The Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Ohio) 1863-1886, 1867-06-27
''r LFrom tho Dayton JournAl.l !, S
Modification of the Reconstruc.
ton Act.

There is but zone construction of
the decision of President JOHNSON,
denying to Commanders Of the
Military Districts in the rebel
States, authority to remove civil
officers. It's a practical nulidca.
ton Of the Rccohstruction act. It
is so interpreted by the rebels and
their copperhcad allies. 1t must
be;so accepted by the loyal people
Of the Nation, for the orders of tho
Executive will be. enforced. 1t
givos new encouragement to icbel-
lion, obstruets the restoration OF the
Insurroctionary districts to their
practical relations with the Union,
protracts the disorders which have
distracted the South, increases tax.
alton, invites resistance to the laws
and law. making power Of the Ma.
ton, and postponcs reconstrsction
indefinitely. 1t is no paliation to
cay that it will increase the evils
which atlict the rcbels, because it
also injures the loyal people of the
Nation. Wo are taxed that An.
DREW JoHssoN may force hjs wtH
upon us, and to enable the rebels
to acquire by fraud and troachery
what they failed to gain by force.
The Nation is indebted for this
new per6dy to the removal from
the Presidents mind Of apprehen.
sions of impeachment. While there
was q probability that the Judicia.
ry Committee would find an in
dictment against him, the Presi.
dent covered, and enforced tho
law. With ill,grace, it is true
nevertheless, be obeyed superior
authority. Tho danger removed,
he at oneo throw off reserve, and
tho long delayed opinion of the
Fiaw officer of tho Cabinet was
promulgod. Whether the Judicia.
Try Committee Of the House was
timidly or sel6shly organized with
a view to prevent impeachment,
the future may dcvelope but that
the determination of tho bare ma.
| jority Of that Committee to report
against impeachment, was the i'm.
mediate cause Of the nuIli6cation
OF the Reconstruction act, is too
patent for debate.
We style this new ukase Of AN.
DREW JouNsoN, notification, be-.
cause it deleata the expressed will
Of the people as declared by Con.
grcss, Stripped Of authority to
remove miechiovous rebels from
Office, the authority Of the District
Commanders is reduced to a cipher,
and restoration Of the South with.
ont such authority becomes impos
sible, That the law coniers it up. !
on thope officers, We have the dis
tihguished testimony of President
JOHNSON, and Of his Hdw officer,
Attorney.Gcnera SrANBERY-who |
wrote his veto message, in which
il was bitterly objected that the
decentralization act gaYe to the
District Commanders "a6soluts do !
m!nion' over the South. "Thc |
power" said the President Hthus
given to tho commanding officer,
over all the people OF each district,
IS that Of an absolute m march
His mere will lie TO take the place
of all law" Again mo master
ever had control 50 absolute over
ms sLdvcS as this (Rcconstruction)
bM gives TO The military officers over
both white and colorod persons
AS we have eaid before, tho
Presidout deliberately lied in his
veto message, with tho hope OF
making tho Reconstruction act
odious, or be villaiuously lies now,
for the purpose Of nullifying the
act OF Congress, and enabling the
rebels 10 conquer by fraud, through
him, what they failed to achieve
by tho sword, against ts National
armIos, But the loyal people Of ;;
Ihe North arc not surprised at J
this new example of Presidential
perhdy, From the dato Of the '
Lirst officially expressed political
opinion OF Mr. Henry SrANpEpY, +!
chief law officer Of tho crown, il
was plain that President Johnson
contemplated evasion oil his duty.
Ito stimulated, if ho did not 10 !,
'truct the Attorney General, to
search out modes and means by
which he might cyado tho honest
execution OF the laws Of Congress,
md that officer, with tho keen in !
senuity Of cunning advocate, I,
sought, with indomilable persever. l
lncc, and tho skill Of u scamp, who
seeks TO pcrvert laws to raecally 5
uses, to discover flaws to enable
his master to defeat the will of the
people. He was successful in his !
inquiries, -. successful enough, at =
MI events, TO find a means to ena.
ole the President to evade the dis.
charge of his duties until Congress
shall lash hlm into obedience.
But thcre is u compensation for !
his new treaehery. 1t viii arouse t
.ho Union party anew to the per. E :,
Is of the situation. We have been y
'olaxing our efforts at the ballot. !.
Jox, 10 crown our achievements In '
lrmsi wo have trusted too conf
lently to the quiot operation of 4
ust principles We discover that I
reason and rebellion will not yield '
o moderate measures, but that J
hey need inhexible resistance, aud v
hat they must be crushed out step V,
y step, and by harsh means, u
where moderation proves ineili v
lent. This new perildy Of tho :.
resident, this naughty arroga- y
ion OF supreme authority by ono !,
MN nN,no kn I'M al u