The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1865-10-18
and entrusted with an important

Brig. Gen. Humphreys, .whoihas been
pardoned and has taken the annes-
.ty oath since his election, is agood and
loyal citizen; but, for the life Of us,
wescannot see why he is any better
orsmore loyal Than Brig. Gen. Clark,
the late governor, who would also
have taken the oath If he had been
permittedsto DO SO. And If there is
no difference between them, Why was
the State government torn asunder,
and all the trouble and expense Of
|" reconstruction undergone? Letus'
turn now to s.Sonth Carolina, where
the same process was resorted ito,
and where the Presidents plan has
also had a fair trial, When the war
closed her goyerpor;was Milledge L.
Bonham, form erly a Confederate gen
|eral and a Confederate representative
in Congress. For the next governor,
under the new Constitution just form
ed, the only candidate is James l..
Orr, late Confederate Senator.
Now will some one tell us why the
Confederate Senator will prove bet
tier governor or more "loyaP citizen
than the Confederate representative
The truth is tile whole plan has
proved a failure; afterall the trouble
which it has caused, it has failed to
accomplish the objects for which it
was adopted. The true plan was that
of Sherman and Johnston, and we
lare pleased to see that the Democracy
[of Ohio, in their recent State Conven.
ton, while promising to sustain the
Presidents plan now that it has been
adopted, regretted that the one pro-
1posed by Sherman and Johnston had
not been put in operation
| Its of course toolate now to rem
edy all the evils that the mode of re-
construction has entailed upon us,
but something may yet be done IN
that direction. IF the President has
become satisfied that his own plan
will lead precisely to the same results,
| it would Prove the part Of wisdom to
discontinue it at once. Those States
|. in which the State governments have
already been pIlt into operation &C.
cording to this plan, might be let
alone. bat in those where the work
| Of reconstruction has either not been
commenced, or has progressed but
slowly, let him at once adopt the
ideas suggested by the two great
generals who proved themselves as
able in diplomacy as they were brave
in the field. Let him recall the ban,
tished State governments and admin
lister the oath of allegiance to the Of
Ulcers, and he will find that they will
prove as loyal and devoted citizens
Of the United States as any men he
lis likely to get to take the helm I'M
der his own plan Of reconstruction
The people, too, will be better salts.
fled with them, because the people
have elected them with a unanimity
(which could not be hoped forsn any
j election that would take place at the
present moment. Sach an act would
|gain for the President popularity
at the South greater than he could
ever hope toobtain in any other man.
liner, and would do more than any
thing else to quiet The minds Of the
people and reconcile them to the pres.
est order Of things. With what feel.
lings Of JOY, for instance, would the
people OF the State Of Louisiana hail
the return to the helm of Henry w
lAllen, who perilled his life in their
defence, and who while governor
gave his days and his nights to the
advancement Of their interests and
the protection Of their rights. If he
should take the oath Of allegiance to
the. Federal government, that be
would be behind none in loyalty to
ibis country, no one can doubt who
read his touching address to his coun-
|trymen as be left his State for exile
in foreign land. His return would
|put an end to the chaos and disorgan-
ization into which the political affairs
! of our State have fallen, and inaugu.
rate the reign Of quiet and order
among the people. AS soon as the
! State government should be inaugura.
ted, the constitution could be easily