Year: 1867

h0Op0n1n8 Oh tmO lt0VosuuO00fy contest II


Congress-The President's Policy.


The course pursued by President Johnson
and his administration renders it very clear
that they are prepared to renew their unseemly
fight with Congress-, and to carry it on with
increased venomsand vindiotiveness. This con-
fict between the executive and legislative
branches Of the government has been going
on for the past two years, to the damage OF the
country at home and it's degradation abroad.
1t was suspended by the peaceable and effective
working of tho Reconstruction law under the
military commanders appointed through the
influence of General Grant, and the prevailing
hope and belief were that 1t had come to an
end, and that Congress having adjourned and
gone homo without adopting con6scaion or
Impeachment, or any Of the ultra measures of
the extreme radicals, President johnson would
faithfully carry out the law as 80 clearly de-
fined in his veto messages But the suspension
ofhostilities was only temporary. The restless
factions could not remain at peace any more
than the Girondists and Jacobins of France
could fraternize after the beheading Of Louis
the Sixteenth. Each had ulterior views which
would not be promoted by the paci6oation Of
the country under law satisfactory to the
people. The radicals sent their missionaries
into the rebel States to stir up mischief and
obstruct the peaceful progress Of reconstruc.
ton by building up negro party at the
South. The johnson copperheads have taken
bolder and more dangerous course, and In
the absence Of Congress have attempted to
strike down the law by paralyzing the arms Of
those who are enga ged in carrying it into
effect.


This wilful and wicked interference with the
operation Of law which was quietly, surely
and satisfactorily working out the ends for
which 1t was enacted will plunge the country
into more turmoil and confusion than it has
witnessed since the suppression Of the rebel
lion. 1t will compel the assembling Of Con-
gress for July session, and will open up .
multitude of questions, personal and political,
which will serve to paralyze business, re-
smoulderng ashes of sectional strife, and keep
the whole nation in a state of excitement and
suspense. Extreme men will call for the i'm
pcachment and removal of the President, and,
laying his sins at the doors Of the Southern
people, will press with renewed energy their
demands for punishment and confiscation. The
most moderate will insist upon such action as
will insure the proper enforcement Of the laws
Of the United States. The President and his
advisers have calculated upon this condition Of
affairs and are prepared for it. 1t is their
plan for tho prosecution Of the next Presden-
tid campaign. They have all along been seek
ing to make capital by charging the republic
cans Of Congress with an intention to keep
open the question Of reconstruction, and not to
admit the Southern States 10 representation in
Congress at oil until after the next Presidential
election. When the Reconstruction act was
passed they advised the South not to organize
their States under lis provisions, because Con.
gress would surely reject them after they had
submitted to the degradation Of the law. They
believe now that they have placed matters In
a shape TO enable them TO appeal to the North
In the next Presidential contest with more
prospect Of success than they would find in
restored and prosperous Union. They calcu-
late that the people will be tired out by this
long procrastinaiion OF the work of reconstruc-
ton that the acts Of the military commanders
OF the Southern districts, however legal and
necessary, are SO repuguant to oil our pre-
conceived ideas Of a republican form Of gov
ernment that they cannot fail to effect the
minds Of many Northern men and they trust
in the rashness Of tho extreme radicals In Con-
gress, during heated summer session, to pro-
pose acts Of general confscation and other
oppressive measures which may serve to
startle and alarm the more moderate and
peaceable portion Of the community. All
these exciting and dangerous elements they
desire to drag together and cast into the
approaching Presidential election, in the dcs-
perate hope that in the reign Of anarchy and
terror thus insugurated they may manage 70