The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1868-12-18
The presidcnt,, .Ncssoo,.

other Presidential Messages, has been attack
cd by his opponents and supported by his
friends The most violent of the Republican
press attack, it with great violence, a, was to
be expected no matter what it contained.
While most of the Democratic journals ap-
prove it in the main, or at least speak of it as
well written and able, some of the more
moderate of the Republican journals of the
country deal with it with commendablo
moderation We give below some short ex-
tracts from the N. Y World-Demooratic
and the New York Heru5d-Republiea
both leading newspapers of their respective
parties: 'art ',fe
The only question here Is, whether the
censure should have taken the form of a
personal insult? The financial propositions
OF the message, which are the most novel and
striking part of it, are doubtless open TO grave
objections; but they should have been met, (if
singled out for NOTICE at ALL by argument or
by some regular form of solemn protest, not
by contumeiy. The doctrines of the Presi.
dent, though susceptible of combination, are
such as an honest man may entertain. The
fundamental idea of President JOHNSON is.
that the public creditors are entitled to receive
lack as much as they actually gave, with a
reasonable compensation for its use. This
principle may be misapplied but tits beyond
all question founded in equity Surprising
there no bargain, and that the Government
were had taken the money it borrowed, as it
might have seized army supplies in a case of
necessity, the correct rule for regulating the
mount of compensation would, in that case,
have been precisely that which President
JouNoN sproposes to pay back the actual value
of the property at the time it was taken, with
the ordinary rate of interest on that value.
President JOHNSON proposes to treat the
debt, not after the manner of court of law
enforcing the strict construction of O con-
tract, but after the manner of court of equity
aiming to do substantial justice. Whatever
may be thought of his proposition, it GER
tainly does not become the Republican party,
of all men in the world, to put on airs of
outraged virtue. They have been, for more
than six years, causing debts to be paid in
fragrant violation ofboth the letter and the
spirit of the engagements by which the debts
were contracted, All the State debts and
private debts in existence when the le-
gal-tender act was passed were honestly due
in gold. Gold values were received and were
contracted to be paid, yet the Republican
party caused many of those debts to be dis
charged by sham money worth only thirty
seven cents on dollar Scornfui pratine
about the infamy of paying back Just what
was received from the public creditors, sounds
well in their mouths! On what ground do.
they justify the forcing of State creditors and
private creditors to take thirty-scven per
cent. in discharge Of their whole debt? Why,
on the ground that it the was forced loan
exacted by the general welfare But if the
general welfare is a justification for restor-
ing to one class of creditors only a third of
what they lent, why may it not justify restoring
another class Of creditors precisely what they
lent, instead of paying them trehles We
resort to this line of reasoning only to expose
the revolving hypocrisy of President JOHN
SONS traducers. Instead of putting on airs.
they ought to hang their heads in shame.
. -sr From the NosO York Herald.
THE PRESIDENTS MEssAGE--A PARTING
BRoADsIDE AT CONGRESS.
AS the wrath of Achilles is the theme of
Homer's HAD 90 .,H., ... . 4 ~
Achilles wrath, to Greece the lireru spring
ofwocs unnnmbered, heavenly godde $, sing
So is the wrath of Mr. johnson tho text
of his farewell Annual Message to Con-
gress. His salutaton is parting broadside.
Upon the reassembling of Congress-" he
says, "it again becomes my duty to call your
attention to the state of the Union and to its
continued disorganized condition under the
various laws which have been passed upon
the subject ofreconstruction." Nevertheless,
in the consequences recited of the reconstruc.
ton policy of Congress he tells some whole
some truths, and we cordially agree with
him that if these reconstruction laws cannot
be conveniently abrogated they ought to be
made to conform to the genuine principles
ofrepublican government" We also concur
in his suggestion that the Tenure of Office
law and all other laws passed under his adj
ministration tYing.up the hands of the Presi-
dent and impairing the efficiency of the Ex-
ecutive Department ought to be repealed.
and we are glad TO find that General Butler
is of the same opinion. s-5. 7e ~
The Message pext is devoted to very in
teresting array of facts, figures and arguments
upon the great money question, embracing
the condition ofthe Treasury, its receipts and
expenditures, the national debt, taxes, bonds
banks, &c, based upon Mr.. McCulloch's re-
port. On this vital subject the Presidents
views in reference to the speediest practicable
payment of the debt are well worth the
Thoughtful attention of Congress, whatever
may be said of his leanings to the greenback
theory of "Old Stevens" Butler and Pendle-
ton. HIt g H4al9 81 lf' Cc1- d. rt al
The exhibits presented of the working of the
several executive departmental during the past
year are better Than VIC had o4pestad al
though in the matter of the whiskey frauds
and late Whiskey fraud investigations, and
the general imbroglio among the whiskey
rings and revenue officials, we are sorry to
say the Message leaves US entirely in the dark
Sorry we are, but perhaps Mr. johnson could
not help it. ~ Aa5s 1913
Upon our foreign relations the President
informs us, among other things, thas f'nego-
tiations are pending with a view to the sur
vey and construction of ship canal across
the Isthmus of Darien, under the auspices of
the United States" aud that the results ofthese
negotiations may soon be expected by the
Senate We have only to say, in view of the
grand enterprise involved, thai we hope these
negotiations may be completely successful.
Next, while the st. Thomas purchase treaty
still hangs fire in the Senate, the Message,
with q sly hint at Cuba, broadly takes ground
in favor Of the annexation Of the whole island
of st. Domingo, including the black republic
of Hayti, such as 1t is, and the yellow republic
Of Dominica. 9h,f+etlh ~ l}ta 1as8
The President says:--tI am satisfied that the
time has arrived when even so direct pro-
ceedng as q proposition for the annexation"
of these two republics would not only re-
ceiye the consent Of the people interested,
3 but would also give satisfaction to all other
foreign nations" ~ n,,i., -..ss. ~. ~
y But upon the main question in our foreign
relations, those Alabama claims, what has
the President to say /? After touching upon
England remain TO be settledLthe mutual
ton on the Pacific coast, and the claims arts
ing since the year 1858 of the citizens and
subjects of the TWO countries against the gov
flnf NJ flof la