Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1865-08-30
LETTER FROM OCCASIONAL

e '0De w. OSnohoh, III Ills Speecu aI Cnllli-
e cothe, Ohio. last Tuesday, is clearly sustain
S ed by the experience of others who have
knowledge of the Presidents opinions:
. The President might have held the rebel
, hous States In military subjection as con-
quered people until satisfied of their entire
loyalty, and until reinstated in their former
positions by legislative action; or he might
have withdrawn the military force altogeth-
er, and left them to exercise their civil func-
tons locally, and in their relations to the 9TH
er States. From the start there We're obec-
tlons TO each OF these courses, and the Pres
ident combined them, holding a military
force over them at the same time that he
allowed them to reinstate these civil powers,
and begin again the exercise of their local
functions. This latter privilege, however,
was only an experiment, and the speaker as
sured his hearers that President johnson so
regarded it. Only ten days ago, in full
and tree interview with him. the President
said he regarded the local governments set
up IN the rebelious States as temporary ex-
perlments, simply to give the people an op-
portunity to show whether they viii develop
the right spirit and policy necessary for
1ull restoration to their proper position in
the Government. While regarding them as
! power of the Government Shall hold tbem
IN check, so that if they be found strav;ng
PACK into rebelllous ways the military will |
Dethere to prevent them from again max |
ing the trouble they have heretofore caused. |
ihe President, in this conversation, refer
red to the course that has Just been pursued
IN reference to the Richmond election. where
tie citizens manifested their rebellious spir-
lt by eleeting to office the very men who had
recently been In arms against the Govern
ment 1t was with his sanction that the
military authorities had set aside the cleo
ton; and he gave this as an example of what
might be expected in other cases of a SINH
lar kind. (
Now read the following resolution adopt- /
ed by the Pennsylvania State Convention on !
Thursday last, and see how faithfully it re-
fleets and sustains the above views of pras-
ident johnson: !;
Resotred, That the mild and generous
y netnod OF reconstruction offered by the b
to the people lately in rebellion. O
n the Judgment of this convention, has not a
'eeh accepted IN a spirit of honest loyalty g
md gratitude, bue with such evidence of de, il
lance and hostility as to impel Ms to tho ii
onvictlon that they cannot be safely entrnst. II
d with the political rights which they re- tu
ected by their treason, until thew have nrov. u
n their acceptance Of the result of the war ed
no Incorporated them in constitutional nro, pc
islons, securing to all men within their nj
orders their inalienable rights to life, Tber-
y and pursuit of happiness. We
The depiorable evidence of bad faith on
he part OF many of the rebel leaders. in
udlng some who entreated and received
e pardon of the President, have become
numerous, within the last two weeks as an an
give the counsel of your Convention al ry
ost resistless force. Even in North Caro- the
ia, where Governor Holden has honestly the
ed to carry out the wishes of the Presi- ,~ro rmo
Mt, and make good the pledges he gave tun
len ne was appointed, the colored troons the
-hdrawn from Fayetteville at the earnest tar
Iuest OF the people, who solemnly promis she she
to act obediently to the laws, have been Iatu
It back, IN order to hold in check the reck-
orutes who took advantage of their alb
ce to abuse and persecute the freedmen
4 nil;t.r,, ,o ., - Just
"a y, e'ou WIN marked dlsre- the
cteVen by the subordinates of Governor not
den Things, I regret to say, are very hooC
better In Mississippi and Alabama. mist
uncompromising stand of bold Dick .iI
milton In Texas, and Father Brownlow tv ~
ennessee, will make those two States gene
strongholds of the Republic. From by Il
nat hear there is promising prospect Pen Peilie
ieorgia, South Carolina, and Florida. EST est Il
Islana is only half governed by acting idenc
ernor Wells, and Virginia you can Judge us to
the daily bulletins from Richmond 0e eai
what would become of the national au- have
ties and the national interests-wbat of the
4 be the fate of freedmen in all these al pro
$ ~athout the military? 1t is not a 1h their
ant question to ask, nor to answer, in reo,,;r
ice OF the kind and magnanimous pol perfec
President johnson The late rebels ileges
not have been more offensive or cruel precla,
President had not been thus kind and reS"i,,,
What, then, should be surnris
hit of the men who demand that the as an a
ry shall be sent out of the borders of approx
States! Only one construction can be aodiIs and T
to this demand-that they desire to thonph
other rebellion and the re-inslayement princip
colored population. That one or the trlbutir
'f these results would follow the with ~. 4.
OF the military is palpable to nv M.
In view of the contempt and ingrati-
i a.ao.sI ns no,os''y oi 'ne Exc Cumbel
lstration but one course, and that is g .u. WI
italy pointed out by the Union Con- -
oi fennsyivanla The rebellious The n
has prepared the way, and cannot Times G