Year: 1868

THE SLNSiON.


If the second session of the XLth Congress
has afforded us at times matter for dissatisfac-
ton, it has also given us ground for conf
dence in the frmuess of the popular repre-
sentatives during the present crisis of our Ha-
/ tional history and for hope that the pa
/ triotism and courage of our law-giycrs viii
bring us safely through the dangers which
we foresee in the future. When Congress
met in December there was some hope that
! Mr.. johnson, taught by experience that
! the Republican plan Of Reconstruction was the
policy upon which the country had determined,
would relax his opposition, and coniine him
/ self to his legitimate functions of executing,
/ instead of debating, the laws. But his Mes
sage dispelled this hope. lie is man whom
opposition irritates, but never instructs. IL
was evident from the first day Of the session
/ that a hard conflict between Andrew johnson
and the loyal people of the country was
inevitable. The first passage OF arms
occurred Immediately after the Christmas
recess. when the House passed resolution of
censure upon the President for removing Sheri-
! dan from the command of the Fifth Military
District. The next was a week later, when the
Senate ordered the restoration of Stanton, who
had been suspended from the office of Secre-
tary of War. Hitherto Mr.. Johnson, while
scheming to evade the laws, had at least
recognized their power to bind him. But
falling TO shake the steadfastness OF
the Senate, he declared his supremacy
over tho legislative branch OF the
Government, and on the 2lst of February
issued the memorable order removing Mr..
Stanton, and thus opening the great struggle
which will occupy so large q space in the his
/ tory of our country. The impeachment fol-
/ lowed Immediately. For many weeks Congress
and the country were OF one mind. The energy
of the House kept pace with the patriotic
excitement of the people. The articles were
framed and presented. Senators dOnned their
judicial ermne, and for months the attention OF
the people was fixed upon one great question:
should Andrew johnson become the autocIat
Of America or should the form of government
devised by our ancestors be the rule Of our
future as 1t had been of our past Why inn
peachment in measure failed, We need not
now remind our readers We have already
analyzed the motives which influenced the ex-
traordinary verdict, and have nothing to re-
tract or ito modify in the opinions we
originally expressed. But the narrow
ness of the Presidents escape was
both a wholesome lesson to him and
a ratification of the policy Of Congress- and
though Mr.. Johnson escaped punishment by a
single vote the trial helped the Congress plan
of reconstruction. The,vOte on the Xlth article
condemned Mr.. Johnson and strengthened the
hands of Congress quite as much as if its eff
feet had been to place a new President in the
executive chair. Certainly the restoration Of
the Southern States on the basis of impartial
suffrage went steadily on. One after another
returned to its place in the Union, and when
| Congress adjourned yesterday only Virginia,
/ Mississippi, and Texas remained without the
privilege of representation in the Federal Leg
| slature: all the others have returned. When
we reflect that the real question in the I'm
parchment trial was whether Congress should
let the Southern States in, or Mr.. johnson
should be allowed to keep them ont, we must
see what victory the loyal people gained in
that trial, though the verdict seemed to be
against them.


Beside admitting nearly all the ex-Rebcl
States, Congress has done a good deal to iu-
sure the safety of the loyal people in the South,
| by placing the laws more completely than be-
| fore in the custody of the patriotic and trusty
/ General of the Army, who in few months
more will be charged with their entire execu-
/ tiOn and by limiting the power of the Supreme
Court, tainted as it still is with the old Demo
cratic infection, to interfere with their working.


We regret that the Presidents power for
mischief during the remainder of his term has
not been more carefully circumscribed. He
makes no secret of his wish to disregard the
recent enactments on the subject of recon-
stTuctiOn-haTdly a secret Of his deliberate
purpose of setting them at defiance; and what
wickedness man of his ingenuity in wrong
doing may not attempt it is hard to guess
Between July and September there is margin
for a great deal of mischief. We regret too
that the work of reconstruction was not COM
pleted by the admission of the three States
which are still excluded. They may have de-
served to be kept out while longer but if
all men got their exact deserts this would be a
very unhappy world.


Reconstruction has occupied so large a share
of attention that other important matters have
been unfortunately neglected. The financial
question has been left in an especially chaotic
state, and the session will be chiefly remem-
bered we fear, for the opposition to contrac-
ton, and the unfortunate reduction of taxes.


|


Mn az hooo .spl.r Vt.l,f 10 Il