American citizen. [volume] (Butler, Butler County, Pa.) 1863-1872, 1867-08-07
The Issue Determined.

The hope that was at one time enter.
tanned that President johnson would
submit to the verdict Of the people upon
the appeal made by him to them, may
now be regarded as finally ended, and
as a consequence it may be safely con-
cluded that the chasm that has so long
yawned between the President and the
people cannot and never will be bridged.
The lingering confidence of many of our
most charitable people that the Presi-
dent was honest in his motives aud that
he really intended to govern himself by
the fairly expressed will of the people,
fingers no longer. He has thown down
The gage of an uncompromising contest
in behalf of his own impracticable
measures, which have received the re
peated condemnation of the people, whose
judgment he has challenged. He has
practically declared that he will never
submit, until the people, by thelr ballots,
have accepted his monstrous theories and
rejected the wise, prudent, and efficient
practice of Congress. His parallel in
many respects is found in the self-opin>
donated and boasting juror, who explain
ed why the jury failed to agree, by say>
ing that the other eleven jurors were
the most unreasonably obstinate fellows
he had ever seen.
The situation is clearly marked and
defined. The President, as dispenser
of an ample patronage, has called to the
support of the bare shadows of policy
which virtually surrenders to the rebels
the legitimate fruits Of a loyal victory,
political party which acted in the inter
est of the rebellion from the beginning
to the end of the contest, and which at
critical period of the struggle declared
that the war was failure, and virtually
proposed base surrender to the rebels
ion; to which party may be added a
few deplorable examples of self.styled
Conservatives, who swamped what little
loyal principle they had in an ill-judged
pursuit after the fat spoils of Office.
Congress, on the other hand, stands in
trenched in the affection of the loyal
people, by whose self>sacrifcing devotion
to the Government in the darkest and
most trying hours the terrific contest was
brought to victorious issue. A year
since the leaders of these two parties ap.
pealed to the ballot with promises of ac
| quiescence in the result. Congress was
triumphantly sustained, and instead of
submitting to the sovereign will Of tho
people, the President most deliberately
and insultlngly disregarded the popular
verdict, and with deplorable imbecility
continued his appeal to the people.
Since that time the people have not
changed The determination to gather
the fruits of our triumph over treason is
as stern as ever, and no signs can be
discovered anywhere of a disposition to
recede from the contest. Indeed, whilst
tho President, by his encouragement to
the rebels of resistance to the measures Of
Congress, has developed unfavorable
traits in the rebel character, the people
have demanded the enactment of such
measures as may be necessary to Cir
cumvent the Vaccinations of disloyalty
in whatever guise they may appear.
The people of the South may learn too
late that they have sinned away their
day of grace, and they would do well in
the recess OF Congress to look the issue
squarely in the face, and by prompt ac-
tion avert all future danger. If they are
wise they will take heed of the settled
determination of the loyal North On
our part the struggle will not be pro-
tracted beyond tho 4th Of March, 1869,
and on theirs it cannot, for the unwise
and obstinate President who now defends
their cause will then retire to most in
glorious seclusion. Two sessions Of Com
gress at least nust intervene, and what
further legislation may be demanded by
the situation must be determined by
their own conduct A quiet and cordial
submission to the laws will probably be
| met with softening down Of some of
the harsher features of our reconstruction
measures, while continued resistance
must naturally provoke the passage of
more stringent and effective laws. The
counsel of Andrew johnson if longer
followed will in the end accomplish their
total ruin, while an honest compliance
with the laws of the nation will anchor
them in peace, honor, safety and pros.
perity.-Pdtsburgh Commercial
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