The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1865-10-18
The Best Mode OF Rec6nstflaf-
ton.


ton.
After the surrender Of Gen Lee'sIar-
my in April last, Gen. w. I. Sherman
and Gen. JosephE. Johnston, the res
pectirecommanders Of the only two
formidable armies then confronting
each ether, anxious to close the con.
test without any further useless etfu-
sion of blood, entered into 'negotia.
tons which led to the formation of
"a basis for the termination Of the war.
Among other things it was stipulated
that the Executive of the United
States should recognize the several
State governments on their officers
and Legislators taking the oath pres.
cribed by the Constitution of the
United States, and where the conflict
ing State governments have resulted
from the war, the Legitimacy Of all
shall be submitted to the Supreme
Court Of the United States" 1t will
be remembered that the President Of
the United States promptly rejected
the plan Of settlement, the particulal
I" bugaboo" which influenced him il
the premises being declared to be thu
recognition of the hand Of John @
Breckenridge in hematter." The ar
mics of the Confederacy were meyer
theless shortly afterwards surren
dered, and among the most Difficult
problems presented to the mind o
the President for solution was tn
proper manner Of bringing hack tht
iseceded States to the allegiance d
| the Federal government, and Of in
,|yesting them with State government
that should be in harmony with tn
! changed nature Of their national re
lations. The plan laid down by Gen
erals Sherman and Johnston was a
once rejected as entailing upon tn
ISouthern States "rebeP State gov
ernments, and perpetuating the rule
Of rebel leaders. The whole machin
cry of State government must D.
ripped up, the States must begl'
: their work of organization de novo
much time consumed, and mucl
money expended for no other reaso'
than to secure "loyal" State govern
ments for the rebellious people Of tn
i South.
Now all this would have been yer.
well and would have accomplished
Its objects successfully, but for ON
single defect which the Preslden
either overlooked For was too kind,
4 disposed towards the South to rene
Idly. In order that it should succeet
it was necessary to disfranchise TIN
disloyal" people of thessonth fol
ever, and entrust the right of sufrag
only to the few who refused to hav
], anything to do with the war for tn
independence of the South; for, ]
was obvious to all, that if the "rt
lbels" were allowed to vote, the
! would bestow the honorable Offices j
J their gift upon those only who ha
entitled themselves to their gratitud
-|tor their conspicuous services in tn
: disastrous struggle which, had Jus
: been terminated. This the Presiden
neglected to do. On the contrary
J, by his liberal process for regaininl
:. the rights of citizenship, on the par
Of the Southern people, fbe poli.ica
control of the Southern States ha
been thrown into the hands Of thos
| who were recently denominated "dis
loyal" and who constitute nineteel
ltwentieths of the people Of the Soutf
lit is absurd, therefore, to suppos
that these men would overlook thei
tried and faithful leaders, who ha'
stood by them in the hour Of trial
and call to the helm of government
those who had deserted them aud ia
3ken sides with the opposite party. |
was natural to suppose, that tn
Presidents provisional governors
who were appointed for their loyal
| ty" should be cast aside as soon al
the people should have an opportuni
1 ty to choose their own rulers.
/ The result has been just VIVA
might have been anticipated. Mis-
sissippi was the first State to RESPOND
: