The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-12-24
ENGLAND.
The London Times ON President Johuson's
Inst Message.

The London Times President J0husOn's
Last Message.
from the London Times, Dec 1ol
The abstract OF the Presidents Message brings US
to the end OF great political struggle. This IL the
last time Mr.. Johnson will address a message
to Congress. The yearly session opened on Monday,
way for successor who accepts though In a tenn.
perate spirit and perhaps with the reservation OF
certain Independence the policy Of the republicans:
These have won the victory and will rule legally and
constltutonaly where they have for four years past
ruled by the vigorous action OF Congress. But Mr..
won ANY M @ a on emis
VIII probably not take leading part in American
general rule the ex-PresIdents have been strangely
ignored by their countrymen. To have attained the
highest post IN the republic seems to exhaust the
The message vlndcates Mr.. Johnson's policy con.
corning reconstruction The four years he WIN have
spent at the White House have been the most impor
tant IN recent American history, with the exception
OF those OF the late war; and we are anxious to see
what will be his defence at the close OF such q
career. How far the process OF reconstruction may
be modified In practice depends no doubt, on the
personal opinions and the independence Of character
OF General Grant, As far as legislation Is concerned
the republicans have attained their utmost desires;
the South is at their feet and the legal power exists
TO reconstruct 1t according to the most extreme the
cries OF the republican leaders. The military on
GERS, however have for the most part shown a mod
crate and kindly spirit their zeal being far less merry
General Grant is q soldier, and said to be one OF
the most temperate In his opinions as far
his sparing speech. The practical application OF the
the reconstruction acts will, to great extent, rest
cute them honestly and Loyalty. vet he may do much
TO reconcile the Southern people to the Union by the
general moderation OF his conduct and by pre-
scribing strictly the limits beyond which the federal
government Will not coerce them. Our correspond
ent IN his letter published yesterday remarks that
stheoretical reconstruction will end with the ads-
sion Of Virginia, Mississippi and Texas; and practi
cal reconstruction viii not begin until the Pre-
sident gels into ONCE and can put into operation
dlfiprpnt wiapr mr. aith IN NJ
those heretofore urged so vehemently by Congress
and President Johnson" Yet Mr.. Johnson does
his power, from counselllng act OF the
most decided character. The Message expresses
reduction IN the army BY the withdrawal Of ,roops
from the South. The republicans have always relied
Gu the army for the maintenance OF their policy IN
the south and Tor the due progress oil reconstruc-
ton. 10 take the regiments which are Keeping
order In Louisiana or the CarolInas and send them
~ nght the Indians would 10. In the opinion OF the
republicans, and indeed OF all the world the aban
donment OF all that Congress has been struggling Tor
during the last three years. TINS paragraph OF the
Message seems TO pro Mise nythng but q cessation
OF the war between the President and Congress dur
ing the next three months. The Congress Is the old
Congress, for the new one does not meet till the 4h
OF March. Thus, by the singular and as IL seems TO
Engisnmen the faulty mechanism OF American in
situations, superseded President and superseded
whe their successors look ON pOweress to control
single action
The president advocates not without cause a re-
duciion OF expenditure, tue early resumption OF
specie payments aud the contraction OF the paper
currency. IL IS not difficult TO divine that financial
questions VIII be among the most lnomentDus for
the United States during the next lew years. The
resources OF the country are, indeed nexhaustible
and there can he no fear that all difficulties will be
surmounted Ia the end. bat Tor a time there Will
be certain amount OF pressure, for the debt IL
immense aud the financial system IL antiquated
clumsy and particularly burdensoms TO industry.
No wonoer that the chief OF the executive has to
dcnounce frauds on the internal revenue. With
such splendid temptations To misbehavior. the most
honest officials might be corrupted. The part OF the
Message most interesting to EngIlshmen will. how
ever be that which declares that the negotiate
with respect to the Alabama are not yet complete.
ON this subject We have already spoken, and the
public Will be glad TO await further details. We
need only say that our government has shown every
desire TO bring these matters 10 an arrangement and
Il Is dnicult to believe that either the Presidents
Cabinet the hostile majority IN the senate will
thwart settlement which has been arrived at after
30 long aud laDori0us q negotiation.
The Opening Of the New British Parliament.
from the London DAILY Telegraph, Dec ILL.,
Yesterday the Eighth Parliament Of her Majesty
Queen Victoria commenced Its Official career The
occasion. In other lands, would have been deemed
worthy OF Oil the p0mp and display at the disposal OF