New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-08-26
1T. oun experience should have taught MIN 'ho

| HIS own experience should nave '""e
danger Of this course"
WHEN tho Gloss of the war brought the aues-
zion of reconstruction to the front SteNe"S
entered upon the part Of his career wnlch wac
the most momentous In its results. Out VINO"
was also perhaps that for when the 'ou''''.
, owes him the least gratitude. FROM 'he o"'
he had differed with his party and WIFI h',.
In his view Of the legal stat,S OF the repo'i
States The early Republican theory 'ha'
States retained all their rights unoet ''e
stitution. and could exercise them o
on the condition Of laying down ther ARMS. a.
we'll as Lincoln's practical application Oh ','''
doctrine in his proclamation OF '"o'' 49,
which governments were organized III bou'''A
and other States he strenuously oPPose'
maintained and surely with mucn reas''i, -
,ho constitutional rights of the seeding states
had been totally lost through their OWL o''o''
and that Il was wholly for their conauerors 10
- .ba, terms and TO what extent
thew might regain them This radicai view,
.,,.,, cta,..re defended with great ability ana
,.igor was doubtless one to when the coui'e
,.or,a ,.ou,d Of itself have mpelled the hepuo-
49,, marty and the controversy between is
,odere and Lincoln on the Louisiana matter III
,.,,oa that they we're taking rapid sU'ues w.
vard IL Bat had the President l1Ved II Is NO
likely that difference of opinions Vn 'iiio
notwithstanding the uncompromisns a''''uu
ctevens would have led to any open i"P
h4tween Congress and the Executive me ~"
nu,A was. al bottom. as Lincoln SAID '"'
teal one and the two powers haN'ne N''
end IN view and respecting ana trus'ihe ~
INV ,yorld have hit upon some mutuahy
..,.roo,ory r,an of action. When Andrew John-
,a,,,o President however. the SITUATION
- .otallv changed Though. as seems u'i
.;roble he at first did nothing but promuI-
,o Tho nIen of reconstruction whlch Lhco,i'
nod practically decided upon short'y oei''
death the spirit that actuated MN was w
onrosite of that of his predecessor. Inc uiii'''
IN theory between President ana congress
so,,od itself at once into an absolute an'ae
o,,,sr, ~ motives and purposes, ana coiiiii''
u,os nrecipitated which became the most e"'i"-
ordinary in political history :, l.
ne tho familiar details Of the struss'e IL "
reed,ess TO speak. 1t is enough 10 say '"
Coreress went over unreservedly 70 stevens
view that the seeded States shouio De "e"'e
s conquered provinces. and that upon h'ln NV
than upon any other falls the respohsio"i''
18th the good and the evil in the ieeisia''on y,
.ho reconstructon period With tne Prao'.0"'
sunnression of the veto power by the aht'-'oni'
son majority, Congress became Tor the ,ii'ie NV
State and Stevens was its dictator ne am
mated the attack on the Executive ana neio ''ie
destiny of the South In the mono" ol HIS MANU-
To mass a definite Judgment upon the ie0on
struct,on policy that was adopteo uiue ''
guidance Is still impossible, ana MI cO"'' US
So. o..or,nt u II. reviews the situation how
ever. with great importantly anu 10 e''N'
s,srosod 20 defend the wisdom OF stevens
theory. though he condemns III "'''i
.or,,,s ,ba h,deous orgy of misrue in the South
IN which its practical execution ieu' vi 'i'0 '''
noachr,ert Of Johnson. however-the culmina-
.,or ~ Stevens's effort to establish the suprern-
ao,, -, Congress-h,story has already passed
enal Judgment, which Mccall merely repeats
II was a colossal and dangerous mistake. Had
!. .,ooooded "tba balance established by the
Constitution would have been completely de-
.o,,ad II was a fortunate circumstance
that the Senate contained great lawyers hhe
rrrr,hun and Fessenden. who were wise enough
20 Judge rightly, and great enough to cast aside
nor,,eensh,n upon a question Of such transcend
ar+ ,nnortance. and consult the interests In
etead Of the passions Of the people" 1t may De
edded that IN his treatment Of johnson MT NC
Call is exceedingly fair, and that he shows no
tendency to misrepresent him In the interest Oh
Stevens as others have IN the interest or STAN
ton One passage may be quoted as an iilustra-
ton and for its justice. Johnson's summary
removal OF Stanton after his restoration 70 the
secretaryshp by Congress-an act which pre-
ciptated the impeachment-was, he says, the
act Of a patriot That restoration was "the high
water mark Of the encroachments or Congress
unon the Presidential power" and johnson
would have been singularly wanting In courage.
as we'll as patriotism, If he had tamely submit
ted He did what Grant, Jackson or any
other of our great Presidents would doubtless
have done under similar circumstances"