Untitled article by Editor

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · September 17, 1867

The President.

By Editor

It is not our design to print in the News or any other department of our paper, political articles written merely for political effect. We however give the following from the N. Y. Tribune, as being simply a record of facts to which all must subscribe. It gives a clear and comprehensive view of the present political situation of our country. As such it will be of interest to all. The Tribune says:

The President must stand and fight. We have been advancing and retreating long enough. Too many white flags have been exchanged. The President means war. War be it, then, and God speed the right!

Nearly five months since, the regular session of Congress was adjourned. The winter had witnessed an angry contest with the President. There were three parties: 1. The Democratic fragment, which gave the President undivided allegiance. 2. The moderate Republicans, who, trusting in his honor, endeavored to make his duty so plain, and his responsibilities so exact and limited, that he could not escape them. They hoped that the nation might be reconstructed without violent appeals to the law. 3. The earnest and extreme Republicans who felt that we could not reconstruct the country without the impeachment of the President. The counsels of the moderate Republicans prevailed. They carried the Reconstruction bill. With the aid of one of these parties they prevented impeachment. This was accomplished by the assurance that the President, having protested against the action of Congress, would consent himself to have the law quietly carried into execution. He appointed generals in command of the military districts who were most acceptable to the country. In the case of Gen. Sheridan, at least, we know that some of these appointments were made against his own judgment, and in deference to the wishes of Congress. The Senate and House adjourned. It was felt that the virtual acquiescence of the President would make an extra session unnecessary. Summer would see the States reconstructed. Universal Suffrage would be tested. The States would gradually drift back into the Union. When Mr. McPherson called the roll of the House in December, all the States would answer, and once more a full American Congress would sit in an American Capitol.

Then came the first crime. This law of Reconstruction, duly considered and well approved was assailed by Mr. Stanbery. We give Mr. Stanbery the credit of being an able lawyer and an upright man. But the President wanted an opinion that was not upright, and in an evil hour his Attorney-General wrote it. Ingenious and subtle, the country did not fail to see that it was a fraud, and that the President, in inviting its publication was dishonest. It cut the heart out of the Military bill. Reconstruction was brought to a dead lock. The opinion, to use the figure of Gen. Sheridan, was a broad, macadamized road to fraud and perjury, and the Southern States were thrown into chaos. Congress was hurriedly assembled. A bill was passed which even the subtlety of Mr. Stanbery could not misconstrue. The extreme Republicans contended that even this would not do, and that to have Reconstruction, the President should be impeached. The counsels of such men as Mr. Fessenden and Mr. Wilson, Mr. Colfax and Mr. Sherman, prevailed. It was held that with a law thus plainly written the President would walk directly, and the South would be restored. This assurance, indeed, was given by men who claimed to speak for the President, Congress believed it, and again adjourned over until winter.

Now comes the second crime. Stanbery cannot explain the law. Blue is so palpably blue that there is no making even the President believe it to be gray. The President has the best part of a year before him. Since he cannot nullify the law, he persecutes its ministers. Stanton is stricken down. The War Secretary, who has been retained two years for his disagreeable qualities, is removed for his virtues. Because of the only quality which the Republican party honors in Stanton, he is disgraced. Then comes Sheridan. This glorious soldier simply performs a soldier's duty. He executes the law in its true spirit. He does the work which the country expects him to do, and he is dismissed. A few days pass and Sickles is removed for loyal devotion to the Congress and the country. A Tammany Democrat is placed in New Orleans, while a soldier without a record goes to Charleston. In a few days Pope will be ordered back to the Indian country, to assist Sheridan in guarding sutlers' posts and baggage trains. Grant has served the President's turn in removing Stanton, and his excellency is impatient already, calling the General of our armies “A radical spy and traitor.” He will no doubt speedily be asked to retire in favor of Steedman or Black. That Christian gentleman and soldier, Howard, who has shown in his high place the philanthropy and piety of the fine great name he bears, is written upon the slate of degradation. Holt will follow—and with these men every soldier or civilian who will not aid the President in his treason.

Where will this end? The President means war; the country must stand and fight or be defeated.

We admonish the people to prepare for a stern and high responsibility. It is nearly a hundred days till Congress meets. Till then we are powerless. We can only bow to this dreadful tyranny.