Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1868-01-28
Remarks of President Johnson.

The Ne,o York World publishes the substance
of a long conversation had with the President
by its Washington correspondent We have
space for only few extracts. They will show,
however, that the President is firm in the
maintenance of his constitutional principles,
and determined to perform the duties imposed
/ upon him by the constitution.
He says that a decided change has taken
place in the sentiments of the Northern people,
and adds:
Zone who held fast to principle when a
majority was arrayed against him is not likely
to loosen his hold upon it when so much Of
the pressure has been removed
He says:
"The Radicals in Congress are desperate.
strosity While they will seek to hide their
deformities with the cloak of patriotism, OF
strive to distract public attention from them by
specious manouvres, they are becoming more
and more convinced that the people see through
| it all. Having gone farther than they intended
so far that they have overleaped all bounds
save those of party and anbition-retreat
would be equivalent to hari-kari. They keep
on now, hoping to obtain by conquest in the
South this year power more than equivalent
to their loss of prestige in the North Perhap
they trust by such conquest to awe and sub
due majority in the north whom they are
failing to lead. This extreme party, which is
represented by men like Mr.. Bingham, Mr..
Boutwell,, and Senator Sumner, is in worse
Itdilemma than ever party was before in the Re
public.
l. In reference to the action of Congress on the
New Reconstruction Bill which we published
last week. and which the Lower House of Con-
gress passed, on Tuesday last, by vote of 123
to As, the President says:
| ''Ihese measures are of course revolutionary.
The arguments used to defend them are clearly
as fallacous as the assertion that black is white
would be. A proposition to deprive, by mere
act Of Congress, the President of the United
States of any portion of the authority vested
in him as Commander In Chief of the Army
| and Navy is proposal totdo direct violence to
the Constitution - X X x
"This bill assumes a right of Congress to do
a,oay Nth the President altogether, FIT chooses,
and make itself executor of as aoeN as legislator
be more arrogant, more dangerous and destruc-
tive in its tendency?' X y
"The attitude of the Executive has ever
| pain simple Office, while seeing that all laws
are put in force that conform to the Constitu-
ton, to see that no law obtains, SO far as his
veto or authority can prevent it from obtaining
which does not conform to it. repeat that he
Is obliged byhis Solemn oath to defend that an
strunaent from any and erery assailment."
In allusion to the bill which passed the Lower
House of Congress two weeks since, requiring a
majority of two-thirds Of the Supreme Court
to declare acts of Congress unconstitutional, he
says:
"The Supreme Court is as much separate
and distinct branch of the Government as Con-
gress or the Executive. What right has Con-
gress to usnrp the prerQgative Of the people in
this case more than in the otherv'
ga majority ofjudges have always prevailed
| in all courts in England, France, and elsewhere
as we'll as in the United States. This is an at
tempt to strip the judicial branch of the Gov
eminent of right which it is competent to de-
! fine and maintain.
| In abiding again to the New Reconstruction
Bill, he says;
Gas | explained at the commencement, this
so-called reconstruction bill is destined, if car
ried into effect, so as to increase and consol-
date the military tyranny which has already
come nigh to ruin the southern states, that no
| body Of legislators not run nearly wild with a
party idea could think of forcing it through, +"
| After depicting the ruin the Radical party is
bringing upon the country, he says;
1.-THE measures of that party will, in my
| judgment, tend to repress for an indefinite pc
riod such Development of the resources of
the south as had been accomplished before the
war; It is grinding out and discouragng the
property-holding and intelligent class of citizens
to place all power, the whole conduct of affairs,
in the hands Of the negroes and the few native
whites and northern adventures who would
share it with them"
GA revolution, such as these headlong spirits
seem determined to precipitate, may haze, If 1t
is suffered to 90 on an effect more damaging
than that Of the last civI aoar. -
On the correspondents stating that it had
been understood that the President had ex-
pressed his purpose to exercise all the author
ity vested in him by the constitution to repel
these revolutionary measures he said:
"The President" said Mr. johnson, with a
resolute gesture, has already expressed his in
tention to perform his duty. As to what that
on the table and drumming with his fingers du-
ring the pause) 1T would be rather premature,
just now, even to suggest We UiU leave spe-
cidl measures for special occasions aohen they
arise [ have confidence in the good sense OF
the army, and certainly believe in the people,
| believe in the young men, they will not per-
NIT revolution to be accomplished, even
though" added the President, in a serious
though not at all threatening tone, ut NIGH,
be necessary the people to take the matter into
their oUn hand y