The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-02-23

better it will be for himself his Administra-
ton, the South, the North, the Treasury, and
the general interests of the Union.
President johnson aad the RecOnstruc-
From the Times.
The decision of the President whatever it
may be, in regard to the Reconstruction bill,
will be chiefly important in its bearing upon
his own position, and upon the fortunes of the
South, The more than two-thirds vote by
which the bill passed both branches of Con-
gress places it beyond the reach of the veto
The most that can happen is temporary delay.
To veto the measure openly would simply be
to insure its enactment as law irrespective
the Presidents hostility. To retain it in the
Executive pocket and so to smother it for the
session, would be unequally unavailing; since
the Congress which is to assemble on the 4th
of March would at once pass a similar law,
and might possibly augment its harshness and
stringency. For the sake of the South it is
desirable that the contingency 'e obviated,
which can only be done by an abs lutte settle
ment within the next few days. Md for the
sake of the President himself it is be hoped
that he will meet the issue i'm, Nediately,
whether his final decision be for { against
the bill.
The principles upon which reconstru ton is
provided for, and the conditions to which it is
subjected, differ so widely from those favored
by the President that his concurrence can
scarcely be expected. He has not shown him
self an adept in the art of Cancellation, or q
very earnest seeker after compromise. The
question has reached stage, however, in
which the reaffirmatiOn of his antagOnism to
Congress can avail neither himself nor the
country. 1t is not necessary that he recant
lig Ni,nin
of constitutional right and duty. He may
| adhere consistently to both and yet find him
| self at liberty to follow Mr.. Rev rdy Johnson
in his acceptance of the inevita e. By no
| possibility can he gain aught by fusing to
| acquiesce in the action of Congress He may
! intensity the feeling against himself, and may
| perchance bring other burdens upon the South,
| but he can no more hope to give effect to his
| own views or to induce Congress to abate the
exercise of its power. The unexpectedly large
majorities on Wednesday placed th2se points
| beyond dispute.
Nor should the President forget ne probable
| influence of his course upon th temper and
| policy of the South. Do what b may, the bill
| will go into effect. What he MAY say or do
| may nevertheless influence the Southern people
| for good or evil They were misled by his
advice into the rejection of the Constitutional
! amendments measure which, compared with
| this Reconstruction nill, was mildness itself.
| Again, they have eXulted in his checks upon
military authority, and have been encouraged
| by his language and acts to rely upon the in
| tervention of the Supreme Court. Intentionally
| or otherwise, therefore, he has incurred a
responsibility from which he cannot escape,
| and the remembrance of this fact should not
be without influence upon his treatment of the
| present bill. IL is now possible for him to
! encourage the expectation that his views shall
| more or less affect the administration of the
| LAWN which case much sullen defiance may
| be looked for in the South; or, on the other
hand, by an unreserved acknowledgment
of the power of Congress and the will
of the loyal people, he may at the
outset convince the South of the neces-
sity of accepting the terms offered with
| out more ado. To the South it is no longer a
question of choice. The dignity" which OBJ
structed Governor Orr's path cannot save the
| present Governments from the operation OF
negro suffrage and the disability clause of the
Constitutional amendment. The "passive re-
sistance' and ''masterly inactivity which
| Southern Solons have inculcated as infallible
| prophylactics will neither Illustrate the Briga-
ders and their commands nor save from dis
| franchisement large and influential class.
| The provisions of the bill will be brought into
| play, happen what may. New Constitutions
will be provided, despite the disfranchisement
and exclusion from the conventions of every
prominent Rebel. The only open aspects of
the question refer to the spirit in which these
events shall be received and the disposition to
be shown in relation to them. 1t is in connec-
ton with these points that the President should
feel his responsibility. And it is in view Of this
responsibility, rather than in consideration OF
any other circumstance, that we trust the Pre-
sdent will respect the action of Congress as a
settlement of the reconstruction question: from
which there is no appeal