Year: 1866

Ino Administration and the New York De-


mocracy-Tho Constitutional Amendment.


President Johnson's anticipations OF the for
nation Of a new and powerful conservative
Northern party, based upon the Philadelphia
August National Convention, have been scat
tered to the Winds 1t appears, too, from the
very interesting and important letter from one
OF our Washington correspondents, published
in Mondays HERALD, that the President in
recent conversation with q member of bis
Cabinet, attributed the failure of this Philadel-
democratic and conservative politicians to put
their best men in nomination, and not to any
unsoundness in his doctrine" "Then," he added,
almost petulantly, stake New York. Had they
Ghe democrats and conservatives) at the
late Albany Convention nominated Dix,
or Wool, or Slocum, or one Of several
others who rush on my mind, for Governor,
Success would have been certain; but because
pacA of reckless politicians see Gt to put
ior'n aga-st the present popular incumbent a


oandidate o''ocal reputation (Mr. Hoffman),


BECAUSE lorsooN. a good man, good Mayor


Of city. and h-y national policy must be


measured by his b'.Lel Still we must not
| despair"


1t further appears, hoM.ver, that the Presi-


dent had hardly expressed .is homes of the


success of his late favorite restoration nlan


against the plan Of Congress "w.en unfavor-


able indications came pouring in from all
parts Of the country premOnishing hin Of his


danger and Of the further danger of ,elav


and deciding him to take time by the lore


lock-" We are next informed that "con,s.
pondence was accordingly opened with the


Governors Of the lately rebellious States as tc


the propriety," in view of the success of the


Congressional plan in the North, "ofratifying the


constitutional amendment" end that "the Gov
ernors of South Carolina and Alabama have
already replied, signifying readiness tc
assemble the Legislatures of their States and
recommend the adoption of the amendment if
the President adjudges 1t expedent to do 80
or to cooperate with him in any course he
may deem it advisable to pursue" Regarding
the President as their best friend in behalf Of
their earliest possible restoration to their proper
constitutional relations with the government
they are prepared to aid him in any course
which he may advise to that end


Here we have two or three important points
gained in behalf of q speedy restoration OF
the South on the basis Of the constitutional
compact proposed by Congress. First, in the
stupidity Of the New York democracy, whose
leaders are indeed those old foolish "Bourbons
who never learn anything and never forget
anything" II is settled that the experiment in
augurated at Philadelphia for the formation OF
new national conservative party has col
lapsed, and that the Northern elections of
this fall are to be fought between the old d,mo-
cratic peace party of the war and the Union
war party which by force Of arms rat down
the late gigantic Southern rebellion. As an
active leader of this Union warparty, Presi-
dent johnson saw, from the lightning OF his
war with the radicals, that ir turning over his
cause to the party and lesiers of the Chicago
shent-per-shent convention he would be rush.
ing to certain and disastrous defeat. Hence
his erorts to bring saout u new party orgsniza-
ton, involving the burial of the old demo-
cratic party aDd the fusion Of its disbanded
elements on new platform, with new name
and new leaders, from all the old party mate
rials thus recast in new form.


The New York democracy, in adhering to
their old broken and disjointed idols, have
debated this new national party movement.
The President thus has no alternative left him
but to fall in with the reconstruction plan of
Congress but the points thus gained, we are
sure, from the facts recited as to the present
inclnations Of Mr.. johnson, will immensely
facilitate the work Of Southern restoration.
Had the new party been organized as eontem.
plated, the conflict between the President and
the radicals might have delayed for several
years to come the readmission of the excluded
States into Congress. Now we see no obstacle
to their admission which may not be overcome
before the 4th OF March, 1867.


Next in falling In with the general move
ment Of the North in support of the Congress
sional plan of Southern restoration, and in thus
bringing the excluded Southern States to a
ratification which will open at once TO them
the doors Of Congress, the President will gain
the important advantage Of decisive balance
OF power In Congress against the radicals II
is just the difference In his favor Of twenty
members added to the Senate, any how, and
from forty to sixty in the House, as the States
concerned, each for itself, may determine on
the question Of suffrage or no suffrage to their
black population.


We congratulate the President on the good
prospect before him, resulting from the stu
pidiiy Of the Northern, and especially the New
York, democracy. The Union party Of the
war, with the plan Of Congress, will carry him
through the task Of Southern restoration on a
solid and satisfactory basis. A word from him
to the several States directly concerned, and
the work is done. Then, with full Congress
Of all the States in council, the radicals will
become powerless faction, and the admins
H. >c