Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1865-08-26
LETTER FROM ..oCC AsIONAL.''
wAsuIroTon, August 10, 1855,

General Robt. q. 6chenck, in his speech nt
Chillicoth, Ohio, last Tuesday, is clearly
sustained by the experiences Of Others who
have knowledge of The Presidents opin-
ions:
The President might have held the re-
belliors States in military subjection as a
conq uered people until satisfied Of their en-
tire loyalty, and until 'reisstated In their
former positions by legislative action OF
he might have withdrawn the military iofce
Ealtogether, and left them to exercise their
civil functions locally, and In their reiat,ohs
10 the other States. From the start there
were objections to each of these courses, and
the President combined them, holding a.
military force over them at the same time
| that he allowed them to reinstate these civil
| powers, and begin again the exercise OF
| their loyal functions. This latter privilege,
| however, was only an experiment, and :he
speaker assured his hearers that President
johnson so regarded it. Only ten days ago,
in a full and free interview with him, the
! President said be regarded the local gov
ernments set up in, the -rebellious States as
| temporary experiments. simply 20 give the
! people an opportunity to show whether
they will develop the right spirit and policy
! necessary for full restoration to their pro
per position in the Government. While re-
garding them as experiments he intends
that the military power Of the Government
shall hold them in check, so that II they be
found straying back into reoeiiious ways
the military will be there to prevent them
from again making the trouble they have
heretofore caused. -. ~. ,hg-t. u.
The President in his conversation, referred
to the course that has just been pursued in
reference to the Richmond election, where
the citizens manifested their rebellious
spirit 10y electing to office the very men, who
had recently been I'M arms against the Gov
ernment. 1t was with his sanction that the
military authorities had set aside the cleo
tion, and he gave this as an example OF
what might be expected in other cases of a
similar kind. j.. ..... -.Hf ......
Now read the following resolution adopt
ed by the Pennsylvania State Convention on
Thursday last, and see how faithfully it re-
fleets and sustains the above views of Presi-
dent johnson:
Resolred, That the mild and generous me-
thoG of reconstruction offered by the presi-
dent to the people lately in rebellion in the
judgment of this Convention, has not been
accepted in u spirit of honest loyalty and
gratitude, but with such evidences of de-
fance and hostility as to impel us to the
conviction that they cannot be safely en-
trusted with the political rights which they
rejected 10y their treason, until they have
proven their acceptance of the results of tho
war, and Incorporated them in constitution
al provisions, securing to all men within
their borders their inAlienalhe rights to life
liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
The deplorable evidences If bad faith or
the part of many Of the late rebel leaders
including some who entreated and received
the pardon of the President, have become
so numerous, within the past two weeks, al
to give to the counsel of your Convention
almost rcsistless force. Even in Nortf
Carolina, where Governor Holden has hon
. esty tried to carry oat the wishes of the
President, and to make good the pledge:
lie gave when he was appointed, the color
ed troops withdrawn from Fayetteville a
the earnest request of the people, who
solemLly promised to act obedicntly to the
laws, have been sent bach, in order to hold
in check the reckless bIutes who took
advantage of their absence to abuse and
persecutc the freemen. The military are
treated with marked disrespect even by the
subordnates of Governor Holden. Things
| regret to say, are very little better in Mis-
sissippi and Alabama. The uncompromis
ing stand of bold Dick Hamilton in Texas
aua F-,i,v, DrowIIuw III Ivuurssv., "n
make those two States stout strongholds o
the Republic. From all that hear there is
promising prospect in Georgia, South
Carolina, and Florida. Louisiana is only
half governed by acting Governor Wells
and Virginia you can judge of by the daily
bulletins from Richmond But what wonld
become of the national authority and na
tional interests--what would he the fate Of
the ffeemen in all these States nithOst III,
military 1t is not a pleasant question tc
ask, nor to answer, in the face of the kind
and magnanimous policy of President John,
son. The late rebcls could not have been
more offensive or cruel if the President had
not been thus kind and magnanimous
What, then, should be thought of the mel
who demand that the military shall be sent
out of the borders of these States Only
one construction can be given to this de
man6 that they desire to see another re
belhon and the REINSTATEMENT of the co
iored population. That one or the other o
these results would follow the Withdrawal
OF the military is palpable to my mind, il
view of the contempt and ingrattude will
which the generosity of the Executive il
greeted Plain duty leaves to the Admins
tration but one course, and that is sub
stantially pointed out by tho Union Con
vention Of Pennsylvania. The rebellion.
element has prepared the way, andjcanao
complain if it is severely applied. ijob hlia
l-z. Ham j.-fE ono L.ruil = "a "a A. T.
Coal has been discovered in Perry county
on the farm of job Harker, in Horse Valley
Tpboyne township. 1t is said to be weir