The Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Ohio) 1863-1886, 1865-10-19
ANDREW JOHNSON AS THE LEAD
M ER OF THE UNION PARTY.

ER OF THE UNION PARTY.
In our issue Immediately preceding
the election we stated that Andrew
Johnson and not Charles Sumner was
tho leader or representative man Of
the Union party. We are willing with
the great body Of tho Union men Of
tho country to trust tho President, and
TO endorse his policy for the restora-
tion Of the Union. His plan Of resto.
ration was mapped out by President
Lincoln and is nearly identical with
il, and his Cabinet is the same chosen
by the great man who preceded him.
The people demand of.him two things:
1st. That he shall mako good his
pledge to punish leading traitors and
to render treason odious. 2dly, That
slavery shall be absolutely extingush.
cd and tho freedom Of tho blacks socur-
cd with equality before the law. Not
that they shall vote, but that their
rights as men shall bc recognized, and
that they shall testifyin courts ofjus
tico and do whatever else is necessary
TO protect themselves in property and
person. We have assurance that tho
President will uso every means in his
power to accomplish these results. 1t
is true that he has exercised tho par.
doning power freely, but his clcmency
has not extended to those who were
conspicuous In bringing en- tho rebel.
lion. In his interview with tho South
Carolina delegation, on the 18th inst,
in reply to an application for tho re.
lease OF Governor McgrOth, the Presi.
dent said:
"Ilo understood that II was so, ad.
ding that il treason was committed,
there ought to bc somo test to deter,
mine tho power of the Government to
punish the crimo. lie was FREQ to say
IT wns not n nero contest between po.
litical parties, or question as to de
.tdcto Governments. Looking at the
Government as wo do, tho laws viola.
ted, and an attempt made upon tho
lie OF tho nation, thcro should be n
vindication OF tho Government and
the Constitution, even ifthe pardoning
power were exercised thereafter, II
treason has boon committed, it ought
to be determined by tho highest tribu-
nal, and tho fact declared, even II
clemency should como aftcrward. =
There was no malice or prejudice In
carrying out that duty"
We infer that not only JofT Davis
but other leading rebels will be tried
for treason, and If convicted, either
hung or banishod,
In rcfercrco to emancipation and
the protection of tho colorcd mon, the
following conversation bctwoen ono OF
tho delegation and the President on.
sued:
"Judgc Wardlaw remarked tho tono
oil tho newspapers was more favorable
and different from what il was. Hc
then asked il the President had scon
copy Of the amended Constitution Of
South Carolina. OF course he had
seen that wo accept emancipation. He
felt perfectly satisfied that tho person
and property of tho negro would be
protected, and spoke oftho great diff,
cuitios Of regulating labor, restraining
vagrancy, &c. o
Tho President thought many of tho
evils would disappear, if they inaugu.
rated tho right system, pass laws pro. n
tecting the colored man in his person
and property, and 80 that ho can col.
lcct. bis debts. He knew how Il was
in tho South. The question. when
first presented, Of putting a col.
Orod man on tho witness stand
made them shrug their shouldors but
the colored mans testimony was 10 bo
taken for what IL was worth. Exam.
inc him, and the jury who hear him
willdecidc. After oil, therc was not
30 much danger as was supposed
Those coming out of slavery cannot
do without work. Tbcy can't iie down
IN dissipation. They must work.