, 1865-04-14
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THR PRES1DR>r or n~coN-
hTRUcTION.
Ane Ffes1dents speech, published ycstsr
Gay eecms to set forth Louisiana as pra-ti-
ca c1emphhcatton Of h's views and policy
1or the present on the growing question Of
reconstruction. True, this is sno}ect to any
moo1hcaaons which the c'rcamstances OF
particular State or the changes IN the condt-
uon OF The entire sonta may render neees-
safy; Dut' hao)ccs lo saese mn 2tocationa, 1t
Is piam tlla1 Luz Ifeslaens regards tae Lon
tslana ipne5 @e ue 'eeL 5et proposed aa q
meaps o' fea'o'aE 'ne feoel ots1es 70 ther
proper p!ac1'eai fe1atlon 70 Tue Union. And
mere inc efeslocns snte~ols ignores or f&th'
CT salee OIL o. ofaef, 1oe question "aeth-
or otate Is out Oh tne Union VI IN II. "nlen
Il cne anealap'e ot ko1uaon' because 1ne
Iesms themselves nave no osunAole meaning:
ine eta1es' OF 1ne people 'oe1eol' are oat o1
neaf proper p'actcA te1a|ion 10 tas
Union, ]" ana "ncane1 Ills Is 10 De -ety4ea BE-
ing ont OF tie Union OF IN It Is mero qaes-
tton Of taste In the use Of words. Tue PreE.
idcnt does not propose to be entangled In
any such mere verbal confess.
The questions n,fse what Is the Louisiana
policy, how has 1t succeeded, and to what c1-
tent will its application to the other rebel
States be accelerated or 'ntertered with By
the dissolution sof the rebellion and by the
condition In which it VIII leave the people OF
The rebeIllous States. When Fa:raaut's guns
commanoeo ne" ol1cans, Mf. Lincoln had
1hfce poss1n!e polcies before him.
l. To govern Lonis!ana by pure msrtial
INV.
2. To let Louisiana govern herself.
3. To blend tho three modes Of Govern
mcot.
The first would have been tyzannfcal, aud
In nshort time fnsutlerablc. To govern Lou
islana By military Governor and Provost
Ma1eha!s alone would hare converted 1t into
mere satrapy, q conquered province, an ssy-
lum for political !eeches to sucS cut The 1ifc-
blood Of the people IL would have ale'tatcd
the people Of Louts'hne VINO Ike ourselves re-
gard State Government ~ The Ferybnt"ark
CT theH Liberties
On The other hand tae seeond-to Let Lon
3ssana govern herse!f-wouid be to nuilnJ
the Federal authority n The State. to give up
aai the fruits Of Tho victories Of our aE1nics
and navy BY which the State Waa regained, to
allow the Federal authority to sink lnto IN
empty name, willis the old rebel etatt and
city olacsnls would exercise their wontsd
sway, and the spirit Of rebellion still would
rule The people. This vas impossible Tbs
only alternative remaining was to combine
and blend what was good in the two policies
ii possible, I. e.: To allow tbs people as
much State government AS they could b-ar,
tempered by ~ much military superintend-
cpce as was necessary to insure the protection
Of the loyal people and the supremacy OF the
Federal authority. This he did By inviting
tho people Ct Louisiana to form new State
government, provided oae-tenth of her psopl.
woula cooperate IN 1t, sustained SO long and
in such degree e. might be needed, hy martial
1aw and military f-rcs, snt a1,zdi2g Al op.
pctrnity to the loyal people to gradually
resume their State Government as eoon aid
es fast as they should desire. Within
our lines a majority of tho loyal
people, substantially ali Of them, would na-
tu,ally participate in The opportunity thus
extended. Beyond our linee the Government
SO formed would hare no practical authority.
AS fast as our Limos extend over the State the
authority Of the State Government would
probably be welcome to ell Unicn men.
There could be no actual rule by a minority