Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1867-12-12


, bumpers ut the Federal capital take n
public cudgel 1t into their dull brains?"
. Hr.f.
The sMssssge--Opinions OF the Press.
From the N. Y. Tribune.
! The amazing recklessness with which
the President makes assertions that the
world knows to be untrue has already
been noted. But exposure of his infrm-
ity does not secure its correction. He says
J in this Message that Congress submitted
" an amendment to the Constitution to
"be ratified by the Southern States as
they were, and accepted their acts of
ratification as necessary and lawful
"exercse of their highest function. "
This is not the truth. He says of the
Reconstruction acts Of Congress that
at is n,anifest(y and dUOWediy the OBJ
ject of these laws to confer upon the ne
groes the privilege of voting, and to dis
, franchise such number of White citizens
as will give the former q clear majority
at all elections IN the Southern States. "
He makes this assertion in the face of
official returns-public, notorious, un-
disputed-which show clear majority
Of registered White voters, under the
Reconstruction acts, in Virginia, In North
Carolina, in Georgia, in Alabama, in Ar
kansas, and in Texas-six of the ten
States in question, including the largest
and most important, which have all ac-
cepted, by large majorities, the policy of
, Congress: while the four States OF South
Carolina, Mississippi, Louisiana, and
Florida wherein the Blacks have a ma
jority of registered electors, have either
failed to accept the plan OF Congress- or
have excepted it by very small majori-
ties.
But why should we proceed to refute,
item by item, assertions and imputations
SO recklessly made under the manifest
dnin,us of discontinue and spleen The
great party which Mr.. Johnson has be-
trayed Is known to detest him the party
he has served is very chary of indorsn9
and fully determined not to be in any
manner committed to his fortunes.
Hence the acrid temper and trucnlent
tone of this most unfortunate document.
Mr.. johnson charges Congress with
seeking to keep ten States practically
i, out of the Union at the very moment
a when they are seen to lie returning to 1T
under the very acts which he calls on
. Congress to repeal fa single one fails
= = to do so, it will be simply because the
a eX-Rcbel part of their population. insti-
f gated and pushed on by him, have re-
:, fused to vote at an election held under
the authority of Congress. That body
:. has provided for their speedy return,
under conditions 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 thereupon
:. Mr.. Johnson turns upon Congress and
n accuses it Of keeging out those States
y There never was q more insane eXhibi
l.. tion Of spleen and malignity.
a From the Columbus Journal.
v We have not been among those who
/ have denied to Andrew Johnson a Ger
lie tain degree of native power and natura
d ability. VigOr and force characterized
p some of his earlier Union speeches, ant
l. one at least, of his anual messages. Hi
1t message read before Congress yesterday
IS as piece of literary composition, is no
,e a creditable production, and viewed rs ,
D. formal State paper, it is the most disrep
l. utable document 1t has ever been Ou
IS misfortune to peruse. The intemper
le ance of his ohjurgations, the violence o
= his language, the indecency of his in
n situations and the audacity OF his oper
n charges against coordinate department
d of the United States Government, will
E. awaken only feelings of cOntemptuols
l. pity for the partisan who forgets all Off
n cial propriety and decency in his rcck
v less rawlings. The representative of tn,
learning, scholarship and culture Of The
Republic should not initiate the style o
the New. York Day Book.
% What need he said Of the President.
70 message? The people have become 81
:, unhappily familiar with Mr.. Johnson ,.
II obstinate wrongheadedness his dreary
U platltudes, which he mistakes for thought
and his stilted and pretentious style
y, that there Is no need of calling attention
"a to these peculiarities. Weexpect mes
:, :, sage from Mr.. Johnson to be pig headed
IL conceited, and sadly lacking in an under
OF linn ,F IN, ,tnl,
'" Aud we are never disappointed. Hi
-. message bears the same relation to tn
sc statesmanlile aud dignified State paper
io io of other days that his blatant and vulga
~ harrangues do to the eloquent speeche
W of the best orators.
VI Where all is bad, we can only particu
~ larize that which is most bad. The mes
vi sage, from first to last, Is q labored dc
- nunclaton of that plan OF recOnstruC
nc ton which the representatives of tn
10 people after long deliberation adopted
,,s u, instead OF Mr.. Johnson,s scheme of sul
~, render to rebels, and which, in spite c
!" his hostility, is even now yielding goo
results In the States 80 long rebellion
III and disorganized. Not content with ds
w nouncing this plan, not content with
'SS mean appeal to prejudice of race an
~. color to encourage opposition tn it, VII
10 Johnson persists in declaring II unconst
,u'n tutional. and gravely questions wins
nc step. L. is his right as Executive to tai,
-, for the defeat of u law whic it is his dut
:" to enforce.
ny Going yet farther, and recognizing tn
~ ~ fact that the Congress of the Unite
"e States has before 1t II proposal to impeac
and remove him. he has the impudeno
We to say that II Congress enacts a law d,
priving officials, while under trial,
I've their official powers, hewill "take Il,
n responsibilities of his Office and save tf
ne life of the nation at all hazards. /" Thl
lie from powerlessand despised individua
-. discarded by the party to which he h,
On sold himself, and scorned by everybod
W., else; u man whose death would cause 4
nv regret except to worthless olflce-holder
l9i and would be welcomed as u joyful E
~. cape from continued disgrace by the NJ
le,, tion mt large, Ia so conceited and 40 In
Dol pudent tina. its ridiculous absurdity har,
ly leaves room for just indignation. "
fancy A. Johnson "taking the respons
he bllitv Of his office, and resisting la
mt o Congress by force o aims wesee hi
IT, cooly arrested by General Grant and
''o corporal's guard of soldiers we imagir
r. IL IA