Year: 1868

We fecl that the country owes Congress
the highest hsnor. Il is not often that a
legislative body, composed of men who
represent so many varied interests and con-
stituencies, not always above Presidential
Establishments, nor free from the influences
of power, can shsw such noble and un
Welding devotion to principle Congress
has shown this. 1t has passed the ordeal
of fiery furnace, and we feel il should be
honored. We have had no Congress since
that which framed the Declaration of Inde-
pendence so deserving of the Republics
gratitude.


Twelve months ago, there seemed fair
prospect that our political troubles were
near an end. Four years of war had de-
moiished the theory of secession and State
sovereignty two years more of dispute and
turmoil had left the lately rebellious States
prepared to accept almost any tolerable
terms of restoration and, when the Just
and liberal plan proposed by Congress was
laid before them. there seemed no reason
why they should lot adopt them unani-
mously. If they had done so there world
have Deen no further occasion for strife
The vacant seals in the Sep4,c and House
would have been filed Military Govern





the past. Courts martial and arbitrary in
reference with the regular processes of
law would have been among the troubled
memories of the war. Industry would have
revived. The laborer would quietly have
earned his hire. The planter would have
deboted himself TO his crops. and the mer-
chant 10 his trade. With the restoration
IF social order and public prosperity, star
vation and pestilcnce would have passed
away like some horrible nightmare, and
the rich fields and pleasant cities of the
South would once more have smiled. We
at the North did our part to bring about
all this, and our brothers at the South
would have done their part, TOO, but their
evil genius drove them into other courses
On the threshold of pea ,e, they were
stopped By the high priest of discord. In
the very hour of reconstruction, the great
prophet of hatred held up his policy OF
anarchy, and tempted Il EN- 10 renewed
disorder. Andrew Johr son has succeeded
to the bad cminence once occupied by JEFF
ferson Davis. Davis urged the Southern
States To go ont of the Union; Johnson
prevents them from coming in. One was
the apostle OF secession. The other Is the
chief adversary of reconstruction. One
was the advocate Of war. The other Is the
promoter Of an anarchy which is worse
than war, the fomentcr of hostility more
bitter and more dangerous than that which
animates soldiers in ihe open field.


The policy of President johnson has
been throughout to rouse The dormant pas
sions Of the Southern rebels, to kindle
afresh the smothered antipathy of race, and
out of these unholy materialr to, build up
for himself a party which should control
the whole country. Don't submit, he cried,
to the repentant South; don't come back
until you can come as conquerors. Don't
yield to the victors the fruits of their VIC
tory. You are the masters: you are the
predestined rulers of fl1e Union yours arc
the promises. The North Is strong of arm,
but tender OF heart and weak of head.
Raise the cry OF social anarchy, and You
can frighten it into whatever you wait
Sheridan interfercd to prevent the execu-
lion OF this wicked plan, and the President
hurled him from place. Stanton refused
10 lend himself to the scheme, and he too
was driven from office. Pope and Sickles |
made a stand for peace and justice, and |
hey were removed. Full warning was |
given to the rebels that they might swindls