Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1879-07-02
CONGRESS AND TIE PREsIDENT

CONGRESS AND THE PRESIDENT.
Congress adjourned yesterday and
we are glad Of it. The country has
been Kept in state Of agitation by
this prolonged extra session. and we
cannot see any great benefits to grow
out Of it. An attempt has been made
on both sides to manufacture senti-
ment for political capital with refer
enee to the elections next year. Many
Of the speeches made, or partly made
and written out afterward, were inten-
ded for distribution among rural con-
stltuencies An immense number
Of bills were introduced, but for
tunately, We presume, very few of
them became laws. The Democrats
undertook to repeal certain laws which
gives the President the power to use
the army at the ballot-box. This has
been greatly abused in various States,
not only in the South but in the North.
1t is held that there is no such thing
under the constitution as a United
States voter. No citizen, native born
OR naturalized, can vote until he has
resided in some State a certain length
of time. Congressman represent States
as such and not as provinces Of the
Federal government. 1t was, there
fore, sought to prevent Federal inter
ference at the ballot-box and to leave
it to the control and regulation OF the
States where it originally belonged
aud should be. The Republicans re-
sisted this to the utmost extent of
their power, and finally enlisted the
President in their partisan purposes,
and by the interposition of his various
vetoes defeated all the important
measures which originated on the
Democratic side. Notonly this, but
they denounced these measufes as
revolutionary, and appealed at once
to the bitter feelings and sec
tional prejudices which have
so long enabled their party to hold on
to Office and power. The Democrats
perhaps protracted the struggle longer
than necessary, but they at least have
the consciousness of having battled
faithfully for the constitution, the
autonomy of the States and the rights
of the people. They sought to wipe
away, not the fixed results of the war,
but the last vestiges of odious Radical
legislation enacted when the party
was flushed with the victories of the
war, and passions of the people
were at such fever heat that they
could even sanction the drum-head
murder of an innocent and unde-
Tended woman. The cooler and bet
ter judgment of the country demands
that these statutes shall be repealed,
andit will be done yet. The Demo
Gratis in congress have made some
mistakes, of course, and as usual, but
the Southern members in particular
can be congratulated upon exercising
the greatest forbearance, prudence
and conservatism. They have sought
to promote the good Of the whole
country and to strengthen the bonds
of good feeling throughout the
union. If this has not been
done the crime cannSt be laid at
their door. The President, we regret
to say, has manifested very narrow,
sectional, partisan spirit, quite incon-
sistent with some of his former bland
and patriotic expressions. Blood is
thicker than water, and when the test
came he was found trying to serve his
party rather than his country. He
joined the ultra wing OF his party, and
placed himself in the hands Of its lead
ers. His vetOes were written to suit
them, if not at their dictation,
for use in the next Presidential
campaign. The fact is evident that
he desires an Endorsement in the
shape of another term, provided the
party can cheat the Democrats out of
another election. Having by his We
toes retained the bayonet and United
States marshals as factors in politics,
to be used all on one side, he has pc
culiar claims upon his party il he is not
even bigger than old man Grant" "
The Democrats occupy solid ground
upon which to appear before the peo-
pie, and have no doubt gained some
advantages by this long and heated
extra session, but still we are glad
they have adjourned and are coming
home. The people will have more
time now to discuss crops, trade and
other material home affairs and the
country will be all the better for it.
.--~----------.zsss--
Tu.e,sYrcu ap tba htatta .Tohneon