Weekly Calaveras chronicle., 1868-02-01
.T.lking tie Ban by the Horn..n

Passeu tne Lower house OF congress ON tne
2lst of January has but few distinctive char
acteristics to distinguish it from its prede-
cessors. yet it boldly defines and clearly ex-
presses the position taken by the radical
majority in that body. There is very
marked difference between timidly advocat-
ing an idea. theoretically, and boldly an
nouncing line of policy and promptly car
rying it out. Ever since the surrender of
Lee which transferred the settlement of the
questions at issue from the battle field to the
halls of peaceful Legislation. Congress, al
though apparently comprehending the stu
alton and its duty, has temporized. Ths
Radicals, notwithstanding their large ma
jority, have been discouraged by the factious
opposition of the apostate Johnson and in
stead of striking fearlessly for the position
they desired to occupy, have endeavored to
reachit as Mcclellan did Manassas-by digging
parallels. Three so-called Reconstruction
Bills have been enacted prior to the passage
of the one under consideration, but in neither
of them is the status of the seeded States
definitely stated. While the refusal of Con-
gress to admit representatives from those
States as members of that body, and the ap-
pointment of Provisional Governors instead
of regularly electing those officers, might be
construed as declaration that they were
not considered as States, still that doctrine
was only implied, not proclaimed. In con-
sequence of this exhibition of timidity and
weakness on the part of Congress, johnson
and his supporters have been encouraged and
emboldened in their opposition and the work
of reconstruction retarded. The President
has never been backward in enunciating the
doctrine that they were States in the Union,
and lost no opportunity of treating them as
such. Congress, on the contrary, while its
actions have implied the opposite, has never
so declared until the passage of the recent
Bill. Its main feature, aside from the posi-
tive declaration which it contains that the
rebellious States have forfeited their rights
as such, is that it gives General Grant abso-
lutte control of the military districts into
which the seeded territory is divided. 1t
places in his hands the power to remove and
appoint subordinate military commanders of
Districts, as well as civil officers of the Pro-
visional Governments. In other words it
places the control of the Southern Territories
in the hands of the General of the Army.
This was undoubtedly the object sought to
be attained by Congress when the first Recon-
struction Act was passed but it was not
concise enough in its specifications upon that
point, and so imperfect in several other i'm
portant particulars that Johnson's interfer-
ance has been in great measure successful
The Act recently passed, however, corrects
the errors contained in the former ones, and
Johnson of all power to longer
delay the reconstruction of the seeded
States. He cannot remove Grant, and as
the carrying out of the Congressional plan of
has been entrusted to him,
and "veto" placed upon further interfer-
ence by the President, we can confidently
expect that the States will be speedily re-
habilitated. 1t is now nearly three years
since the rebellion was squelched, yet but
little progress has been made in settling the
questions which have grown out of it. The
battle has been fought, the victory won and
the loyal people of the North are anxiously
awaiting the crowning of their triumph.
National unity has been purchased at too
dear price to be sacrificed to the whims of
a traitorous President. Great evils demand
vigorous measures for their eradication. The
South will not be coaxed-then let her be
driven. A weak, vacillating policy, timidly
put forth and imperfectly executed, can
never accomplish the end sought to be
gained. The present Congress was elected
directly upon the issue upon which it has at
last taken a decided stand, and the people
will hold it accountable for the trust which
they have confded to its care. The plan of
reconstruction is now perfected. Let it be
carried into effect and the final
settlement of our national difficulties is not
far distant.