Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1865-11-30
The Pre.iden,, as Message.

The Washington correspondents profess
to have an idea as to the nature of President
JoHNsoN's Message touching the reception
OF the Southern Members, and yet no two
of them concur.
The correspondent of the Cincinnati En-
qiirer writes:
"As the senators and members of Con-
gress begin to thicken at the capital, the
question of the admission of Southern MEM
bers elect assumes more definite shape
daily. a-
1.-The expressed determination of the Pres
ident is to see justice done; and his policy
will be warmly advocated by many of the
strongest and ablest men in both Houses oi
Congress. The Radicals, except few OF
the extreme ultraists, show evident signs
of weakening in their assault on the Ad-
ministration. They are not ready to thrust
themselves out into the cold, and lose their
identity with the Administration.
"They find already that they can moi
drive Mr.. j. from his position, aud they are
figuring up all sorts of .fnesse and flank
movements"
The correspondent Of the Cincinnati Com.
mercial says: a...ii ~.
"Speculation as to what the President
will say in his message, has already CON-
menced here, and begins to make itself visi-
BILE in thenewspapers. Nothing is positive
" known on the subject, beyond the fact
that Mr.. johnson has recently stated in pri-
vate conversation that he intended to stand
firmly by his policy of reconstruction-a
policy which he says he did not originate,
but Inherited from his distinguished and
lamented predecessor. He will take the
ground that treason is an ofiense which car
be committed by individuals, but not by
States; that individuals may be punished fol
'it, but States can not; that the Southern
States have never been out of the Union
that their civil functions were for time
usurped by the reasonable conduct of theil
citizens; but now that the rebellion has been
suppressed, they can resume their relations
to the Federal Government as soon as their
citizens undo the work of treason and
usurpation by which they attempted to
sever their connection with the Govern
ment. He will hold that a majority can
not drag a minority into the vortex OF
treason, and that, therefore, majority has
no right to speak or act for whole State
in the question of secession"
The Cincinnati Gdzette's correspondent
gives this information: .
at is positively asserted that the Presi-
dent will present to Congress substantially
this statement of his reconstruction policy /:
That during the interim of Congress he
found himself suddenly placed at the head
of the Executive Department of Govern
ment and that he endeavored to reduce
order out of chaos that existed in the States
lately in rebellion; that he employed sub
stantially the means designated in an actoi
Congress, not approved BY the late Presi-
dent, and plan adopted by Mr.. Lincoln,
in appointing him MIR. Johnson) Military
Governor of Tennessee. He states that he
did not force nor cOerce them; that they
were allowed to frame such amendments to
their Constitutions as they saw fit, and elect
such persons to Congress as pleased them,
and that it rests with Congress to admit
their Representatives aud Senators or to
reject them, thus laying the whole respon-
sibility on Congress. 1t is not probable
there will be any divergence of views be-
tween the President and Congress on this
matter. 'ir sC5o .lo5i.1ttr