New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1867-12-02
CONGRESS-.

This session of Congress promises TO bc of
unusual importance When the present Repre-
sentatiyes were elected, the Republican party
was powerful in most of the Northern States
by the ballot in all of the Southern States by
military occupation. The party WIS charged
with Reconstruction. That work is done. Nh.
Johnson's course was embarrassing but
these very embauassments compelled il TO
labor with unusual vigilance and industry.
Reconstruction, so far as it is a legislative po-
litcal policy, is finished. Mr.. Johnson will find
it as impossible to change the policy as it
would be for him to initiate Joshua and stop
the sun and moon. We have given the negro
tie ballot, and il carnct be taken from him
without social cOnvulson We do not think
there is any pariy-unlcss, perhaps, a fragment
| of ignorant Coppcrl eads-that seriously pro-
poses to annul Manhood Suffrage. In the
North, prejudice has kept it back; bat with us
it is not practical question.
Here and there, anew stitch may bc ncccs-
sary, but the Reconstruction worl, Is ended
and a very good piece of WoiI, il is. " Uni
yclsal Amnesty lad been formally coupled
with Impartial Suffrage, tie moral effect upon
the South would have been better. We should
have glaciously conceded in the beginning
what those who knew the heart OF the
people felt sure we should certainly grant in
the end. We have virtual amnesty now, be-
cause our people are too brave. and 100 mag
unanimous, to enter upon the business Of cOnfS-
cation and capital punishment. The negroes
are doing their work very wcll. They labor
with diligence and, as the elections show. vote
promptly and intellgcntly. We certainly have
not seeu any of that blind and docilc obc-
dience to their old masters, which we were
assured was iuscpaIable from their former con
ditiOn of slavery. Nor have we noticed
any evidences of the malignity and ven
gcance which the COpperlcads assured us
would result from their accession to power.
We have had no general Law of disfIanchisc-
ment in the State Conventions, no voting each
other farms, no effort to force themselves into
Office, no clannishness. not even the excuses
OF winter races emerging from slavery. Ii will
be some time perhaps before suffrage is rs in
telgent as in the North but we believe il 10
be quite as intelligent as in many wards Of
NewYork City. Events already Justify Che
wisdom of Impartial Suffrage, and Congress
may well leave Reconstruction to Time.
Impeachment is an immediate question We
have not discussed it, because We believe il has
passed above the range of newspaper discus
sion Impeachment is matter of law and
evidence, and nothing is more indecent than
the clamOr for its passage unless il is the
clamOr against its passage. Our danger is
that having two-thirds Republican vote,
we are tempted TO impeach am officer who
differs with the Republican party. MIR. John
son may leave the party without committing
crime against the Constitution, and
now with the law plainly written, and
the evidence before them our representatives
must act az though the Republican party never
existed. Possibly there is evidence of high crimes
and misdemeanors. We do not see it in the
printed volume, and at the same time We do
see an amount of gossip and SANDER in the
shape Of evidence which il is painful to have
in print. There are er-pdrte statements--taken
secretly without the privilege of cross-exmi
nation or explanation, from witnesses of every
grade of responsibility. The American mind
will certainly revolt against this--as the English
mind rcyOlted against the enormous revelations