The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-12-11


Johnson. His farewell address to Congress is
as full of fight as if he had just commenced his
war with the two houses on reconstruction
He has committed budget of blunders. We
cannot say that he has proved himselfa wise man
or great man; but he has been badgered and
bafled and defeated so many times by the two
houses, and he has such heavy bill Of griev-
ances and outrages against them, that his desire
for little revenge is perfectly natural The
temptation to have parting shot or two at
them in his Message he could not resist. Had
the two houses, however, paid no attention to
his scolding there would have been an end Of
it, But in the Senate and the House there is
so much squirming that we can see that some
of his shots have taken effect One Senator
denounces his Message as ''tirade of loose
allegations, ''disrespectfhl and offensive =
another says it is "a lecture;" another
that cit is tho acrid outpourlngs OF a
disappointed, bad man." another that 1t is
only remarkable for it's Misrepresentation
and uutruths." And SO goes the Senate debate
whether the offensive paper should be read or
quietly laid on the table.
In the House, after submitting to the reading
of the Message, Mr.. Washburne, of Illinois
(the father of the House,, denounces the Presi-
dents financial recommendations as ''plain,
undisguised reputation" and as "a disgrace
to the country and the Chief Magistrate" Mr.
Broomall proposes a resolution denouncing
every form of reputation. Mr.. Schenck con-
sders the Message on this subject ''as the
most gross, shameless, infamous proposition
TO repudate the debt of the country that
have ever yet known to be put forward from
any quarter, excepting Brick Pomeroy." The
Message is finally laid on the tabIe-denied the
usual compliment of extra printing.
Now, if this in each house, is not tempest
in teapot we should like to know what is.
Does not all the world know that out of the
usual routine President Johnson's recommen-
dations to Congress signify nothing; that he
escaped removal from Office by only one vote
short of two-thirds of the Senate; that he is
only tolerated for the time being as figure
head representing the President mere auto
maton in the hands of Congress, and nothing
more? Why, then, all this foolish excitement
and fuss over this Message? Deprived of al
most every other function of his Office, is it not
shame to deny him or attempt to deprive him
OF the right of scolding? Is it not enough that
by his persistent scolding, when it will do him
no earthly good, Mr. Johnson is only making
a donkey of himself, and that it would be all
4 - cs,A
Grants election is unconstitutional and void,
and that nothing constitutional has been done
by Congress since the two houses refused to
approve my policy?" We think so; but we
think, too, that while the folncs of his Message
may be treated with indifference there are good
points in it, entitled to respect.
South American Annirs-An Important Con.
vcntion in Washington.
The State Department, it appears, has been
officially informed that Spain, Peru, Bolivia
and Chile have consented to settle all their
difficulties at a plenipotentiary convention to
no held in Washington. This plan was pro-
posed, If we remember Alright, some two or
more years ago, but il was not then carried out,
from the want Of some directing mind to put
the project through There is no doubt that
such termination to all the difficulties, quar-
rels, foreign and domestic wars and insurrec-
tions in South America is most desirable, and
is especially an object Of concern for the COM
mercial interests of the United States. Here
are number of States in our immediate vicinity
whose trade with the world is very extensive
States inhabited by a people who are capable
of producing vast wealth from the soil in mine
rails, fruits and other valuable products, and
who do produce large portion of this wealth
but, unfortunately, not only is it not half devel-
opcd, in consequences of the continually dis
turbed political condition Of these countries,
but the United States receive but an insignif-
cant part of the commercial advantages shared
50 largely by European nations. This is ques-
ton which demands the immediate attention Of
Congress, and the proposed convention affords
an opportunity TO develop it, There is no
reason why the South American States on the
Atlantic sido should not take part in this
convention. The empire of Brazil, the Ar
gentinc republic and the republics Of Paraguay
and Uruguay might be advantageously repre-
sented in this general council and all their de-
plorable differences settled. The present con-
dition Of the Spanish American States is such
az to retard the advance Of civilization and
commerce, by which we in this country are
greatly the sufferers.
What is required for the paciIication and the
fuller development Of the Spanish American
States is friendly interposition on the part
Of our government. The proposed convention
in Washington may afford us such an opportu-
nifty, and it is to be hoped that Mr.. Seward
will avail himself Of IL. Another measure
which could hardly fail to produce good
effect in the same direction would be to send a
special commissioner 10 tho governments Of all
n a .-.aN IL