Year: 1866




1t was most fortunate circumstance, that
when Andrew Johnson, our accidental Pres
ident, was raised to the Executive chair by
the act of member of the Democratic par
ty. the country found the Legislative De
partment ip the hands of Congress above
the blandishment of Executive patronage. OF
the fear Of Johnson's displeasure. At no
previous time in our history had Congress
been composed ofsuch staunch and indepen-
dent material; and never had Congress
been brought into collision with a President
possessing such immense patronage. In for
mer instances. when the Administration was
not able TO directly control the majority of
Congress. the corruptive power of the pl-blic
plunder was potent enough to secure suf-
ficient number of the members of both IIous-
es to prevent any public measure of Con-
gress. which had been negatived by Presi-
dent. from being passed over his veto; and
il the President was not the law of the land,
nothing could become law without his will.
liz oiCotA ilpiil lue w Mite dOuSc was pO-
tential IN the Capitol-if it blew cold. the
sensitive members were chilled by the frost !;
and when it blew warm they were melted
into the softest mood of compliance. From
previous examples perhaps Johnson was ex-
cusable in believing that he would be able
to control sufficient number Of the Union
members to make him master of the situation.
But fortunately for our country, she has no
precedents applicable to the present state of
affairs. The late civil war brought new ele-
ments into politics, and new men into pow
er, and the hackneyed ways of our old class
of politicians afford no guides to be followed
in the present juncture of affairs. Already
Congress has enacted number oflaws on the
subject of reconstruction which have failed to
receive the Presidents approval. and it seems
likely that that whole question will be set
tied without any further consultation of
Johnsons wishes in the matter, and in spite
of him. When the people of the South
clearly understand that the power of the
Government, on that question, is in the
hands of Congress, and not of the President,
and that the loyal people of the North sus-
tain the Congressional plan of reconstruction
anu scout the Presidents States rights the
ories, they will come p to the requirements
of Congress, and reconstruction will be ac-
complished. 1t is not reasonable to suppose
that people so fond of political weight in
the Government as the southerners are, will
voluntarily remain out of the National Coun-
ellis, when by adopting the proposed Consti
tutional amendments they can throw the
doors of the halls of Congress wide open to
their representatives. Tennessee has led off
by her Legislature adopting the amendments,
under the auspices of Gov. Brownlow. and in
spite of Presidential intrigues to defeat their
adoption by that State. And now Congress
will reward her prompt action with reinstat-
ing her in the Union by special joint reso-
luton in her favor. From the temper of tie
President. he will, without doubt. veto the
joint resolution, but this veto will meet with
the fate of his last, and Tennessee, redeemed
by her loyal people, by Congressional action
will shortly be again in the rank of loyal
States. Our Southern States will follow in
the wake of Tennessee; and it would not be
anything astonishing if, in year hence. all
of them resumed their place in the Govern
ment upon the Congressional plan of recon-
struction,