Juniata sentinel. [volume] (Mifflintown, Pa.) 1846-1873, 1867-12-11
THE PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.

The message is too long for onr col
umns. 1t is similar to all the other pa
pors of the same character that have
come from Andrew Johnson His dis
cussion Of .he Reconstruction question Is
simply resume Of the arguments of his
various veto mcssaSes-nothlnS new. nc
regards the Congressional plan of Recon
struction failure-indeed, an impedl
ment in the work of restoring the States
to their normal condition. In the face OF
the evidence Of Military Commanders III
the South who have been compelled to
decaptate lawless Rebel officials, in all di-
rections, and the fierce, unrclentiDg yer
scouting even to death of loyal Uuiouists,
white aud black, the President insists
that:
''The execution of the laws is not now
obstructed or opposed b. physical force
! there is no military q, other necessity,
real or pretended, which can prevent obe-
dience to the Consultation, either North
or South. All the rights aud all the OBJ
| legations Of States aud individuals can be
protected and enforced by means perfectly
consistent with the Fundamental law. The
courts may be everywhere open, and, if
open, their process would be unimpcded.
Grimes against the Dated States can be
prevented o. punished sy the proper ju
dicial authorities IN manner entirely
practicable aud legal"
The President argues atlength the uu-
constitutionality of the Military Govern
ments in the South, aud urges the repeal
Of the laws authorizing chem. lie says
at is manifestly and avowedly the OIL
ject Of these laws to confer upon negroes
the privilege OF voting, and to disfran-
chise such rutnber Of white citizens as
viii give the former a clear majority at
all elections i'll Southern States"
He then onlarges upon the dangers Of
committing the ballot to the negro-in-
sists that ours is "a white mans govern
ment, that the negro is an inferior race.
aud ought not be permitted to participate
in governmental affairs, until properly
trained The cost Of Military Recon
siruction is also objected to, and the whole
system regarded as intended to secure the
ultimate establishment Of negro suerem-
acy.
The Message frankly admits that:
Enormous frauds have been perpetrat-
el on the Treasury, and that colossal for
tunes have been made at the public ax-
pense; this species Of corruption has in
creased, is increasing, and If not dimiu-
i,hei, will soon bring US into total ruin
and disgrace. The public creditors aud
the taxpayers are alike Interested in an
honest admins, ration Of the finances, and
neither classes viii endure the high hand
cd robberjes that have recently occurred
For this djscreditab'e state oc things there
are several causes. Some oi the taxes are
50 laid rs to presen. an irresistible temp
tation 10 evaic payment. The great sums
which officers may win by connivance at
fraud, create pressure which is more
than the virtue Of money can withstand,
and there can be no doubt that the open
disregard Of constitutional Obligations
avowci by some Of the highest and most
Influential men IN the country, has weak
ened the moral sense Of those who serve
in subordinate PLACES
But these frauds are mainly attributed
to the operations of the Civil OfGce Tenure
Bill, which is assailed as tying the hands
Of the President in the removal and Sc
lection of public officers, [Unfortunate'y
for the Presidents argument on this point,
Commissioner RUllins-ihe head of the
Internal Revenue Departmental his ties
tinlony before the Congressional Retyench-
ment Committee, testides that the public
service has suffered much by the removals
made by the President, aud the appoint
ment OF incompetent and corrupt success
ors. Ii was to stop this that the Civil
Oiice Tenure Bill was passed
The Wilmington CoH,mcrciqi gives au
ancnnnt Gf the last snr.iannunI ph;r,inr