Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1867-03-29
Johnson's Twelfth and Last Veto

1t is to be hoped that the late veto
of the Supplemental Reconstruction :,
Bill may prove to be the last OF the
long succession of disputes between
congress and the president. Begin |
ming with the veto of the FreedmenS s
Bureau Bill about year ago, Mr.. |
Johnson has now discussed nearl Y ev- 8
cry conceivable phase Of the great {
question of the day, to wit; the Re (
construction of the Rebel States. Not ;
only has he done this in his twelve la
bored veto messages to congress, but
he has diligently improved every OPP
portunity, however small, to give the
people and their representatives IN
congress to understand that he was
right and they were wrong. lie has
made balcony speeches to the negroes
and night harrangues to the soldiers
and sailors. He has swung around
the circle" making speeches all the
way, the burden Of which was the
matchless wisdom and perfection OF
"mypolicy." The people everywhere
listened but thought for themselves,
and improved the very first opportu-
nifty to quietly yet resolutely record
their condemnation of that policy and
earnestly demand better way. Wit
ness in this connection the elections
lastfall.
The thirty-ninth congress, patient
and laborious, yet tardy in the work
of readjusting the seeded states upon
the basis of true republicaniSm, was
met at every point by Johnson's We
toes; and not until during the closing
hours Of the session did the Military
Reconstruction Bill become law, and
not then with the presidents consent.
The fortieth congress, fresh from the
people and full of courage, have with
unusual promptnesS and energy pass
ed a bill Supplemental to the Military
Bill, which with that may be appro
priately called the magma charta of
American liberty. Yet this last bill
has received Mr.. Johnsons veto.-
Yes, he has vetoed it, but what OF
that? 1t was Immediately repasset
by a vote in the senate Of 40 yeas tt
7 nays, and in the house by ia yeas
to % nays-more than three fourth'
Of each body, whereas only two third
is required and what is still NOR,
significant in this connection is this
the veto elected not a word of dis
cussion in either house.
Mr.. Johnson has talked himsel
hoarse and written himself weary i
vain attempts to make a loyal cor
gress believe that they were traitor.
and the loyal masses to believe, tina
there has been no war, no rebellion
and that the south is entitled to tn
same rights as heretofore; that thei
tiendish attempts to destroy the go'
eminent should disadvantage thel
nothing; that their treason and I,
bellion should meet with the same r
ward as the heroic defenders of I'll
Union. Such has been the plain in
port of his vetoes and speeches; an
the more he has written and spoke
the more clamorous and imperiol
public sentiment has grown, and tt
more unanimous and independent co
gress has become in the repudiatic
of those teachings, till from the ba
two thirds vote, with which after fl
discussion, the first veto was owe
ruled, the last is not even paid st
cold respect Of passing glance" b
the bill is straightway made a law
nearly six to one in the senate 81
nearly five to one in the house.
Ihis 1t seems to as may be cons
cred as the last of "my policy p
the closing struggle between a &C
gress slow but faithful, and a pre-
dent, trusted and honored vet rec
ant, not only to party ties and oblie
tions, but to the very first principI
of justice and liberty. He has no
ever been reduced within the last We
by the logic of events to conditi
comparatively harmless and inoff,
sive; and that too in the manner D
scribed by the constitution. Legis
ton has gone on in spite of his GU
ulous vetoes and electioneering tw:
die, till the whole range of debatal
topics growing out of this importa
question seems to be disposed Of
From this point the machinery of r
toratlon promises to run itself. wi
out any call upon the executive for
opinion, approval or interference
The clouds that have heretofore
veloped this sea of debate as to
terms of reconstruction seem ;nde
to be breaking away, and the matt
may well rejoice that land is at /
in sight.
Not only have we now a defip
plan OF reconstruction, but there
CfPnnn ind.