American citizen. [volume] (Butler, Butler County, Pa.) 1863-1872, 1867-07-31
NUMBER SO
A HOPELESS STRUGGLE,

z
When Mr.. James Brooks says that if
he were President of the United States
he would not allow Congress to impose
upon him law utterly subversive of the
Constitution of the United States, what
does he mean (? Does he mean merely
that If Congress passed law over his
veto he would refuse to execute it. or
that, II he were required to execute
law which he considered unconstitution-
al, he would resignY If he means the
latter, then President James Brooks
would do precisely what the country
would gladly see done by President An
drew johnson. Everybody would be sat.
isfed. But if he means the former. then
he declares that he would, if possible,
try to subvert the Government. In that
case one of two things would happen
Civil war or impeachment The Presi-
dent would certainly be removed, or he
must be able to remove Congress. 7s
Mr.. Brooks seems not to know that the
will of the President is not the Govern
ment of this country. When laws are
passed by Congress which he considers
unconstitutional, he may object by his
veto. When those laws are passed again
over his veto, he must execute them or
resign. And why not 2 Why are NOT
two-thirds of Congress as likely to be
right upon question of constitutionality
as the President? Mr.. Brooks declaim-
ed against the Reconstruction Bill as out
rageous and Infamous But however bad
it may be, could it possibly contain any
proposition so monstrous as that the
Presidents pleasure is the law? 3ia
The speech of Mr. Brooks and Of Mr..
Wood in opposition to the House bill re-
vealed once more the melancholy inabil-
ity Of the opposition in Congress and the
utter folly of the party which conduct it.
They declare that the late rebel States
as ever, and that the whole system of re-
construction is an unparalleled military
despotsm which strikes at the very found
alton Of the Magma Oharta which the
barons wrung from King John. Now
this position is exactly the one upon
which the President planted himself in
his famous policy, which is as much
thing of the past as the gunbo pro>
iects Of Mr.. Jefferson The Democrats
do not seem to see that they are engaged
in hopeless struggle upon this point,
for they are fighting with the common
sense of the nation.
We are occasionally informed by sans
guine Democrats that the Republican
party is at an end, and that Lothing is
now between the Democracy and triumph
Nothing but the people. The Democrat
ic leaders are constantly saying to tho
people of this country, You have fought
terribly you have won great victory
you are exhausted and want peace give
up all you have been fighting for and you
shall hrve it," They wish US to regard
the war as mere trial of strength, in
which we have succeeded, and every thing
remains just as it was Now, if any
thing is clear, it is that the common
sense Of the people does not agree that
every thing is as it was. They have res
solved that the late rebel States shall be
reorganized npon the terms which they
may prescr ibe, and not upon such as
those Stat es themselves may choose
And this is precisely the point of diver,
gence between the Democrntic party and
the people. isat sa..l
Until this question is settled there is
and can be no other issue. But the pol
icy of Congress being heartily approved
by the country, every patriotic man will
do what he can to promote it, with a view
to the speediest restoration and the peace
and prosperity of the Unien.-Harper's
Weekly.