The Portland daily press., 1867-02-07


1t appears that the country is about to be
astonished by new adaptation of the pater.
nal style of government to American institu-
tions. The President, still regarding it as his
function to rule and not merely to administer,
has been holding an informal council in the
privacy of the White House with several lead
ing Southerners, graciously consulting his
Cabinet from time to time, and the net result
OF these deliberations is at length made pub
lie by special dispatch to the New York
World. The advertising part of the business
has been exceedingly well managed. Tantal-
lzing announcements of something brewing
have kept the public expectation alive and
watchful. The cat is out of the bag at last,
and looks surprisingly like the troublesome
animal which disturbed the repose ofthe coun-
try year ago. ..
The substance the whole scheme is this ::
that the Southern States, pushed by the
President and pulled by the Governors, are to
be induced to grant the right of suffrage at
once to all male citizens of suitable age who
can read and write and own property valued
at $3.50, without distinction of race. There
upon the President will cry, Behold these
penitent Southern gentlemen; they toll not
neither do they spin, but Solomon in all bis
glory couldn't hold candle to them; why not
admit these precious saints to seats in Con-
gress? And the Democratic press will re-
spond, Amen! johnson forever! The Presi
dent has mounted policy which is apparent.
ly better in some respects than that upon
which year ago he was disposed to insist.
speaking Of Congress as body hanging on the
verge ofthe government and evidently regard
ing himself as the centre and a good part of
the circumference of the political system. The
objections to the present plan, il it is to be
regarded as the basis of final settlement
are plain enough. 1t does not exclude the
men who led the Southern people into seces-
sion from places of trust to which they are no
longer entitled. 1t does not guarantee the
political rights of Southern laborels If the
Southern Legislatures are ready to make these
concessions, concessions which the Northern
people regard as essential to the peace and
safety of the country, let them give token of
their readiness by ratifying the constitutional
amendment. That will be long step towards
reconstruction. Then let them irrevocably
adopt the principle of impartial suffrage, not
by local enactment but by constitutional COM
pact-that also An intelligence test is well: ::
aproperty qualification not SO well. That is
a minor matter. But the pledges of the con-
stitutional amendment, with the additional
security of impartial suffrage we must have,
and have confirmed by the strongest safe
guards which can be devised. ,.. .--..,... .q.
ad Possibly some of these objections may have
weight with Congress when the Presidents
new policy is officially brought to the notice of
the representatives of the people, We trust
his recommendations will be treated with the
respect which Congress owes to itself. We
hope Mr.. Stevens will restrain his youthful
spirits sufficiently to listen quietly to the Pres
ident's message. If the Presidents plan has
any good features, it is fair to suppose that
majority will be found in Congress to adopt at
least those features. What a powerful infu-
ence Mr.. johnson might have exercised legit-
imately when he entered upon his great task,
strong in the sympathies of whole people, if
he had at once convened Congress for an ex-
ira session, if he had thrown himself upon the
good will of that body, if he had recommended
instead Of trying to dictate policy His
recommendations will carry no such undue
weight now. 1t is extremely probable that
Congress will not adopt his plan.
1t Mr.. johnson wants to unite the Republi-
can party in favor of his impeachment, he will
proceed to repeat the blunders of last year.
He will devise an ingenious policy of his own
-he has already done that. He will procure
its endorsement by the Southern Legislatures
he is doing that. He will reco nmend it to
Congress, and when Congress quietly lays it
aside and proceeds to deal with its own busi-
ness in its own way, he will treat that conduct
as an Infringement of his prerogative and vent
his impotent spleen in coarse abuse. Let him
be warned in time. Rather than submit to a
repetition of those disgraceful scenes, the coun-
try will demand and insist upon his impeach-
ment. ot "a lHa i-he2
lm We print in another column the substance
of the bill to reorganize the Southern States,
drawn up by the Southern Republicans and
presented to the House of Representatives by
Mr.. Ashley of Ohio. A comparison of this
measure with the Presidents revised policy
will not prove uninstructive