The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-01-16
A nIcssase from General Grnut.

General Grant on Tuesday sent his first mes
sage to the Congress Of the United States
Hitherto there has been prejudice against
Congress receiving messages relating to tao
administration of the government from any but
the President OF the United States. Usage,
moreover, has given color Of right TO this
prejudice I; in fact, both usage and prejudice
originated in foolish regard people had for
that old fashioned piece OF political furniture.
the constitution. But we are growing too great
to be controlled by tribes. Congress can
make all the laws we want; then why care for
constitution? Congress, moreover can pass
a law to give into the hands OF a man who is
not President all the Presidents duties and
thus the people may be spared the trouble of
President making This would be economy.
AS Congress actually has such law before it.
and as General Grant has already taken upon
his shoulders the Presidents duties and sends
his messages to Congress, utterly ignoring the
Presidents existence, it Is clear that there viii
not much longer be occasion for Mr.. johnson
to stay in Washington. He may 60 to Ten.
nessee. What parcel Of old ninnies the
founders Of the republic were to bother their
heads as they did about making constitution
when nation can get on 30 we'll without one |!
Have. we not Thad Stevens and Boutwell, and
Binghams What Is the use, then, Of our listen
ing any longer to Kent and Story and Hamil.
ton! Let the people burn all that old trash.
NAPOLEON, vIcroR EMANUEL AND THE PopB.-
The question as between Italy, France and
the Holy See, according to telegram Of
yesterday, approaches q solution. In the
circumstances in which Italy Is place d,
with population though to large
extent one in race yet divided in SYM
pashy by long years Of divided government,
and with an empty exchequer, it has to be ad-
mitted that the Italian government. presided
over by General Menabrea, is pursuing wise
because patient and cautious policy. The
principles at work will, we believe. ultimately
give Rome to the Italian people. War with
France would be the ruin Of Italy for gene
rations. 1t will be well, therefore, if an
arrangement of reasonable character in
regard to Rome can be patched up between
France and Italy. No arrangement Of course,
which does not give Rome to the Italians can
be permanent but reasonable arrangement,
which will stave off war without unnecessary
humiliation to the kingdom, will be positive
gain to Italy and TO the Italian people If our
telegram OF yesterday proves to be correct
such On arrangement satisfactorily. progresses.
GENERAL MEADE TIED Ur.-Notwithstanding
the novel mode adopted by General Grant in
communicating the fact to Congress, there is
much food for reflection in the statement made
by General Meade, that sunless the pending
bill in Congress directing military commanders
to ill the Offices in the States under their com
mand rescind the test oath In regard to quail
fed voters, its execution in his (Meadc's) dis
trict will be entirely impracticable." This is
very importan. announcement, and convicts
the radicals, through the testimony of one Of
their own instruments, of haste and inconsider-
ateness, to use the mildest terms, in framing the
reconstruction acts. Here we find the hands OF
General Meade virtually tied up, and himself,
as conscientious commander, placed in the
Notifying position OF military officer without
power to enforce plain provision of the law.
THE, however, is but one of the ridiculous
provisions in the reconstruction acts of Con-
gress, and the sooner others are ventilated the
sooner will the people become aware Of the
impracticability and absurdity Of the entire
Congressional scheme Of reconstruction.