Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1868-01-20
THE usuRpArIoN.

The Reconstruction Bill, last on the
calendar Of 5lunders and outrages, de-
cIares that no lawful civil governments
exist in Virginia, North Carolina, South
Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi,
Louisiana, Texas, Florida and Arkansas,
and that the validity Of such as exist
shall not be recognized by the executive
or judicial power of the government
Suppose the President had issued his
pronunciamento that Congress should
recognize and the Supreme Court should
declare such governments valid, would it
not be with the same right and author
ity2
The Bill further provides that General
Grant shall remove all subordinate OH
GERS who will not, and appoint such a.
will, disregardand set at naught all such
civil governments, and exercise all the
mower thereof, as dictated by Congress.
That is to say it takes from the President
the power he has sworn to exercise as
commander in. chief of the army OF the
United States, power given him by the
Constitution, which he has sworn to sup
port against usurpation as well as rebel
lion, and power he cannot relinquish
without dishonor. Far better for his
good name would it be that he should be
impeached and removed, if indeed the
Congressional usurpers dare the accom-
plishment. And the man, who, with an
overwhelming majority of the American
people supporting a course of fidelity to
his sworn duty shall shrink from it, and
thus imperil the very existence of Con-
stituiiopal Republican Government, will
20 down to history as an Insignificant
and contemplate ruler. Are we to be-
lieve all this of Andrew johnson, when
il requires no uncommon nerve, and in
ours no extraordinary risk, to stand like
a true man in the breach, and win the
honor of being defender of the Con-
stitution in higher and more impor-
tant sense than that which gave to Web
ster his highest glory.
The bill further provides that all that
power which belongs to the President by
the mandate of the Constitution, to
appoint all officers who are subordinate
to him as Commander-in-Chief shall be
taken away, and given to creature of
the legislature supposed to favor its
usurpation. Grant by accepting and
johnson by submitting to such legisla-
ton will be equally disgraced. Thus
the legislature which has the purse, will
also have the sword, when the indepen.
dence of the judiciary will be no more.
If this is not the complete destruction
of liberty, it is at least destruction
of that system o. government upon
which it he's been the accustomed boast
of the American people to say that
liberty depends.
The coDjuncture and ENHANCEMENT is
one of no small peril. But we are not
without hope. The so-called Republican
party is not unit There are many of
their number who will shrink from going
to extremes, 10 the face Of the remon-
strances of the most intelligent and best
men of the country, and in view of the
thunders of the late elections, and the
mutterings and throes of the internal
fires which underlie them. Those who
have any hope Of political future, will
see that their time is short, and will have
an end unless they hasten to redeem it.
1t may be this bill of denominations,
which is certain to be vetoed, may fail of
two-thirds majority. If it does not.
then we know the President is sworn to
cut the gordian knot. Whether he will
do SO, or shrink back contemplate.
imbecile in disgrace, remains to be seen.
If he does not then use his power, what
ever it is, we shall be fully prepared to
believe the worst which has ever been
said of him.