St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1867-09-20
The Duty of the Hour.

so near-siohted and lukeWarm paltls;tlls
Of republicanism have always said, since
the word republic was spoken. 1t is
true that the land of gold disappointed
many earnest supporters of Congress in
its late election. The question of ex-
tending the right of suffrage to the CHI
nese was one thing that made the other
wise dominant party weak. This, with
the other distracting issues, gave the
democrats a majority. But TIE unfortu-
nate turn Of affairs in California, does
not change the aspect at all. The Sen
,te of the nited States is SO Overwhelm-
ingly strong that the democrats cannot
change it for years. The House, too, as
it now stands, is republican by strong
majority. During the first session of the
tortieth Congress the republicans num-
bered one hundred and forty-seven, and
the democrats only iorty-six : the repuo-
leans having one hundred and one ma
lority.
The party that elected the reprobate,
\. j., to the yice-presldency, and whip
pcd out the rebellion, are now able 10
bear the temporary check in California,
and to finish the work OF reconstruction
in Just and substantial manner, Just
now, too, the people are in Il fever OF
excitement over the amnesty. procama-
ton of the president, by which the CHIEF
executive hoped TO assist murdererS.
thieves and robbers to a renewed particI-
patton in the management Of the govern
ment.
But in this we think he has rcckoned
without his host, Poor. desolate, torlorr
and leSpised Bocock, is the on! y man IL
the Old Dominion that this famous pro-
ductlon Of the president will reach; ant
it is hardly reasonable to suppose his bal
lot will change the vote of that state
In the whole ten states, this proclamation
Of the eth inst, will not free from the
punishment due them for participation
in the rebellion, more than two Thousand
persons. The number of traitors "whC
must be punished" is fast diminishing
Ii there is to be any more long docu
mcnts of amnesty let it be a sweeping one
that will forever make all rebels loyaliSts
and treason Il crime unknown in oul
country's laws.
Congress imagined when it adjourned
in July last, that all the bars of recon
struction had been safely put up. Mr.
johnson thought so, till Jeremy Black
who had acquired acuteness of percep
ton in Buchanan'S reign, saw \ small
hole, and i'll has crept the president. A
result, he has taken Sheridan AVA
from the place where he was cmlnentl.
useful, and sent him to fight Indians. Ii
his stead he has called Hancock from
sphere for which he was emincntly quail
tiled. Sickles has been relieved. and 9th
ers must soon follow. Secretary Stan
ton has been removed from the war oflic,
because he was obnoxious to that higl
| tunctionary who Is, or would be, the ia
Thereof demago@ues. 1t is plain enough
that things are going aSkew at Washing
ton.
The times seem to demand that til
power OF the president to do harm b
broken, or that his hands be so etfectual
" tied rs to leave him no room in whic
10 rave. Congress bound him with nc'
cords-the Freedmen's Bureau bill
but this "becamc as flax that was burne
.,:,l a. rTIo,, l., ,,-,. &, .t,,oJ ~; !,
Green withc7, never dried-whch wa
the Reconstruction Act-but these Il
broke through Is easily as the new cord.
Lastly, they braided up his hair-in til
Supplemental Bill-but Black and Binck
ley "awaked him out Of his sleep" an
away he goes. Now it is time to cut hi
hair, or shave his beard, by driving trol
power this dishonest man.
We have all along regarded the Pre-:
ident As not really Il very bad man, bu
only wanting in common sense Now
we are free to confess he has ability. an
that he Is using it for base and ignobl
purposes, lie says he proposes to "ovel
throw military despotism, and re-estal
fish the constitution In his eyes ever
military commander is a despot, and s
he conspires with Tammany Hall to r
move every General who labors earnes
la to enforce the laws which Congress e!
lablished. He threatens what he will Il,
just like a low blackguard rowd,
Americans felt the disgrace, when /
stutteringly took the oath in '65 bl
not even the most fearful and timid one
thought OF the fearful work he woul
make before snow flew in 'G7. There
no conccaling the fact that either Con
gresS must be i'll session continually ii
March -lth, 90, or else take some mea
ure to forever annihilate the power whic
the chief magistrate yields. The peop
seem ready now to test the virtue of in
parchment. 10 impcach, or not impeac
should now be the question for discussic
each l,,