Dodgeville chronicle. [volume] (Dodgeville, Wis.) 1862-current, 1865-04-27
President Johnson's Policy.
Senator Doolittle, man of super

with President johnson, gives the fol-
lowing as his idea of the policy to be
pursued by our new President on the
construction of the government, and
the final settlement of our difficulties.
1t was given in a speech delivered at
Racine on the 10th inst.
AS to the reconstruction question, be
will undoubtedly pursue the same policy
as Mr.. Lincoln. In his address when
inaugurated, speaking of the States he
said, They are not dead, but sleep
ing He is fully committed in favor
Of the reorganized free States of Tennes-
see, Arkansas and Louisiana. AS to
this affair of Gen. Neitzel ia Virginia
he has not spoken, and Of course can
not assume to speak for him.
But what course will he purue toward
the traitors? We can only judge by
bis record early in the rebellion, during
the last days of Buchanan's administra-
ton. On the ID of March, 1861, in a
speech, in reply to Lane, Of Oregon,
speaking of the firing upon the Star Of
the Vest, and seizure Of our arsenals,
docks, forts and navy yards, he used the
following memorable language:
"Show me who has been engaged in these
conspiracies, who has given instructions to
take our forts and custom houses, OUT ar
senals and dock yards, and will show you
a traitor" Applause in the galleries.
When order was restored, he continued
"WERE President of the United States, |
would do as Thomas Jefferson did, in 1906,
with Aaron Burr. | would have them ar
rested, and, if convicted within the meaning
and scope of the constitution, By THE ETER-
NAL COP WOULD EXECUTE THEM"
He is now President. Has anything
since occurred to make him repent that
solemn oath, or change that stern re-
solve?
His wife and children have been cap
tured by rebels, and are suffering all
but death. His property has been con-
fscated by them; his sons imprisoned;
his neighbors and friends shot-murdered
in cold blood-hung, gibbitted, for no
offence bat that ofloyalty to the United
States government. see nothing in all
this calculated to change his convictions
or his purpose. On he other hand, in
his speech upon the fall Of Richmond
and Lees surrender, while most others
in the delirium Of JOY and exultation
over our success and the approach Of
peace, spoke of amnesty, he alone did
not forget the stcrner demands of JUS
tice be is made Of sterner stuff. Upon
this subject be said this: 1.-The halter
to intelligent, influential traitors. 10
the honest boy, to the deluded man, who
has been deceived into the rebel ranks, I
would extend lcnicncy | would say, re-
your support to tho Co~esnsaortz
and become good citizen and the
leaders | would hang
And now. after the elimination Of al
the wickedness of rebellion III the assas-
sination Of the President and Secretary
Of State, as be lifts his hand by the
dead body of the President to repeat the
solemn cath administered by the Chief
Justice, | see nothing to change his con-
victions When be utters these words:
The duties are mine; [ will perform
them, trusting in God, I thiuk [ see
the same patriotic indignation beaming
from his deep black eyes, and lighting
up the iron face which I saw four years
ago, when he uttered, in the Senate,
those words, now so terrible to traitors
by THE ETERNAL Cop, [ WOULD Exc
CUTE THEM y
In this respect, [ think Mr.. Johnson's
administration may differ from that Of
Mr. Lincoln.
Mr.. Lincoln would have dealt with the
rebels as an indulgent father deals with
erring children. Mr.. johnson will deal
with them more like stern and incor-
ruptible judge. Thus, in moment has
the sceptre of power passed from hand
Of flesh to a hand Of iron.
How strangely overruled have all
things been to utterly destroy slavery
and the aristocrasy founded upon it. It's
IuauueUcu ldHdIlcal lcduGTS Mdue war
upon the government to recover political
power. That power has been utterly
destroyed. They made war to extend
and strengthen slavery. The war has
destroyed it and set free every slave.
And now, by madly wreaking ven
geance upon the head of the great, gen.
erous, magnanimous Lincoln, who, in
the overlooking goodness Of his heart,
was just ready to issue a proclamation
Of amnesty to save them they have put
the necks of the leaders into halter with
no power to save but in the clemency Of
one sternly just. who, four years ago,
declared in most solemn form, that if
President would execute them, and
whose subsequent career and experiences
have all tended to strengthen rather
than weaken that resolution.
Knowing them both as do, [ have
said to Mr.. Lincoln, Be strong of heart
and of good courage. Justice demands
the punishment of the great criminals.