The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1865-11-18
THE PACIFIC
Commercial Advertiser.
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER Is.
President johnson and the south.

aIlNh tIit
Many Americans living in the Pacific, who
have remained loyal TO their country through
the four years struggle from which she has just
emerged, who have heard Of the final triumph
of the National cause and the downfall Of the
rebellion, and who have rejOiced in that triumph
are still in doubt rs 10 the true position OF
affairs at the South, or whether the late rebels
are becoming truly and honestly loyal to the
old Union. or whether the Government is equal
TO the emergency. Separated as we are by so
many thousand miles from the Seat of Govern
ment, where the actual state of things is known,
and from whence q correct knowledge of them
only can be had,-it is no wonder that by the
time statements reach here, they should be dis
torted through a hundred channels, and found
incorrect and unreliable.
The policy Of President johnson is with many
the main question of doubt. All knew Presi-
dent Lincoln, and all reposed in him the most
implicit confidence but when he fell, it seemed
as if the foundation of the structure had been
undermined. This has been the feeling OF many,
but in it We have never shared, for in President
johnson we have seen the firm hand required
for the emergency. 1t was not possible for a
man who had all his life contended for the anne
Iteration of slavery, who had had all his pro-
perty destroyed by the rebels, whose home had
been invavedly guerrillas, his wife maltreated
and his daughter ravished by rufiians,-it was
impossible for 4 man who had suffered by these
things, to compromise with slavery or slave
holders.
Every month is developing the fact that the
American people have in President Johnson
90 the right man in the right place - and though
he may not be SO ultra in his views or work So
fast in his reforms as some may wish, yet we
feel confident that though ne may be slow, he
is sure. Considering that the work of recon-
struction was a new and untried one, 1t should
not be wondered that he has followed his own
judgment in the course he has pursued, in pre-
ference TO the advice Of others. He has done
SO, but at the same time admits that his policy
will be changed if necessity shows it should be
changed. In q conversation with q prominent
general, he stated that : he regarded the local
civil governments established in the rebellious
States, merely as experiments, to give the people
an opportunity to show whether they are possess
ed of a truly loyal spirit and are disposed to
act in good faith toward the national govern
ment. In the meantime he intended to keep
sufficient military force in their midst to bring
" tiICl ClicS IL IlCS iIiilC III lhCAL
conduct u predominance of the old secession,
pro-slavery and rebellious leaven."
In September, there was in Washington a
large gathering of representatives from the
Southern States, who called on the President
and Cabinet officers. Eight States were repre-
scented on the occasion, and the views expressed
are certainly an important indication Of the
position of the South az we'll as of the policy
of the President. Mr.. M'Farland of Virginia
spoke for the delegation, and informed the Presi-
dent and his Cabinet, that it had come " for
the purpose of manifesting the sincere respect
and regard they entertained for him, and to ex-
press their firm determination to cooperate
with him in whatever shall tend to promote
the interests and welfare of our common cOun-
try, and to say that they are rs earnest now
and faithful 10 their allegiance to the United
States and to the Constitution of the Union as
in the past, and that they have great confidence
in his wisdom to heal the wounds that have
been made, and in his disposition to exercise
all the leniency which can be commended by a
sound and Judicial policy,
In reply, President johnson said he enter
tanned no - personal resentments - and referred
to the time when he implored the South TO fight
its battles under the Constitution. He added
| think now, as / thought then, and endeavored
to induce them to believe. that our true position
was under The law and under the Constitution of
the Union with the institution of slavery in IT,.
said then. what you all know. that | was for the in
situations of the country as guaranteed by the Con-
stitution. but above all things / was for the Union
of the States. | remember the taunts. the ieers.
the scOwls with which ! was treated. | needed not
what they might say or do TO me, and was inspired
and encouraged to do my duty regardless of aught
else. and have lived to see the realization of INV
predictions and the fatal error of those whom /
vainly esSayed 10 save from the results / could not
but fOrcsee. We have passed though this rebellion.
! say we. fOT il was we who are responsible for il.
The South made the issue. and | know the nature
of the Southern people well enough To know that
when they have become convinced OF. an error they
frankly acknowledge II. in a manly, open. direct
manner and now, in the performance of that duty,
or. indeed. in any act they undertake to perform.
! they do it heartily and frankly and now that they
com. 10 me | understand them rs saying that - We
made the issue. We set up the union of the States
against the institution Of slavery we selected as
arbitrator the God of battles the arbitrament was
the sword. The issue was fairly and honOrably
met. Both the questions presented have been set
tied against us, and we are prepared to accept the
issue
While I think that the rebellion has been arrest
ed and subdued, and am happy in the conscious
ness of a duty we'll performed. l want not only
YOU, but the people OF the world 10 know that
while ! dreaded and feared diSintegration of the
concentration OF power here. under whatevep guise
or name. | know that ! am Of the Southern people,
and | love them and will do all in my power to
restore them to that state of happiness and pros
pcrity which they enjoyed before the madness of
misguided men in whom they had repOsed their
confidence led them astray to their own undoing.
II there i anything that can be done on nv part.
on correct principles. on the principles Of the Con-
stitution. TO promote these ends. be assured il shall
be done. Let Inc assure Won. also. that there is no
B li.N,-fsirn m IL y, rr Of tho, Cl-,-,-,,,, .. Ill