Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1868-01-23
The Radical Press.

try are becoming alarmed at the reckleSsness
of Congress in its legislation abridging the pre-
negatives and powers of the President and Of
the Supreme Court, and the still more revolu-
tionary attempt to create a military Dictator
ship over the ten disfranchised Southern States.
From he Ne,c York Erening Post, Rep.
Mr.. johnson, by the choice Of the peo-
ple is the Chief Magistrate Of the nation as
such he is responsible for the execution oil the
/ laws and has a clear right 10 choose me S''CoT-
dnates by trkoR, the lq,cs are to be ehfofGs"'-
/ He must submit his appointments TO once 10
| he conformation of the Senate, but IS other
,,;so ir5snendsnt Of Congress. The tenure-ot-
oe;c. act nv which the Senate has been made
- CONTROL the Presidents power Of removal, IS
/ ~, 1c,oyIjag 70 DE constitution. Mr.. Stanton
| hcI;eves that it is not, and yet he ayails him
salf If this law, which he says is not constl-
/ tutional law. which is voidable and diSorgani-
zinc. 10 resume place in the Cabinet of Presl-
/ dent johnson which he has been especially de-
sired TO resign. 1t seems to us necessary ONLY
10 state a case ike this to a man who respects
the law and respects himself, to be certain OF
what his course will be. It's not enough 10 re-
PLY that a large majority Of the members oil
/ Congress have signed letter requesting nm 70
| resume the duties Of Secretary OF War.
| Whatever Mr.. Johnson's designs may DC, he
is answerable TO the people; and he Is answer
/ able only in the way that the constitution pre-
| scribes. Congress may not like his individual
peculiarities or his political principles, but he
IS none the less as much part of the govern
meDt as Congress itself; and what is more, be
represents nearly as large a part Of popular
| opinion as Congress does. Itmay be dlStaStelul
70 admit il. but it is true that the political SEN
/ timepts of the President have a large following
not among the rebels only, as the cry has it,
but among the loyal people Of the North. He
is supported in most Of his positions by the
great opposition, or democratic party, and that
/ support is extending and growing rapidly un-
der the fostering care Of Congress.
From The Netc York Times.
The republican party is pressing issues into
the presidential canvass lchich tcU ensure as
defeat. It cannot safely wage war upon the
Supreme Court, in the present temper Of the
public mind. even with the help Of the negro
vote which il aims to secure by its action.
From IL. Ne,c York Commercial Adeertiser.
Valueless viii be the the devoted servi-
ces and signal triumphs Of ou- army and navy
| if our statesmen fail or talter in performing
their share Of the great work. And are they
not failing Are not the great questions Of
finance and currency oyerl0id Is not the re-
union Of the States and the return of the South
ern people to their accustomed pursuits made
subordinate 10 the question Of negro suffrage
Has not al tie legislation Of Congress .foI
usarl,, three years had direct reference to III,
presidential electioR2 And now, at this present
moment. is not Congress using all It's great
power to give the control Of the presidential
election TO green negroes who are coniessedly
Ignorant Of means By lchich suffrage IS ca
presSed2'
The eternal truth Of the maxim that whom
the gods intend 10 destroy are first made mao
is lost as an example. The lesson so recently
and with such terrible effect, taught the rebels
proves Of no value to the radicals They bind
ly persist IN course rhjch is sure 10 orer-
,rbelm them. The measures kindred 10 theS,
now being perfected in Congress cost the re
publican Darty rs QsceadaRcyjn slr free States
And vet. blind and reckless, Congress learns
nothing of what is evident to all intelligent OBJ
servers. This utter delusion can only be ex-
planned upon the principle that madness pre-
cedes destruction
From The Spring field tNass) Republican.
] he only Gelensible reason for reconstructing
the Southern State governments was the puT
pose 70 confer suffrage on the freedmen, in or
der to the protection Of their rights These
governments were well enough in every othel
respect. If this single purpose had controlled
IN the matter. the process would have been
comparatively simple and UNDERSTANDABLE
But party objects were allowed to be mixed in
It was thoughtit would be a good thing 50 t
manipulate the Southern governments as tc
secure the votes of the reconstructed States fol
arepubGcan President. To accomplish this
the right 70 vote and hold Office was taken from
all the Southern whites who had held Office re-
quiring an oath TO support the constitution o
the United States. This excluded at once from
political life the most intelligent classes in the
South. and those at the time best disposed C
accept any terms &C reconciliation that should
be offered This made reconstruction bv the
white population Of the South impossible, fol
they naturally felt that il would be GiShon0ra-
bic to abandon the leaders who shared with
them the guilt Of the rebellion. Reconstruct
ton was thus thrown into the hands Of the ne
groes, led by a few Northern white men and
Southerners who did not scruple to take any
oath required Of them
It Is essential 20 the programme that tie
whites Of the South shall be in the minority
and the determination seems to be to put il
through at all hazards The last remains OF
civil governments in the South are to be swept
away upon the declaration that they are not
republican in form" though the forms are
just what they always have been The false
reason has some value, however, as showing at
least an appearance Of respect for the phases
OF the constitution. But we have not come 70
the end Of this business we cannot even sec
20 lt. The governments Of the minority in the
South, and that minority black, will find il
necessary to be more and more reprcssiye. and
VII. need g strong military force 70 maintain
them. lSanybody So insane as 10 predict re-
Cancellation Of races. true republican or even
moderately just government, and restored peace
and loyalty as the result Of such q system p
Il SD, abou, how soon? No. the system is fun
damental'y wrong, and will inevitably wax
worse and worse.
The proposition to get rid Of General Han
cock, by the indirect aud cowardly dodge Of re-
ducing the number Of major generals is Of a
piece with the scheme for preventing a decision
against the conStitutiouality Of reconstruction
I by bampering the Supreme Court They both
,ffef-tts tlar,,. sfr,t. b,,,- an,