The Montana post., 1868-03-14


struction. fourteen classes of Southern
people, comprising over 100000 people,
and declared /" they should take back
seats in reconstruction" His system,
was severe. unjust, unconstitutional,
imperfect, and corrupt. Congress as
sembled in December, 1865, and began
the work of reconstruction, as in them
the right to do, was vested. The four
teenth Constitutional Amendment, eve
~ letter of which is in harmony with
American institutions, disfranchising
temporarily only one class of about 45,
600 persons; placing representation on
the basis of electors, but not enfran-I
chising the negroes as mild, generous,
and conciiatoTy terms as ever conquer
ors offered to conquered, was submitted,
and at the instigation of Johnson, who
had become embittered against Congress
for asserting it's authority, to ''bide their
time" !" the South contemptuously spurn-
ed the offered olive branch, and when
Congress reassembled in December, 1866,
the work had to be renewed. Mr.. John
son was politician enough to see that he
must now make other political alliances.
To use his own words, he was dead
duck" with staunch Republicans, and at
once began intriguing to get Democratic
support. In February, 1867, the first
reconstruction bill was passed, and he
labored assiduously to defeat it. An
other supplementary bill passed in
March, another in July, and still anoth-
er at this session. These supplementary
bills contained no new and harsh pro-
visions, but were required by the an
tagonism of the Executive to Congress
and his evasion of obligatory duties, to
prevent him lodging the first law
through technical bubbles. He had
determined to break up the reconstruc-
ton undertaken by Congress, aud has
succeeded by the most cunning plausi-
bilities in battling and hindering it to
the great injury of the entire country.
To prevent this as far as possible, the
legislative restraints of the Supplement
tary and Tenure of Office bills have been
thrown around him, and it is a willful,
persistent violation of this latter that
has led to his impeachment. 1t rests
with the Senate to find him guilty or
innocent. according as the law may be
sustained or not. II the former, to affix
the penalty. Mr.. johnson we regard as
the exponent of no party, for he has been
repudiated by both; and of no principle,
save that lack of principle, selfish am
bition; but he is straiaing every nerve
to become the one and counterfeit the
other. He has spoken of the South
without charity aud acted without len
iency. Instead of aiding reconstruction
he has prevented it. By his machina-
tions he has sown tares where good
grain was growing. New Orleans is not
nearly as loyal to-day as it was two
years ago. The rebels are "biding their
time" Those who sustained the Gov
eminent during all the war sustain Con
gress now. Those who opposed it sus
tain johnson, and others urge him on
thereby hoping to create a division
among Republicans and carry the ensu
ing elections. We were treacherously
betrayed by one we placed in power
threw him overheard, and he is now
playing a match game with the Democ
racy they to use and discard him; ht
to force himself on them as Presidential
candidate. If he makes one point more
on the impeachment trial, Mr.. Pendletor
loses and johnson stock will rule the
: Democratic market. If he loses he viii
shrink into an insigni6cance, besides
which Buchanan and Welles are won
ders, and before the nations natal day
the majority of the Southern States viii
be reconstructed.