, 1864-01-23
THE WASHINGTON STATESMAN
SATURDAY MORNING. JAN, %, 1864

was preparing plan tor the reconstruction
of the Union and which would soon be made
public. The plan was to be new and alto
gether original with Mr. Lincoln. The plan
of reconstruction alluded to is contained in
the Presidents message and the accompa-
nying proclamation; but SO far from being
original or late idea, it is almost as old as
the rebellion. 1t is in fact the identical
plan which the aboltionists conceived during
the first stages of the war, Notwithstanding
the fact that some Of the radical journals
are now claiming, and endeavoring to make
the people believe, that it is something new
and in every way just the right thing at the
right time. 1t embraces and contemplates
the old theory of entire subjugation of the
South, and the holding of the southern
States as conquered provinces. This most
extraordinary document (by some called an
able State paper does not say in so many
words that the States are to be held as con
quered provinces or territory, but it says
in substance that whenever one-tenth of the
people of any of the rebellious States be-
come loyal enough to support the enamel
patton proclamation and other proclamations
in regard to slaves, they shall establish State
governments, republican in form, and which
shall be recognized as the true government
of the States
Altogether, the plan of reconstruction pro
posed by Mr. Lincoln is the one which has
been advocated by extreme abolitionists, and
the one which has universally been de-
nounccd by the conservatives of all parties
The States are to be Republican in form
yet they must arrange their domestic affairs
to suit the notions of party or faction
The Constitution of the United States says
that no State shall be formed within State
without the consent of the people; but by
the radical mode the Constitution is set
aside and new State governments are to be
set up within the limits of other States
though only one-tenth of the people are
willing to support such State government
The idea cf subjugating the Southern
people and holding the States as conquered
territory has ever appeared to ussince it was
first broached as not only impractcable, but
also contrary to the spirit of Republican
government Ifit we're even feasible the
conquered territory would require large
standing army to occupy it and to hold in
check the subugated Or conquered pooplej
and the Federal Government would then
only be republican in name; it would essen
TALLY partake more of the form of monar
chy than republic Besides this those
people would very naturally cherish bitter
hatred toward the people of the North and
the federal Government; and in case the
government engaged in a foreign war they
would be quick to form an alliance with a
foreign power in order to throw off what
they would deem a yoke of tyranny. By
the subiugating process we would lose the
very things we wish to preserve, unity and
strength. Why do we wish to preserve the
Union 1t is because we love a Republi-
can government; because We love liberty
that priceless heritage which our republic
has ever given us-and because we wish to
perpetuate that bond of strength and unity
which secured the liberty of the fathers of
the republic and which made the govern
ment honored and respected among the ma
tions of the earth We desire union
which does not compel by force its
people to fight for it, but one which from its
justness and superiority commands the ad-
miration of its citizens, one which the peo-
pie will voluntarily take up arms to defend
when duty calls Or danger threatens
Congress over two years ago declared that
the war on the part of the Federal Gov
ernment against the people in rebellion was
being prosecuted in no spirit of aggression,
subjugation or conquest, but that whenever
the people ceased to war against the govern
ment and acknowledged the rightful author
ity of the Constitution and laws the pur-
pose Of the war would be accomplished and
the war should cease. The Southern States
were guaranteed their full rights under the
Constitution. BY voluntary enistments the
Government then could procure more men
than we're wanted, and we firmly believe if
the war had been continued in that spirit
that rebellion would have been ended ere
this and peace and harmony restored through
out the whole Union. But the radicals
have been unceasing in their efforts to rid
the country of slavery, many Of them hon
estly thinking that striking deadly
blow at the institution was the quickest and