New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1867-03-04
THE PRcONSTRUCTION VETO.

or TACT. Is tilc dCJlial COuuiIloh VI VIZ
lately in arms against the Union one Oh Peace
or of Warf Every thing hinges on tho answer
to this question. IL those VINO were
lately Rebels fare now loyal peacet'i
citizens of tho United States-h they
have truly heartily, unreseryedly accepted
the situation-if they treat their loyal neigh
bors and the loyal strangers who go among
them with courtesy and kindness-if the courts
which they have established and restored since
April 1866, stand ready to punish and actually
do punish, outrages and crimes whereof consist
emf Unionists are victims, and which nave
their impulse in the malignty and chagrln OIL
d;scomfited treason-then is President john
son's Veto Of the Reconstruction bill whole
some and necessary exercise OF a constitutional
prerogatiye wisely conferred on him by the
Constitution. 49,,
But il tho existing condition is utterly
different from this-if the spirit OF Rebellion
'bcaton, not conquered" fairly driven from the
field of opcn, manly warfare, still turks IN
byways and covers in thickets, or shrouds
itself in tho darkness of midnight seeking a
cruel, cowardly revenge on those it has found
itself unable longer to meet in open warfare,
then this Veto is at once bunder and a
crime And, of all men living, the late Mill
tary Governor Of Tennesseo-tho appointer,
since Lee and JohnstOns surrender, of Milit-
airy Governors, with dctatorial powers, over
nine States wherein no Rebel flag still Hoated,
no Rebel in arms still offered resistance TO the
National aulhority-should have been the last
TO interpose objections and cavils TO such vigor
Gus, persistent exercise of such authority as may
be necessary to repress assassination melted by
disloyalty and restore the South to order and
peace
What, then. arc the essential factsf
We cite first, rs witnesses on the side OF
Congress, Mr.. JOhnsOn's own agents IN uphold
ing loyalty and order at tho SOuth-Gens.
Thomas Sickles, and Sheridan. These are no
fanatics-they are cool and able sodiers-thcy
were not even Abolitonsts till the Rebellion
left them no choice but between Emancipation
| and Disunion. Their testimony IA before the
country it is specific and lucid and they are
unanimous in representing the dominant feeling
of the OK Rebels at the South as still disloya and
| nmCal to those who stood by the Union while
| they were fighting to subyert it.
We cite next the butchcry at Memphis. A
full year ago. some scores of peaccablc, harm
less Unonists were murdered or wounded there
some of them burned to death in their own
honestly Rebels and sympathisers with the
Rebellion. The pretcxt for this butchery was
their color; its notorious impulse was their 10y
atty. They were slaughtered as some hundreds
of their race had previously been at Fort Pill
low mot far distanD, and for the same reason
Yet, up TO this hour, not one of their muir
dcrers has even been indicted.
We cite next the kindred massacre at Now
Orleans, where Whites as well ~ Blacks were
INCREASINGLY sacrificed TO Rebel hate and ven
geance. and where none of their murderers has
been tried for his crime TO this hour.
We cite the concerted midnight assassination
by Rebels of three Union soldiers at Sisters
Ferry, South Carolina. The murderors were
identified, arrested, and convicted before Mil
itary Court; but, having been liberated by a
Federal Judge on habeas corpus. went straight
to their homes in the neighbOrhOOd where the
murders were committed, and were there re-
ceived by their Rebel neighbOr5 as victorious
patriots not branded assassiD5. And no local
authority has ever attempted to bring them
to justice.
We cite the fact that, whereas Black felOns
are easily arrested, convicted, and punished
throughout the South, no single Rebel White
duly punished by the local authorities for the
murder of Black. The number of Blacks who
have been killed by Whites in those States
during the last twenty months cannot have
fallen below five thousand; yet not one White
has been punished therefor in what Mr. John
son characterizes as the ten States wherein the
claws are in undisturbed and harmonious opera
"tiOn; the Courts are open, and in the full
Exercise of their proper authority; life. lib
"erty, and property are secured by State laws
"and Federal laws" Such being, and long
having been, the state of facts, according to
Mr. JohnsOn's conception, and tho butchery
of Horton, Dostic, Henderson, &c, at New
Orleans, having been specially justified by
him, it is plain that we cannot expect better
results from such rule, such "peace,r in
the future, than in the recent past
If the States wherein Union soldiers
and negroes are now murdered with inn
punity are loyal and entitled to like self govern
ment and power in the Union with New York
and Ohio, then it is plain that dozen wholesale
butcheries per annum like those of Memphis and
New-Orleans cannot dlvest them Of such rights.
To cOncede to them the character he claims for
them is to admit that our murdered brethren in-
vOked and deserved their fate.
OF this grave issae, THE Loyal Millions are at
irrecOncilable issue with Mr. Johnson The ques-
ton was fully argued before them, by himself
and others, iii our late elections and the YER
dict was direct and overwhelming. They know
that it is their right to have ample protection
for loyal men at the South. They confidently
believe they have power to enforce that right
they know chat, at al events it is their duty
to try. If Mr.. Johnson, or any one else, fan
cies they can be wcaried or bullicd out OF this
Inc will find. himself sorcly mis-.