.
johnson himself and Secretary Sew
ard advised the Southern people that
their organizations would bo subject
to the approval or disapproval of Con.
gross. II was Thought, however, at
that time, that Congress would 60
with the President aud it was not
until IL refused TO approve, that John
son changed the right to reconstruct.
J Tho quarrel began the moment Con-
gress asserted its constitutional pow.
er. We know tho rest. Congress
proposed plan, aud through the in.
iluencc of tho President it was re.
jectod, Had it been accepted, as
Gen. Grant is reported to have said,
we should not now have ton enemies
in the Union. This rejection led to
another and n better plan and fur.
thor delay may produce another aud
still better plan. However this may
be, Congress is determined that the
lately rebellious States shall be recon
slruetCd upon loyal basis, and under
tho control Of loyal men. The Pres.
dents plan is the opposite to this
| 1t is for the people to decide between
the two. How will you answor2 ]
know how those who fought to save
the Government, aud those who sus.
tanned our armies will answer. You
all know how our military heroes have
answered. Hear Grant, aud Sheri-
dan, and Thomas, and Sioklos.
npspnTIsM
Who is tho despot the Confederate te
Democrats talk about2 Andrew
johnson No Of course not. The
despotism, according to those modern
expounders of Democracy, proceeds
from the people. Now is not that q
queer kind of Demoeraey2 0ne.mau
power supported in opposition to the
power that rests in the people. w,
may expect to fud these modern Dem
ocrats following the example of the
Israelites, calling for king to ruiz
over them. Well, 1 think they ar,
fit subjects for King or an Emper
o..
But this is a Government of the
people; Congress represents the peo'
pie is chosen by the people comes
back to tho people every two years
aud to charge despotism or usurpa-
ton upon body thus chosen and thus
responsible, is to charge despotisn
upon the people. The President i,
: merely an executive officer. Congress
is a legislative body. 1t is the dutl
= of the former to execute the law
passed by the latter. Failing in this
! or attempting to do more than this
he is liable TO be impeached an
+ turned out Of office, Thus the Con
stitution has wisely protected tt
people againstone man agains
the usurpation Of power by the Presi
dent.
No, fellow citizens, we have moth
ing to fear in the way Of despotisu
80 long as we stand by our represent
atives. This Government win Away
be safe in tho hands of the people
/. 1t would not be safe in the hands O
! one man. We want no king to rul
over us nor will we permit maj
! filing the office Of President to exer
else the power of an Emperor. Give
, us two hundred men fresh from tn,
people, to govern, rather than one
man, however wise or pure, aud es'
pecially rather chan Andrew john
son.
And Just here | shall recall that
significant remark of Secretary Sew
ard when he was swinging the circle
In addressing the people of Michi-
gan, he asked them whether they
wanted King ora President, What
do you suppose was running in John
sons head when that idea was dua
out2 Well, tho people gave Mr.
Seward the desired information las
fall, when those ballots, falling al
noiselessly as the snow flakes, pro
claimed that we would not have q
King, and that we did not approve Of
Andrew johnson as President. With
equal emphasis the same decision will
be rendered in October and Noycm-
Der.
SUFFRAGE.
There is no slavery iu Americ'
now. Thank God for that. 1t ma,
be said with truth, as it never coult
have been said before, that this is th'
land Of the free. This was brough
about by Democratic rebellion. TIT
war which was started to establish al
empire whose chief corner-stou'
should be slavery, broke the chains
J from every limb, and bid the captive
go free. I do not think the peopi,
of the free States deserve much credi