Cedar Falls gazette. [volume] (Cedar Falls, Iowa) 1860-1895, 1865-10-27
Secretary Stewards Views.

Many people have been anxious
hear from Secretary Seward on the quel
ton Of reconstruction, and will be gra
flied to learn that he expressed IN
views in speech delivered at Auburn
n. Y, last Friday.
He said the plan of reconstructio
adopted was not specially Andy Johr
sons, nor i'm any respect new one.
was that which abruptly, yet distinctly
offered itself to the last Administration
Mt the moment when the work Of resto
ration was to begin. And he considere
it essential that the States lately in re
bellion should accept the plan adopted
The plan, he said, recognizes the &C
tual existence of the Southern States
and not their destruction.
He considered that the policy Of rec
onciliation, so promptly adopted, wa
the wisest course to pursue. The plan
he said, gives us two great national ad
vantagcs. First, il secures voluntar,
abolition of slavery by the insurrection
airy States; and, second, an effectua
adoption by the Slave States Themselves
of the amendment to the Federal Con
stitution prohibiting slavery forever in
any part of the United States. To has.
ten this work of reconciliation, he said
in the language of the President, 1--WE
must trust one another" He was not
fearful that the President would exer-
else too much leniency; and stated that
his terms of amnesty were far more rig,
orous than those offered by Abraham
Lincoln. He guaranteed fidelity and
faithfulness on the part of Jonson, and
eulogized his character highly.
The people will read Mr.. Stewards
speech without gaining any particular
amount of satisfaction. On the knotty
points. if it be fair to determine by the
telegraphic synopsis, he has nothing
whatever to say. He sedulously avoids
touching upon the condition of the
Blacks, and has no reference to make to
the position of the Government toward
tho leaders of the rebellion.
We arc left to infer that the late reb-
els are to be possessed of all the political
privileges they enjoyed before the war,
and that whatever benefits shall accrue
to the negroes, beside their freedom from
bondage, shall be derived from the
hands of their recent owners. This may
be conciliatory; but is it just? ....r
Mr.. Seward may believe that with
freedom these lesser wrongs will in
time right themselves. If this be the
idea, the lessons of history should not
be disregarded. Our forefathers, from
motives of Cancellation, allowed slavery
10 take root in the Republic. Ifin this
case, we concede a right, may not the
results be as direful as was the mistake
of our ancestors9 The thought is wor-
thy of consideration.
The Copperhcads follow Andrew John
son just so far as they think he favors
the defeated Shareholders. The Repub-
licans follow him just SO far az he ia
vors the best interests of the victorious
Union. If his policy shall prove just
and wise, the Republicans will stand
by him, and the Copperheads will de-
sert him. If it panders to rebcllious
spirits, and looks to their Cancellation
rather than the restoration of the Union,
why then, rice rersa.
But we do not mean to be understood
as lacking in confidence that Andrew
johnson will yet vindicatc himself from
the aspersions of the Copperheads.-
Neither do we pretend to know just
what is for the best, and what just for
the. wrong. We shall study and try to
learn. We shall follow the Union par
ty-the party whose loyalty and devo-
ton have been proved by the war-and
hope for the best to all--North and
South, White and Black.
THE Dubuque Herald pretends to be-
1icve that the Republican party is terri
bly, put out with Andrew Johnson. 1t
is blessed jolly over it, too, and chuckles
with glee such Us was peculiar to Mr..
rebels SO very different from what was
expected, it Kisses. He has, indeed, re-
turned to the fold of the never-dying
Democracy, like prodigal son from his
wanderings, it giggles. It's wretehed
sarcasm vents on the martyred Prcsi-
dent, and it he-he-hes over the time
when "poor Mr.. Lincoln was removed
10y an assassin" The views of Presi-
dent johnson oo reconstruction, recent
ly made public by his approval, are
commended to the Herald as an anti
dote for its excessive nerriment.
THE Dubuque Herald, in speaking OF
Andrew Johnson, says: "He has not
shot, hung, burned, rackcd, drawn Oh
quartered a single man as yet" The
Herald has forgot about Mrs. Surratt
Payne, Atzerodt and Harold. 1t even
is unmindful of the hanging of Champ
Ferguson, ut Nashville, the other day
If the Herald will but stop and think
it will discover that quite a number OF
rebels have shufiied off their mortal coil
by violent maana since Andrew John.