The Portland daily press., 1865-06-24
The Reconstruction Question in New Or
leans.


Many of our citizens remember the thrilling
speeches made In the war meetings in this
city, nearly three years since. BY a young sol
dier rom -Massaehusetts-Mr g. T. Chiids-
"Young Bunker Hill,"a he was sometimes
called, and the enthusiasm with which he was
listened to by our population. Heis now an
eff :er In the army, stationed for the present
at New Ofeans, and recently he wrote q lette
from that city, published in the Charlestown
mass. Advertiser, from which the following
extracts are taken:Ss So FstSe ee..s
Among all classes of people there is felt the
deepest lntereHt Ia the question OF the reor-
ganizatlon 81 civil government In the South
ern States, but none can feel as great anxiety
for the proper. solution OF this. question, as
tue truly loyal men OF the South. The whole
loyal population must decide tue question, but
the result will affect N lre directly the few,
who, amid the general disloyalty, were faith
tul TO the government in the South.
As a lair expression Of the sentiments Of
the sUnion men of New Orleans, refer you to
the 4 solutions of the meeting last'evening,
and the general tenor OF the speeches; and as
a proof OF the danger which threatens then1,I
refer to The elevation to office, by the appro-
val of a y. s. General, Of men whose record
has been black with treason.
y So 4 .ira.o* y n
During the past few weeks, hundreds of the
rebel soldiers from Lee, Johnston aud Tay-
lor's armies, have returned to the city and
while prevented by military orders frofa par
tlcipaling 10 any public affairs, are loud in
their expressions of dislos atty, and are ap.
plAuded By their traitorous friends aud en-
couraged TO persist in their treason To have
been rebel soldier is an honor rather than
disgrace, aud gray uniform is more mora
BILE tnan blue.i The assertion Mr.. a. p.
Stone at the meeting last night--an assertion
common to all Copperheads-tha the majori-
" u the people OF this State were never dis
loyal. i wholly aud totally false. They were
dlsoyai, and they are sdisl0yal to day. The
endeavor to make Gen. Lee high-minded,
honorable, though unfortunate man, By the
people Of the North, has wrought its PERM
ct0ns effect upon the minds OF the people
here. Ii he was honorable, 80 are the rauk
aud tile of the rebel army; II he is cheered
BY v. ). soldiers within sight of the Libby
Prison, why should not these men be welcom-
ed back to our hesrts What ii they are net
repsntaut Has Lee sutteredone word of re-
greet for his treason
Toe feeling is almost universal among those
who are sincerely loyal, that the one remedy
for the danger which threatens US, is In max.
ing all men Of loyalty equal before the la W :
thst lhey who have borne the flag should be
raised above those who have carried the en-
biem OF treason; that the negro has earned
tine right TO the ballot, and not only justice
demands that he be allowed the exercise OF
this right, bat that the safely Of the country
demands 1t as we'll. the opinion is fast be-
coming universal, also, that q black man in
the Uuion blue has a whittier heart than a
white traitor in the rebel gray
we desire to have civil government estab-
lished In our State, but not II they who ruled
~ the past are again to become our leaders.
We desire that broad distinction should be
made between traitor and loyal man, dis.
tincticn 80 broad that this generation Z,
least snail not eifaee the stigma which belongs
70 the former, or dim the lustre which stir-
rounds the latter We hear with dismay the
peadlngs OF Northern men for lenient mea
sures towards the rebels, and venture TO as
eert that hve-sixths of the returned rebel sol
Oilers are not, 10 the least, weary of wrong
DONG eoqly yestert az conversed with one
we're mh MaS seoa ahd t bboIdS asserted tbev
Worlir gain their independence YET"
we realize with gratitude that in this hour
we nave lnan at The head of the nation who
believes thai ''treasonis crime" and we trust
70 ms Judgment to dispel our fears by wise
ana determined action. Already traitors like
- -4NS*aJ h0NC E0Lc W w dbuIuQIUn 10 nrQe
recognition OF their claims and the RIGHTS of
the trat 0rs. The cry for mercy and magnan-
lmlty Will be heard In high places; 1t win be
Claimed lat it Is our iRsy to sskill tho faftad
Gu" TO welcome home our errine brethren
30 inc 10 ne we have kept for them. and to AM
c0urage them by every means in our power
70 retfseUe their past losses OF fortune, and "a
sn,ae once more Nth US the management on
an nrs. Such expressions are boldly pro-
claimed mi ~trer - AZ
IND resdg echo 10 the columns of the Com.
fter, W0Tid and Dag Book.
- rms city has been in The possession ne ~,
onited States forces for more thai, three
years and until the surrender OF LIE lovaltv
nAs been at discount To.5sav ..,, aary
y discover they we're nev,.r dslrrs / and ssn.
esoasiy Offer TO resuW1. ,,se crntyoI ~ rsblic
the Yanhsss sp sne best Offices and forgive
Governor Tor their misdeeds, while the
eral the. il Louisiana iniorms III s. Gen
mer = he considers IL a good sign when
- Of character p and former influence
are ready to accept Officer sa rs ela
The meeting to which the writer Of the
above refers, passed long series of resolu-
tions, from which we copy the iollowing:
Reso'Osd, rhat IN view Of tho speedy termination
cry loyal ,jz n 70 q ais best f6fis % sleGre the
Ie OfA OF CIV COVER menC throughout the
SDHrnefn Stree W. tneref)fe emphati:aliy de-
are ut in the splcion of this meeting, those
les1e g. Who by their pen, tn If purse, the sword.
Or th if vote, in high sss have gated fom
led an carried on tnis Infamous rebellion, have for
fsiet all rights cifiz 3nship,= yogntarily
lrodde'r tom under fcot-and that they should
-foFevrFFem tia di-fr4nohi-ed --.-
nesotget That thu rank and file of the rebel ar.
my, and chose person: who regtsteref themselves
enemies 9th Uni ed States Government, III ugh
- guilty than the lea 'ers hive by their conuu.t
re dere them elves liable o dsf anch euieuf and
other lnishmsnt; but looking UPON tiem Is much
70 uuad - guilty we tru It he will De permi ted
SO IN ana - 1oh manner the SAT ty the Gov.
eramentaad loyal men W II ali low to resume the :
ktIt-s.
RESOLVED. That thoee who have promptly hon.
estls and good faith ava led themselves OF the
zoo %mat on ~ Amnesty of President Lincoln, and
Wn 70 oy h3ir countenance aud support allied
mi ttry authorities of the United States in their
On rts u rs-estab h repuo cao institutions in he
nfn cot 2nary 5fates arsentih d to the SYM oath,
addrexart Of good cis zens ana to full resttu
toa o. u iical rights at as early day may
J hesolvEd. RIA. n our opinion, no man who has
ever q "a any Office of trust OF en0lum@nb AciyiI
naval or military -uudsr the rebol sushorlties
out PC per q ted to b Id Office under the I'm TED
isssctuss. That in re,establishing civil govern.
~ 10 ne southern Sta'e' our only safety
IHss IN ma dag all loyal equd be ore the law;
snl IN ~ any zoYern establ shed that does Ut
sec2goixe tns principle Is Meth lst nor ecu table
@Ao cons isatly NOT q republican government.
Coal in England. .E
m ii frNrsr. 80