, 1865-06-23


mento Uuion's special correspondent at Wash
iEgton City, writes to that paper as follows con-
terning the Presidents efforts at "reconstruc-
gion:n
Much to the chagrin of those ultraists who
have considered that they had a nearer sympa-
thy with their peculiar views in the new Presi-
dent than they had in Lincoln, President John
son has practically recognized the Pierpont Gov
ernment, termed by Sumner "the Common Coun-
Gil of Alexandria" as the only legitimate Cow
ernment of Virginia Pierpont, under the pro-
lection and with with the especial recognition
of the National Administration, shortly goes to
Richmond to assume the functions of his office
the capital of the State, lately vacated by the
fugitive Extra Billy Smith This is recognized
here as being practical demonstration of the
policy which johnson has marked out, under
the advice of his Cabinet, to pursue toward the
remainder of the Southern States The Pier
pont Government was based upon a moiety of
the real population Of the State of Virginia, but
had its foundation majority of the loyal YO-
ters of that State, and was called into existence
TO protect and consolidate that loyal element,
small as it was. It sent Joseph NJ Segar, a
small pattern of a deWagOgue, to the Senate,
and elected Francis Pierpont, a smaller dema-
gOgue than Segar, to the GoYernorship but
johnson and his Cabinet, wisely overlooking all
minor considerations, have determined that the
loyal people of Virginia shall be assisted in their
endeavOr to preserve a State organization and
to rehabilitate the State Government. PierpOnt
may be an old hpmbug-I think he is-and his
Legislature may be literally ''the Common Coun-
Gil of Alexandria" but so long as it bridges over
the anarchy which would prevail betwixt a state
of war and Government erected by a majority
of all the people, Pierpont and the Government
seem to deserve we'll at the hands of all people
who are loyal to the whole Union and not
specially anxious to sacrifice temporary expedi-
ency to immediate enfranchisement of the
negro. 70 say that the radicals are dismayed
and disgusted would but family convey an idea
of their anger and disappointment; they had
hoped that johnson would sacrifice everything
to negro suffrage, but he has sigually failed TO
realize that expectation. Now, what Congress
will do with the Senators from Arkansas, Vir-
ginia, Louisiana aud Tennessee, already elected
lone Of the Tennessee Senators being Johnson S
own son-in-law-and the Representatives and
Senators yet to be elected from quasi-revolu-
tionary States, yet remains to be seen. Enough
is now evident to show that the President will
not essentially depart from Lincoln 5 example.
The same correspondent, alludes to Gen. Sher-
man movements, and says of him: "He swear;
dreadfully about those who have been impugn.
ing his motives in making terms with Johnston
and says that he can show that he acted under
specific directions from our late lamented Presi
dent" Now, if Sherman can show what b,
says he can, it will go far to establish what il
asserted over and over again by many demo
cratic, and some republican newspapers, tha
the late President was, on the eve of his assas
sination, about to issue proclamation of full
pardon to all the rebels of the South. Doubt
less Sherman "could a tale unfold" if he would
that would throw some light upon the mysteri
GUS movements, now enveloped in fog, which
surrounded the Presidents last acts.
DEFINES ITS PosITIoN. The Washington
Standard, since the election, unequivocally de-
fines it's position on the negro suffrage question,
and opposes it, in two column article. Ir
conclusion, the Standard says
'But we believe the Union party stands upor
this question precisely where we do. At any
rate, we are under no obligations to that party
further than principle and the veal of the Ma
ton would impel loyal citizen to go; and We
have the satisfaction of knowing that we have
done more for the party in this Territory than i
has ever done us.
That's all right and outspoken. If the Union
party, then, turns out to be ''negro suffrage
concern, the Standard will walk out, as we un-
derstand it. 1t is well to note down the posi-
ton now taken by the Union papers on this
question, when such significant paragraphs as
the following are approvngly quoted by the rad
ical journals
''The political power of the Southern States
will be considerably augmented by the abolition
of slavery. Instead of being counted as three
to FIVE in the Congressional apportioDment, ne
groes will be enHmerated per capita like all 9TH
er persons. This will give the people of the for
mer slave States twelve or fourteen additional
representatives.
The WAYS OF FREEDoM-Recruiting has been
stopped for some time in the North, while mus
tering out goes bravely on; but the telegraph
very coolly states that the enlisting of negroes
in Kentucky is still going forward We are at