The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-09-28

OF the laws, has been engaged during the last
three years In severe contest with Congress
over the question of Southern reconstruction.
His time has been fully occupied in opposing
the Congressional policy and pressing that one
impracticable scheme for the rehabilitation of
the ex-rebel States which, like an ignis .fatuus,
has led him on with its deceptive glitter fur
ther and further into the swamp of political
destruction. The radical leaders have mean
while shrewdly availed themselves of this
unseemly struggle to secure the enactment of
laws which have gradually changed the char
acter OF our system Of government as defined
In the constitution, and stripped from the
President all power over executive appoint
ments and removals, from his own Cabinet
corners Of country town. Working upon
the pride and fears of their more moderate
associates, and under the plea that such legis-
lation was necessary TO insure the enforcement
Of republican laws, they have succeeded in
raising bulwark around their own partisans
in Office and have kept them for three years
luxuriating in the spois. The struggle over
reconstruction IL now over. The Congress
sional policy has prevailed despite the opposi-
ton Of the President. Wisely or unwisely,
constitutionally or unconstitutionally, the ne
| groes of the South have been invested with
the franchise, and all but three of the x-rebel
States have resumed their proper position in
the Union, are again invested with the pre-
cious mantle of sovereignty, and claim equal
rights and privileges with the loyal States
under the bond of confederation. Neither the
President nor Congress possesses now the law
full power to exercise any more authority over
Georgia or Alabama than over Pennsylvania
or New York.
Reconstruction being thus finally disposed
Of, in what position does the late contest
between the President and Congress leave the
belligerent forces? Under the operation of
the Tenure of Office law the radicals, who
filled the greater part of the Offices when
the struggle commenced, remain in possession
of the Internal Revenue Department, the Post
Offices, Custom Houses and whiskey rings,
while the nomination of General Grant and
the near approach of Johnsons retirement
carry over to the republican side the few Office
holders who for selfish considerations have |
hitherto pretended to espouse the cause of the |
President. Thus far, then, the radicals have
| triumphed. They have won the victory on |
reconstruction; they have won in the retention
Of the spoils. On the other hand, Andrew
johnson, having got through fighting over
reconstruction, looks around him and finds
every public department filed with men whose
populations and frauds have nearly bankrupted |
the nation. He sees the government of which |
he is the nominal head, and for the faithful |
administration of which he is held responsible,
stripped of hundreds of millions of dollars by
plunderers as desperate as any burglar or
highwayman who ever robbed the altar Of a
church or knocked out q travellers brains for
| the value of his wallet. Induced himself with
the strictest probity-probably the only truly
honest man in public life in Washinton to
| day-the President finds himself standing in
the midst of pool of the foulest corruption
that ever blackened the character of a nation
from the early days Of Rome down to the
present age.
This is the existing position OF Affairs, and
Andrew johnson has been taking observa-
tons, and with his Unborn love Of
fight and his indomitable pluck, has
resolved to renew the struggle with the rad-
cal saction and recover the ground he has lost
He declares war against the whskey rings
and their accomplices in the revenue depart
ment He knows that he takes upon himself
| 4 II m .1,aII; a., In,
his past tremendous conflicts with Congress he
has proved himself equal TO the emergency.
Finding that he can do nothing through the
heads Of departments, the prosecuting lawyers.
or any of those whose official duty requires
them TO keep guard over the Treasury, he has
determined to break through the forms by
which he has hitherto been shactlcd aud to
take new departure. He has made the
Solicitor OF Internal Revenue Buckley his
lieutenant, and furnished him from the maya
zine of the Executive Department with ample
ammunition for a brilliant campaign That
officer. although temporarily repulsed by the
enemy. is now vigorously pushing an exami-
nation before the United States Commissioner
which takes the character Of reconnaissance
in force. and will he followed by siegcs, as
saults bombardments and battles of trcmcn-
,lous magnitude. Ills movements have spread
fearful panic among the whiskey rings and
ofiiceholders, and they are using every means
to cmbarrass and defeat the investigation he
has set on foot Twenty-Five million dollars
will he appropriated, if necessary. to crush IL
ont The ablest counsel in the country are
employed TO throw every technical obstacle IN
the way of the prosecution. The Congres-
siona Committee on Rctrcnchmcnt rlisles into
The fnld IN rrnrM It's sell -assimcd functions