Evansville daily journal. (Evansville, Ind.) 1863-1866, 1865-04-14
Views Of the President on Recon-
structiOn.


WAsHIYGToS, April IL.
The Executive Departments, includ-
ing the Presidents Mansion, we're illu-
minated tonight, and adorned with
transparencies and national flags.
Thousands Of persons Aocked to the
Executive Mansion The President, in
response to an unanimous call, appeared
at the upper window and made speech,
as follows:
We meet this evening not in sorrow,
but in gladness of heart The evacua-
ton of Petersburg and Richmond, and
the surrender Of the principal insurgent
army, give hopes of a righteous and
speedy peace, whose joyous expression
cannot be restrained. In the midst Of
this, however, he from whom all bless
ings How must not be forgotten.
A call for National Thanksgiving is
being prepared, and will be duly pro-
mulgated; nor mast those whose harder
part gives us cause of rejoicing be over
looked. Their Donors must net be par
celled out with others. l myself was
near the front, and had the high pleas
ure Of transmitting much of the good
news TO you; but no part of the honor
for plan or execution is mine. T. Gen.
Grant, his skillful officers and brave
men, all belongs. The gallant navy
stood ready, but was not in reach to
take an active part. By these recent
successes and the recent re-inaugura-
ton of the national authority, the re-
construction which has had a large
share of thought from the first is press
ing much more closely upon our atten-
ltiou. II is fraught with great difficulty
Unlike the case of war between indie
1 pendent nations, there is no authorized
organ for us to treat with. No one man
has authority to give up the rebellion
for any other man. We must simply
begin with, and mold from, disorgsnized
and discordant eleme nts. Nor is it a
snall additional embarrassment that
I'VE, the loyal people. differ among our
selves as to the mode, manner, and
measure of reconstruction. As a gen.
aral rule, | abstain from reading the
reports of attacks upon myself, wishing
not to be provoked by that TO
which cannot properly offer an
answer. In spite of this precaution,
however, it comes to my knowledge that
i am much censured for some supposed
agency in setting up aud seeking to sus-
tain the new government of louisiana
In this have done so much, and no
more than the public knows In my an
nual message of December, 1853. and
the accompanying proclamation, l pre-
sented plan Of reconstruction, as the
pharse goes, which / promised if adopt
ed BY any State, would be acceptable,
and sustained by the Executive Govern
/ ment ofihe nation. / distinctly stated
that this was not the only plan which
might possibly be acceptable. I also
| distinctly protested that the Executive
claimed no right to say when or whether
members should be admitted to seats in
Congress, from such States
This was in advance, submitted to the
i Cabinet, and approved By every mem
Der of it. One of them suggested that
l should then, and in that conjunction,
apply the Emancipation proclamation to
| the heretofore excepted parts of Virginia
and Louisiana; that should drop the
suggestion about apprenticeship for the
freed people, and that should omit the
| protest against my own power in regard
To the admission of members OF Congress.
But even he approved every part and
parcel of the plan which has since
been employed or touched BY the action
of Louisiana
| The new Constitution Of Louisiana,
declaring emancipation for the whole
State, practically applies the proclama-
ton to the part previously exempted 1t
does not adopt apprenticeship for the
freed people, and is silent, as it could
not well be otherwise, about the sdmis-
sion of members to Congress; so that,