The Norfolk post. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 1865-1866, 1865-09-19

others monthly.
new questions which the times present.
They, too, however, indorse the recon- 4
{ struction policy of q Republican Presi-
dent, as they understand it.
We, the Union men of Massachusetts.
| also indorse President Johnson's policy,
| as we understand it. We aided to elect
y President johnson. We know his ante
i cedents. He accepted the platform upon
which we helped to place him at Balti
{ more. He declared over and over again,
\ Upon his accession to the chief power,
. his political convictions, and they were
f never-ceasing hostility to rebels and re-
g bellion, and punishment to chief traitors
3 with hanging by the neck (appiauseli
{ and we have seen that he hanged all
that have as yet been convicted. Ire
t newed applause. We find that he has
/ excepted from all amnesty the property
f of the principal rebels. He has approved
a the action of the Freedman's Bureau in
/ taking all captured ana abandoned lands
;. for the negro and refugee. lie has de-
cIared that no rebel shall vote in the re-
construction of a State, whatever may
have been his constitutional right OF
voting before the war. He has claimed
and exercised the right to say, when III :
his Judgment it shall be for the GOOD Oh
the country, who shall not vote, ana
this implies the right and power TO say
who shall vote, when 1t shall be for inc
best interests of the II
Certainly the President the same
right in the rebel States under the Con-
stitution, if in his judgment best to say
that black loyal soldiers shall vote, as
that the white rebel soldiers shall not
vote. The right to do both is admitted
in the right to do one. All these act
ings, sayings and doings OF the Presi-
dents reconstruction policy are in direct
opposition to the theory that the reoels
have forfeited none oftheir rights under
the Constitution, and are consistent
with the theory we have adopted
that thew have forfeited their rights
hy rebellion, and must, when ubdue
take such rights and powers only as the
General Government, the Executive and
: Congress may deem it best for the coun-
5 | try to give them.
r. All this and more, let me remind the
"pseudo' Democrats and rebel sympa-
thiZers, they sanction when they indorse
X the reconstruction policy of a Republi-
10 can President.
s. While we may differ from President
M Johnson as to whether the time has ar
es rived in which it is safe to re-invest re.
oels with political power and allow them
AZ to %reorganize themselves in arms, or as
r. 20 the eIltcU vi tuGll lOlldSI tOJstitd~
T. tons upon their present political rights,
"a let there is by no means a necessity
. hat this difference should be O disagree
i ment: certainly not until 1t Is seen by
tt .esults that some vital principle Is IN
/, volved or some detriment to the Repub-
4 lie is produced.
!, We look at the attempt to reconstruct
D he rebel States as we believe the Presi-
a lent looks upon it, as experimental
" merely, Dut an experiment we'll enough
IL to he tried. The President, upon the
IL cessation Of active hcstilities, nad infor-
I nation that in the Southern States, as
Z he knew tie feet to he in Tennessee,
e thanks TO his patriotic and u~ntirina la
a. ,ors) there were loyal ana tlae .IIen who
Oh lad never faltered in their fealty TO the
Union, and also that there We're many
lis ruly repentant and converted rebels,
Ia who tired of feeding On the husks OF the
We pr0digal, were DESTROYS OF returning tt
IN. he plenty of their fathers house. The
NO President was further informed tkatsucf
e. men were in a majority, and Were in
k such temper ofmind and train ofthought
ht as to be in unison with the loyal States;
Id willing to do justice to all men ; forget
IT. the past, and endeavor to make bright
ly ! the future, and willing to resume theii
proper practical relations with the
OIL other States" /.
py Acting upon a belief in the truth OF
this information, without withdrawing
nt' or in any degree relaxing the military
70, power and government in those States
1ai by decree shutting out all apparently
on unrepentent rebels from participation IL
he the work in the most liberal spirit o
be oomnromise and Cancellation, it was of
re- tered to these rebellious States hat if III
rue GOOD faith they repudiated the Confed-
eracy and all its works, and actually
he abolished slavery by provisions of theil
DIS, Constitutions, they should be empower
ed to reorganize their State Govern
ments. to elect Senators and Represen
is tatiyes to Congress, who would or woult
not be admitted to seats, according t.
d. the spirit exhibited by their constituent
III CIV. their own loyalty and as they truly
he represented a State in which a Republi
on can form of Government was indeed es
W. tablished.
If the facts upon which it was attemp
ted were realities, can any man say th'
We experiment was not worth a trial? In
IS, deed, If only to convince all right-min
4. ded and loyal men by its want of succes
n even, that every means had been use(
to bring back the loyal and erring ever
if truly %rcpentant the attempt was use
no full. (Applause.) And if successful,
re the rebellious States, oil either of them
10. would by a majority of its voters put II
self in true communion eiioWsnll
re- with the loyal North, MOI would hal
,er the eventwith truer satisfaction or NOR
Vol. feryent delight than the Republican
and loyal men of Massachusetts. (Ar
the plause.)
of Further, true it is, we believe, that if
gro failure, no man will be more willing t
if change that policy or adapt himselfto
wi new state of facts than President John
and son. We know his patriotism ana a.
'ork votion to the country, and detestatlon {
Ho- traitors. treason and rebellion III Tn
rpot mast. and we believe in his frmnes Q
ali his convictions and honesty OF purpos
natl in the future. tApplause2 But "
iers: fear and deplore that the result Oh I W
for sxnerimentaI policy is q failure. w
, rn ,oi s snpw that a majority ofthe south hay
i tuu s snr more than a generation been laugh
ien., lor t loi freside, in schools, at the hus
us oi oy Inc and in the churches, even, hatre
lngs' hitterness toward the North thi
ve,> aa.HWuankeen has for years been a term
ike lrision and reprosch scarcely less col
in a de. nous and derisive than Abolition
a-x-slZr.L1 q