The tri-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1866-1868, 1867-07-02
The action of CONGRESS will floubtlesa h. .

The action of Congress will doubtless be a
new law OF reconstruction, so clearly and
infinitely establishing the powers of the five
district commanders as to- admit of no eva
sion of the conditions of registration. the
qualifications of electors, and the rules and
restrictions applicable in each of the Suites
concerned to its State convention, constitu-
ton and Legislature, and to its elections of
Senators and Representatives to Congress. 1t
may be safely assumed that under this de-
claratory act a more rigid enforcement OF
the general terms to the excluded States laid
down at the last session will be exacted than
would have been required had the Presi.
dent, in his execution of these laws, leaned
more to their " true intent and meaning
and less to his exploded polich. Had he
desired the special intervention of Congress
to rectify the Irregularities and harmonic
the action of the five district commanders he
could not have adopted more effective
measure to secure his object than in the
course he has pursued but wiser expedi
ent would have been Il simple proclamation
recommending the presence of q quorum in
each house on the Sd of July.
1t is evident, however, that his purpose
has been rather to embarrass, delay and de-
feat the reconstruction programme of Con.
gress, than to assist in bringing it to sue
ccssful issue. With the failure of the ap-
peals to the Supreme Court of Sharkey
Walker, Jenkins and company, a general
spirit of acquiescence in the opinions of such
men General Lee, Hampton and Lonstreet
and general disposition to fulfill the con-
ditions of Congress, Immediately followed
from Virginia to Texas. But when it be-
came apparent, after the Southern mission OF
Senator Wilson and the confiscation hints OF
Thaddeus Stevens and from the movements
of the Freedmen's Bureau officials, and from
the proceedings of the military district COM
manders and their subordinates, that the
Southern blacks en- nadsse, and a portion OF
the Southern whites, were rallying to the
Republican party, and would probably car
ry two or three of the ten States concerned,
it would seem that President Johnson took
the alarm. But in undertaking to defeat
the radicals with their own weapons he has
been again playing into their hands. The
Attorney Generals remarkable rigmarole on
registration, though incomprehensible to
the Southern anti-radical elements, was still
encouraging, and his more extended opinion
on the laws of reconstruction would, per-
haps have brought every man to the regis
tration Office who breads the ultimatuln of
Stevens, but for the immediate warning of a
July session of Congress. From that mo-
ment, as we learn from careful observers on
the ground, those Southern opposition ele-
ments so far gave up the fight that it is be-
lieved, as matters stand to-day, they have
turned over to the Republican Union leagues
of the South every State from the Potomac
to the Rio Grande. 1t appears that these
leagues, encouraged by Congress, the War
Department and the military authorities
South, and supported by the Freedmen's
Bureau, form already comprehensive, COM
pact and powerful party organization,
while the Southern opposition, without lea
ders or means, all moneyless and all adriit,
are utterly hopeless of any effective resis-
tancc.
Is this condition of things likely to be
changed by the approaching July session of
Congress By no means. On the contrary
the vantage ground thus gained by the re-
publican party will be strengthened at all
points in a new reconstruction bill :; and this
will probably be the exclusive business of
this extraordinary session. The eonfisca-
ton scheme of /" Old Thad Stevens" the
still more revolutionary agrarian notions OF
" Old Ben Wade" the preposterous women's
rights theories of Mrs. Elizabeth Cady STAN
ton, and the financial reforms of moonshine
and green cheese preached in the prairies by
George Francis Train, will all have to be
postponed. at least till the cooler season of
next December Nor do we apprehend the
of President johnson. He
is too useful to the radicals to be removed.
He has been the making Of them, and when
they show any signs of decentralization he is
sure to commit some fzur pas that harmo-
nzes them. He may expect to be badgcred
and frightened considerably witthe impeach-
ment prosecution, but it will only be flour
ished as a flaming sword over his head to
keep him within the control of Congress-
The solution of this conflict will most likely
be the reconstruction of the ten outside
States under the banner of the Republican
party, the complete Abandonment of Presi-
dent Johnson by the South, asa disastrous
failure from first to last the extinction of
the last chickering's of those old Southern
State rights fallacies which hare broken
down his administration, anda struggle i'll
the Republican National Convention Of 1868
between the followers of Chase, sustained by
the national banks, and the supporters of
Grant, backed by the army, which will bring
to the severest trial the cohesive power of
the public plumber" AS to. the restoration
of all or any of the States of the five militia
ry districts in season to give them a voice in
the next Presidential contest, the chances
are now against them and for this, if dis
posed to he thankful, their thanks are espe-
cially due to Mr.. Johnson and his, learned
Attorney General.-N 7. Herald.