The Potter journal. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1857-1872, 1867-03-12
The Veto Of the Reconstruction Bill.

according TO the Provisions OF the ConsIlta-
tion, by a vote 50 overwhelming as to pre-
clnde the possibility Of evasion or reversal.
The argument of the message is but re-
arguing a case ;.fter il has been finally sci
tied in the court Of last resort. 1t is an at
tempt to reopen question which the par
amount tribunal has settled after the fullest
hearing, with the most thorough dellbera-
tioa aud with unparalleled unahimi:y.
The people of the United States, by
whose votes Mr. johnson holds has office,
decided at the last election that his policy
was wrong, and the reconstruction which
lie had attempted Was unauthorized and
unsatisfactory, and therefore liable TO be set
aside. By his veto he sets up his indlvid-
ua judgement to the contrary, and places
his official prerogatiVe in the way to block.
as far as he can, the success Of the method
Of reconstruction which the people. repre-
sentatives have substituted for his. If he
could be supposed to be logically cons;s-
! tent, his expressed views as to the uncon-
stitutionality of the bill would lead him to
refuse to execute it for the same reasons
for which he refused to sign 1t.
| How far his tenacity of purpose will car
ry him in this direction remains to be seen.
If the new Congress shall retain as large
proportion Of the spirit of the old a. Of its
membership it will not hesitate to employ
its constitutional powers in removing every
obstacle which may stand in the way of
! the reconStTuction now defnitiEely resolved
upon.
| The President alleges that the provision
If the Constitution which guarantees to
States republican form of government is
violated bv setting aside the nominal gov
ernmepts now in existence in the rebel
States. He seems to forget that in doing
| this Congress has done exactly what he
did himself IN Ignoring existing govern
ments which were not authorized by the
Constitution, while it has useI It's rightfai
powers of legislation in doing what he as
Sumed to do without constitutional powers
Legislation being the exclusive prerogs-
tive Of Congress.
The dic'a Of the Supreme Court will not
/ be regarded rs ciSive of the question on
which he quotes them. They are but
opinions and ere opposed by the Contrary
opinions Of many Judicial persons ofhighe>t
standing. BY the Constitution, "the Judi
cial power shall extend to al cases In law
and equity arising rnder this Constitution"
&c., and does not reach to the dictation or
revision Of the acts Of Congress, either be-
fore or after Their passage, except 50 far as
concerns the decision OF ceases" that may
be judcialy before it. President jackson,
whom Mr.. johnson is supposed TO make
pie ratified it, that one branch Of the gov
ernment cannot understand the constitution
| for another. Still less can the individual
opinions of judges coLtrol the action OF
! Congress, when it is within the constilu-
tioual preFogative of Congress to impeach
and remove tie judge for the promui ga
tioH Of those opinions
The hole argument of unconstitution-
ahty comes too late, because the question
was put III issue at the late election sud
thoroughly canva-sed and definitely decii-
ed by the people, whose viii alone gives
force To the Constitution, and 10y whom II
eau be chauged in any particular when it,
| operation il found to be an obstacle to
What they deem necessary for the we!tiste
OF the nation
! The state Of the facts which Mr. johnson
issSu:ac> - the Foundation OF his ar2unrcut
nas been fully understood aud adjudlcated
by the people, and til ir judgement Is not
10 be set aside by reiterated assertions oil
What over" helming eva deuce has disprUN-
ed. " hen the rebellion Was crushed BY
our arlnieS, the only thing The people de-
sired was just aud durable peace, aud tie
SpeedieSt possible restoration Of social order
aud Industry, that should lead TO haI
nouIous readml>Sion OF the rebel states to
their proper relations. No degrees OF
magnannGlty that could be asked tOr would
have been eyond the willingness OF the
! people 10 grant, II seen To CONSIST with tins
requirement.. They would stand on no
nice points OF order They loug hopeu
even that Mr.. Johuson's policy of recon
struction might answer. When they saw
Clearly that THIS had failed to produce a
praeuc,d reconstruction, they hoped thai
the constitutional Amendment might an
s"er the purpose, VI heu that failed they
demanded a more vigorous measure, and
they viii Stand by the present law unln
tney are convinced that II, too, Is INSULT
cient
Ine President will assume grave re
sponslbihty If he shall undertake to trea
tlIs as he lid the institutional Amend
ment, with a dogged hostility to the eN
tent Of his power. He may have some ~
huence with the rebel states. to persuad,
them to stand out against The just require
tnents OF the government, but he viii oulA
deude them with false hopes. They h9e
better take counsel OF Mr. Reverdy join