New-York tribune., 1868-01-18
HONOR TO CONGRESS.


highest honor. 1t is not often that legisla-
tive body, composed of men who represent so
MANY varied interests and constituencies not
always above Presidential Establishments, nor
free from the influences OF power, can show
such a noble and unyieldng devotion to prin-
ciple. Congress has shown this. 1t has passed
the ordeal of fiery furnace, and we feel 1t
should be honored. We have had no Congress
since that which framed the Declaration OF
Independence 80 deserving of the Republics
gratitude.
Twelve months ago, there seemed fair
prospect that our political troubles were near an
end Four years of war had demolished the
theory of secession and State sovereignty; two
years more of dispute and turmoil had left the
lately rebellious States prepared to accept
almost any tOlerable terms of restoration; and,
when tho just and liberal plan proposed by
Congress was laid before them. there seemed
no reason why they should not adopt it unan-
imously If they had done so there would
have been no further occasion for strife. Inc
vacant seats in the Senate and House would
have been filled. Military Governors would
have been among the things OF the past.
Courts martial and arbitrary interference with
the regular processes of law would have been
among the troubled memories OF the war.
Industry would have revived. The laborer would
quietly have earned his hire the planter
devoted himself to his crops, and the merchant
to his trade. With the restoration OF social
order and public prosperity, starvation and pes
thence would have passed away like some hor-
rible nightmare. and the rich fields and pleas
ant cities Of the South would once more have
smiled. We at the North did our part to bring
about all this, and our brothers Mt the South
would have done their part too, but their evil
genius drove them into other courses. On the
threshold of peace, they were stopped by the
high-priest of discord. In the very hour OF re-
the great prophet of hatred held
up his policy of anarchy, and tempted them
to renewed disorder. Andrew Johnson has sue
ceeded to the bad eminence once occupied by
Jefferson Davis. Davis urged the Southern
States TO 90 out of the Union; Johnson pre-
vents them from coming in. One was the
apostle of secession. The other is the chief
adversary of reconstruction. One was the adj
yocate of war The other is the promoter OF
an anarchy which is worse than war, the To-
menter of hostility more bitter and more dan
gerous than that which animates soldiers III
the open field.
The policy of President Johnson has been
throughout to rouse the dormant passions OF
the Southern Rebels, to kindle afresh the
smothered antipathy of race, and ont OF these
unholy materials to build up for himself
party which should control the whole country
Don't submit, he cried. to the repentant South; /;
don't come back until you can come as con
querors Don't yield to the victors the fruit OF
their victory. You arc the masters; you are
the predestned rulers of the Union; yours are
the promises. The North 4, strong of arm. Int
tender Of heart and weak OF head. Raise the
cry of social anarchy, and you can frighten II
into whatever you want. Sheridan interfereu
to prevent the execution of this wicked plan,
and the President hurled him from place
Stanton refused to lend himself to the scheme,
and he too was driven from Office. Pope and
Sickles made a stand for peace and justice,
and they were removed. Full warning was
given TO the Rebels that they might swindle
and abuse tho negroes as much rs they pleased,
and the President would back them; they
might override the laws, and the Chief Execu-
two would make no effort to stop them. The
terror in Texas. tho murders and outrages all
through the unrecOnstructed States, are the
natural fruits Of Andrew Johnson's policy.
Thanks to him, there are States properly be-
longing to the Union which are still without
civil government. Thanks to him. the bayonet
overrues the bench, the privilege of the habeas
corpus is suspended, and justice IA administered
at the drum head. Thanks to him, the fields
are uncultivated, the plow stands idle, the mill
wheel is still, and gaunt starvation stalks
through the land Commerce is stopped, prop
erty is insecure, life is precarious. The sociai
fabric is shaken to its base, and desoatioh
hangs like pail over the fairest portions oil
America. This is the result OF the Presidents
nolicy. This il the anarchy out of which he
seeks to raise a new dynasty. The ruin of the
South. the conquest and degradation of the
North: these are the two planks OF his plat
form. We are thankful to perceive that Con-
gress is resolute in its determination that
this platform shall be OverthrOwn. 1t IS
fixed in its policy Of Reconstruction, and
every impedment which stands in the way
must be removed. The South is not to be
given up to anarchy. The President is not to
override the laws. Our duty now is plain.
We must stand by our representatives. They
are fighting our battle, and we must share in
their victory or their defeat, and their victory
has been the noblest in our history.
Therefore we say Honor to the American
" Congress" Aud we have a confidence that
the people will cry "Amen"