The Sun.
London, England, 1866-01-06 00:00:00

themselves traitors cannot complain ,if .....
1113
people refuse to trust them a second time. If the n
pardoned rebels of the South are again permitted
take their places among the law-makers of the Be'
public, what security have the people against a repo"
tition of those crimes which have deluged the 10°
with blood ? And so, is. Mr. Thaddeus Steve°
unreasonable when he declares that the States late
in rebellion ought never to be counted as valid
States-" until the Constitution shall have been 0°
amended as to secure a perpetual ascendancy to the
party of the Union, and so as to render RePll,l,;';
lican government firm and stable forever.
The position of President Johnson is, however;
more popular, if not more reasonable, than that 0'
the Radicals in Congress. He believes that toed
Southerners, having laid down their arms an
renewed their allegiance to the Government, should
have their political status in the Union restores'
not as a matter of right exactly, but rather in pur
suance of a policy of mercy and conciliation:,
In this belief he is sustained by Gene 7,
Grant, and by nearly all the respectabdig
and intelligence of the country. General Grant'
who has recently made a tour through the Solt
seems to place considerable reliance upon i,.„
Southern professions of loyalty and submission
the national authority. "I am satisfied (he WI
that the mass of the thinking men of the Son!
accept the present situation of affairs lli
good . faith. The questions which babe
heretofore divided the sentiments of I 8
Pd
people of the two sections—slavery 311,„,
State rights, or the right of a State to secede frog
the Union—they regard as having been settled I"
ever by the highest tribunal (arms) that men.
_de°
resort to. I was pleased to learn from the legit
men whom I met that they not only accepted If,
decision arrived at as final, but now that Itv
smoke of battle has cleared away, and time 1171
been given for reflection, this decision has been
o
fortunate one for the whole country, they receroi
the like benefits from it with those who op p itro
them in the field and in the council." •''
have no hesitation, then, in giving our' Illi,
W
qualified adhesion to the reconstruction policy to
President Johnson. The war was not waged 4
secure the ascendancy of any party, but to dell
the Union against those who would destroy l:
That Union is strong enough and powerful wet,
to defend itself against all assailants, whether thel,
come from the North or the South. If the rebel:
have not seen the error of their ways, if tile),
are not now willing to accept without 1'0,%
vation the generous forgiveness of their Gover.llol
ment, they are at least powerless to jai,
further injury upon it. We believe they des,wr
nothing more than that their great political err'
should be buried in oblivion, and that hereaflet t
they will be found among the firmest and staunelle4
supporters of the national authority. But if tPlie
Government trusts them too far, it has always tp
means to defend itself. It has nothing to fear.
can afford to be generous. Monarchies, based °9Ol
aristocracy and in violation of public right, ID.,
put down rebellion with a strong hand—Repubby"
like that of the United States, have nothing to f't
from an intelligent, patriotic, and Christian peoP