The Portland daily press., 1865-10-09
The Great Mistake.

The Indianapolis Gazette-the leading
Union paper in its State-like the Chicago
Tribune, takes decided grounds against the
policy being pursued in order to secure recon
struetion in the south. 1t distrusts the quasi
rebel Provisional Governors, and believes the
Union cause in the South is suffering violence.
Taking as caption "The Great Mistake"
the Gazette discusses as follows:
j Can any intelligent, loyal man, who has tax
en- any interest in the late struggle of the ma
ton TO maintain Its existence against treason
and rebellion, look over the affairs of the South
at present, and the workings and progress of
reconstruction as now going on, and say that
he is satisfied?-that he thinks matters are
properly managed, and that all will come out
right In the end? Nay, can he say that he
really hopes so under present appearances P
for hope, mind you, Is made up in part of ear
pectdtion. Does any intelligent man really
expect to see the South properly recognized
and restored To the Union under the present
policy and beginnings We think not. For
ourselves we cannot think so-we cannot ev-
en- hope so, and we envy the man who can,
for we should most certainly like to think and
to feel so. But how can we?
The great mistake of the President-for to
save Oui soul we cannot but feel that he has
made mistakes-was in appointing Southern
men and rebels to the Office of provisional Gov
errors over the late rebel States. This was a
mistake, and one, too that must render all ftlrth-
er efforts at proper reorganization Of the reb-
Ell States abortive and impossible. And SO long
as such men as Sharkey of Mississippi, and
Perry of South Carolina-to say nothing of
others--are retained as Provisional Governors,
we need look for no progress of the right kind
in the business of reconstruction in their states.
Such at least is our candid conviction. We felt
SO at the time these mems appointment was
announced, and we have nothing since but ey-
dence to convince us more certainly of the
fact.
And how can it be otherwise? These men
are Southerners. They belong to the South.
Their sympathies and associates are, all with
the people of the South. But worse than all,
they are or were feLL0lU rebels of the South
They were "pardoned" and "took the oath"
it is true. But that did not change their SYM
pathies, feelings, preconceived opinions and
prejudices. Their sympathies were and are all
on the side Of the rebels. Are these the kind
of men to place as Governors over conquered
rebels ?s There were Union men in the South
and of the South. If Southern man was nee
essary for Governor, why not take Union
mana man whose sympathies and convic-
tions had been on the Union side during the
contest-sucli man, forinstance, as Governor
Hamilton, ofTexas? We need not go into
particulars to show that Governors Sharkey
and Perry are not doing right or what ought
to be done. The evidence ofthis fact is COM
ing up from the South every day, and it is such
as must convince every intelligent loyal man at
the North that they are not the right men in
the right place. Under this rule, rebels are
being appointed to Office and placed in power,
aud the whole machinery of the State govern
ment is being placed in rebel hands-men
who hate the loyal people ofthe North and the
Union itself, as deeply and Indignantly as
they did while they were in arms against them,
while on the other hand, the white Union
men Of their States and the freedmen or loyal
negroes are being prosecuted, oppressed or driv-
en- from the country. The Union men of the
South are allowed no part or share in the mat
TER of reconstruction. is this right? Who
win say it is? Who among the loyal people of
the North is satisfied with this state OF affairs
Yet these are facts. They exist to-day-and
are growing worse every day. As correspon-
dent writing from the South says--"The
Union men Of the South are being washed
under by the returning s.rebel wave" And
this is true and will be the result, as they were
washed mders by the rising wave of rebellion
at the commencement of the war, if such men
as Sharkey and Perry are allowed to remain at
the head of the rebel States. We have hope
in Congress and the United States Senate, and
shall expect to see change IN the reconstruc-
ton business as these bodies meet. -