Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1865-06-23
and dtlfus, uponevery possible occasion,' they
,wilp take care TO make tile wrath 7ofl the
radicals his highest praise. sIHaT Hgaq1A
Recommendation OF the Southern
2 ''' vi. .' Stntes 1850 p 3pOJ .s9Ii y

''' vi. States. 1880 20 'pOJ .s7ji.
A correspondent of The Cincinnati cd
gette, writing from Petersburg, Va, thus
portrays political affairs in the Old Do
minion: ... .r.... ...r
'.Unless the Government moves, with
great cdutioh, and acts with ALMOST infinite
wisdom, the whole political system of the g
South will. soon be in working order, aud 4.
arrayed' against it more bitterly than ever.
Having failed in the field. these political
workers are striving, with their old malig-
nifty not one whit abated, to leinstate them r
selves for the purpose of continuing the,
struggle. Everywhere they are pretending
to accept the new order of things-thoge
parts alone which look toward any less re-
strictlon ofrights on account Of their hav-,
ing been active traitors. In this State such
men have, by the votes of those like them
selves, been already elected to office In
= some places Union men dare not appear ut
the polls, and the obligation resting upon,
judges of election to administer o test oath
was publicly and defiantly disregartled;
and these things, and more Of tlis same
character occurred in places which have
long been under Federal rule. What will
be the complexion of the political bodies OF
the State when elections come to be held in
towns which our forces do not control?
I This kind of political reconstruction is in
progress, or will 60 on. throughout the
South the moment the Government reaxes
its power When the civil power is once
re-established no matter whether in the
most obnoxious form, it will be very diff
cult to change its charaCter-in fact, it
would not be done without another war;
Loyal men everywhere are astounded at
the precipitate and thOughtlesshaste which
is manifested by President johnson in the
work of reconstructing the political ma
chinery Of the Southern States. First,
North Carolina is declared ready to move
as political body under the leadershiplot,
Holden, man OF acknowledged seces-
sion ideas, though a bitter opponent of
the rebel Government. Although there
are many firm Union men in North Caro-
lima, more who have manifested higher
type of herOism than of any other rebel
lious State, with perhaps the exception of
Tennessee, yet it is a question whether
North Carolina has been sufficiently re-
generated to take her place in the brother
7 hood of States. While it is true that re-
spectacle minority Of her people have re-
mained loyal and would be glad to resume
her former relations to the Union. there is
well-founded fear of the trustworthiness
of the great mass Of her population, which
gives rise to many doubts in the minds of
true Union men, lest, even with North Car
olina, reconstruction has been unwise, be-
cause prematIrely commenced. .t.r,.
We fear President johnson is too fast.
Treason has not been made odiOus The
work OF DEMONSTRATION has been commenced
before any leading traitor has been punished,
or made to feel that he has been guilty of
any crime against his Government. Lead
ing traitors are permitted to be reinstated
in authority before the blood of our slain
has been washed from their hands full of.
anger and vindictiVeness, ready to deal out
vengeance upon the helpless race who still
remain in their power. Possibly, North
Carolina may be reerganiZed and brought
back to usefulness in the Union; but of
Mississippi, Georgia and South Carolina we
have not the faintest hope. They are rebel
to the core, foremost inthe beginning, and
manifest no outward signs of repeutanceat
the close of the war. .......-.,- .i....f.. De-.
We had hoped that President johnson
would be fully impressed with the magni-
tude of the question of reconstruction, and
I %aIl an extra session of Congress, or leave
The matter rest under military government
until the voice of the. people could be
reached through their representatives
There seems no necessity for haste in the
/, matter especially indecent haste The peo-
pie of the south can go to work, if they re-
ally are desirous of becoming good citizens,
as wellunder military ruler for the time
being las under Provisional GOVERNOR
Butt they are not prepared to enjoy, the. If
blessings Of civil Government. Every
village and cross-road groceryis filled with
returned unrepenting rebels, splitting out
malignantvenom, made doubly hot by be-
ing conquered, and readyat any moment
to take up arms, again for their infamous
cause. \ year or two of severe military
rule-wise but unreenting--would 90 far
towards preparing them for the enioyments
of civil Government; and reorganization on
any other plan will in the end prove fail
ure.-Sdadushy Register, June2l - .o'