Year: 1866

From thespringheli (Mass.) Republican.


1t is most unfortunate that the lead
ership of the Republican majority in
the House has fallen into such hands.
Mr.. Stevens is a strong man but his
forte is destruction, not creation. His
opinions are extreme; his declared poll
icy reactionary and ruinous And vet
he intends and expects to lead Con
gress, step by step, to the adoption of
that policy, and will know too well
how to use the present inaamed state
of feeling among the members for the
accomplishment of his purpose. 1t is
his avowed determination that the ex-
isting State Governments of the South,
organized under the direction of Presi-
dent Lincoln and President johnson.
shall be annulled and DESTROYED, and
military or civil governments establish
ed on their ruins.


1t Is his determination that the pro
perty OF the people of the South shall
be contiscated and distributed among
the freed negroes and Union soldiers.
and that the Southern States shall be
ruled as territories for an indefinite De
riod. Suppose Congress shall be in
duced to adopt either of these meas
ures; suppose bill passed for suppress
ing the State Governments which the
Executive has recognized as regularly
formed and legitimate II needs no
words TO show that this must lead to
actual collision. The President would
refuse TO enforce such an act; he would
resist Its enforcement, with all the
power in his hands, and consider him
self bound SO to do by his oath to main
tain and defend the Constitution. The
consequences of such a conflict of au.
tbority between the President and
Congress are too fearful to contemplate.
And yet to just this calamity does the
declared policy of the trusted and fol-
lowed leader of the House point.


The catastrophe is clearly possible; it
Is in the direct line Of present action
what is called the Radical policy of re-
construction, can not be even inaugu-
rated without it. viii it come to this?
We hope not; we believe not; we think
Congress will pause long and consider
well before it follows its leader to that
precipice. While she great question
hangs in suspense, let all true men pos
sess their souls in patience, doing Jus
tice TO the motives of the President,
giving all due weight to his opinions
and arguments, and treating him, in all
respects, as the executive head Of the
nation deserves to be treated, even if
some of his public utterances are as in
discreet and undignitied as the Con-
gressional assaults upon him. Andrew
johnson has not the inexhsustible pa
tienoe and long-suilering of Abraham
Lincoln, although like him in disregard
of the official proprieties; bat it must
be conceded that President johnson
has exacted more radical and humilia-
ting concessions from the South than
President Lincoln could have done.
Let US also judge Congress fairly. Its
controlling purpose is to protect the
freedmen sud to secure the restoration
of the Union upon a secure basis. The
majority of its members are not actua-
ted by hostility to the South, and their
love for country rises above regard to
party interests. If Congress and the
Executive shall unfortunately be placed
in an attitude of permanent hostility,
it is for the people to hold the bal
auces impartialIy and to give righteous
judgment between them. Forget party;
forget men; forget every thing but the
constitution, the laws, and the eternal
Justice enthroned above both, and all
viii yet be well.