Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1867-02-27

cOnarucfs0n-FrOgreSS0 Of 6HSfaeSS-hOtd-
ton in Ofice-Society- Temperance-Ihe
40M Congress.
WASHINGTON, d. c., Feb. %, 1867.
wAsHINGroN's BIRTHDAY.
Mr.. EDITOR How differently the day has
been spent from Washington's birthday last
year Then it was first settled that johnson
would betray and overthrow, if possible, the
Republican party; then he made his first
disgraceful, drunken speech, which made all
the rebels wild with joy, filled the loyal peo-
pie with shame and fear, and began that war
upon Congress which he waged SO long and
bitterly. On that day the rebels, through
him, once more gained victory, and he was
fattered by his Prime Minister with the assu-
rance that his ''spcech = was triumphant,
and the country safe That action was
the open declaration of war, and war IN
which he really thought he should not only
be victorious in establishing his power, but
also in making that power unlimited. and
disposing of the few noble, radical leaders
whom he in his madness condemned. Now,
what change has come over the face of
Things W no Stt q III uliAeh-
CART. raving deserter in the White House.
haranguing a crowd of cut-throats and reb
els, and seeking to incite instruction, but a
quiet, cringing, supplicating penitent is on
his knees begging to be - let Alone seek
ing only to avoid impeachment, and piteous-
" moaning because his dear brethren, who
have so long tried in vain to destroy the Tn
ion. have now lost all power and must stay
out nolens rolens During the last year he
has received nothing but rebuffs, and suffered
most crushing defeats. He has acquired the
hatred of every one, and he himself knows it
his every weapon has been turned against
himself his exertions have only weakened
him. and the speeches on which he most re-
lied to gain him friends, have only made him
enemies Never was any mans fall greater,
who vet retained his head. Too late has he
sought to recover himself, for none will ever
again trust him, though willing perhaps to
use him as a convenient tool.
TuAD. STEVENS.
While we thus see the terrible change that
has come over the position of Mr. Johnson
we cannot too much rejoice in the result of
the last year, nor too much praise and honor
the noble men,-patriots and statesmen all,
who have so successfully and gloriouslv
fought our battles and brought Us triumph
antlv out of this second and more terrible
rebellion. At the head of all these stands
that noble old man. true son of Vermont in
his ardent love of freedom and Justice. who
now, nearly seventy-five years old, still has a
power which compcls all to bow before his
indomitahle will. and finds no equal in the
multitude of peers who surround and sup
port his feeble arms
Not as great lawyer as Shellabarger. nor
fine a Financier as Morrill,, he is vet their
acknowledged leader, against whose viii they
hope to do little. Those whom he cannot
convince. he over-awes. and those who arc
perverse, he goads with his whitening sar-
casm. Yet, while he is fierce and terrible in
his denunciations of injustice he gains the
respect and esteem of his political opponents
by his fairness and greatness of character. AZ
well as his surprising abilities There is no
need for me to mention any OF his supporters,
for should begin, know not where could
stop till had filled column
REcoNsTRU cTIoN.
wish that could say that Reconstruction
has been fairly disposed Of think it has
not. though of course hcresult is now pretty
certain. II is quite confidently asserted that
Mr.. johnson viii not pocket the bill rs he
could do if he chose. and thus insure its
defeat. but viii veto it in season To- have it
passed over his head, AS YOU have undoubt-
edly seen by telegraph, the military Till has
finally passed both Houses, though with some
amendments. and Is now before the President
1t was thought that the Louisiana bill
would be passed and thus fpolishlv predict
ed in my last II is Il matter for regret that
such was not the fact, for | think the coun-
try would have more cordially approved Mr.,
Eliot's bill. and that it would have been pro-
ductive of less mischief OF this military
bill there is much to fear as its indefinite
ness a. to any future governments its sweep
ing Acknowledgement of ALL the most inno-
cent rebels; its tremendous power. which /
should it fall into a bad man : hands. might
WI hiit'ih " Ii ~ tti' tttlii ttt>t anu
many more reasons render it Liable to obiec-
tions the other measure did not have Still
it is far preferable to the ruinous policy now
prevailing throughout the South. and has at
least the advantage of atfording full protec-
ton, and doing full justice to the Union men
both white and black
The overwhelming maiorities it received in
both Houses insures its speedy re-passage. .
should it be vetoed. That most curious man,
Revcrdy Johnson describe him who can
supported this bill and made a strong
speech in favor of it. There are many con-
lectures as to his motives. and it has been
finally decided that he has changed because
there has been one coppcrhead Senator re-
Gently elected from Maryland and he must
not be on the same side. OF course his
change was welcomed, though no deductions
as to his future course could be drawn from
the action. The number of the opposition in
the Senate was thus reduced to sevcn-onlv .
about one-sixth of that body
PROGRESS OF BUSINESS.
1t Is astonishing how difficult il is for
business to be transacted without head to
direct The misfortuncs which have called
Mr.. Morrill, away have deprived the House
Of that head and the tax bill is making very
slow progress, and there is no hope of getting
hat and the tariff through this Session To X
DC sure the greatest clamor is being raised to
induce the House to leave everything else and
oroceed IN the conSidera tion af tba Tariff apd