Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1865-12-11
The IRichmOnd tYa.) Times Com-
ments ON 1he President's STes-

The Richmond (Va.) Times of the 9th inst.
gave expression to the following views In
regard to the Presidents Message and the
attitude In which he stands toward the
Southern people and the Radicals OF the
North. 1t will be seen that the editor ex-
presses no misgivings as to what the Presi-
dents course will be in the future, and de-
clares that he arose " from the perusal OF
this Message with emotions of thankiulness
to GoD, that between our defeated section
and the bowling passions of Radical Con-
gress there Is interposed the granite viii OF
ANDREW JOHNSON" From this Message
the editor draws authority for the belief
that "the present Congress can do nothing
worse than to deny" to the South the repre-
sentation to which they are endtled-that
beyond this they can not 60, as the ,Presi-
dent is determined to prevent them from
being made /" the victims of unjust and OPP
pressive legislation.p We hope the Rich
,raond Times has read the horoscope of the
future correctly; but we are keeping the
reader too long from the Times editorial.
Here it is: ..,,.. --......-..,.. ,..-.
The profound anxiety of our readers will.
be relieved this morning by the appearance
of che Message of President Andrew john
son. Its perusal will show that the popular
estimate of his patriotic firmness was not
erroneous. and that the exalted office which
he holds has elevated him high above the
clamors and menaces of faction. That An
drew johnson possesses full share OF po-
litical prejudiCes and human passions, none
of us, who are familiar with his antecedents,
entertain doubt. The tragical event which
placed him in his present high position
aroused all those passions for moment,
and the South found In his earliest utter
ances much 20 excite apprehension and
nothing to encourage our nascent hopes Of
peace. -. - 80 -
The Message which we publish to-day,
is nevertheless the production of states
man who has discarded all those passions
and prejudices from his breast, and dis
missed all considerations of party from his
| councils. There is a calm, clear, dispas-
sionate resolution in his views, and an ut
/ ter ignoring of tile temporary issues en-
| gendered by fanaticism and Kept alive by
the passions inflamed by civil war, which
shows that he feels that he is right, and
that time will Yindicate his wisdom and pat
riotism. r.t-,
The policy of reconstruction which he
| foreshadowed inJune last and enunciated
| i'm his address to the Southern delegation Of
gentlemen who waited upon him In Octo-
Der last, is presented in his Message. 1t is
very evident that he has not been shaken
In his adhesion TO that policy by the late
overwhelming triumphs of the Republi-
cans, nor have the noisy twitterings of such
political cOck-sparrOws as COltaX moved
him in the least from the path OF duty.
Important as are the official opinions of
President johnson as to the rights of the
States and the powers of the Federal Gov
ernment, they are destitute of the charm of
novelty, because he long since announced
them in his interview with the South Car
Olna committee which solicited the ap-
pOintment of Governor Perry. The doc
trines of secession and consolidation are
alike repudiated by him in his clear and
simple statement OF his conception OF the
nature of our Government.
What is set forth in the Presidents an
nual Message is also precisely what he has
declared to every intelligent gentleman
who has conversed with him upon the sub
ject of his policy of reconstruction. His
argument against the monstrous policy Of
establishing military Governments in the
Southern States is perhaps one OF the most
striking and forcible portions of his Mes
sage. 1t will arrest public attention, and
carry conviction to every breast which is
not the abode of passions and sectional
prejudices unworthy of our race. -.sFr.F
To the South the firm, decided opinions
of the President upon this subject will
bring unspeakable Joy. as the Commander
iR-Chief Of the army and nary he can, at Glty
naOn,eat remote the military, and, as the PreSt-
dent Of the United States, he can, By The erer-
else Of the UetO pOloer, preUeRt the cORSun'attOn
Of all Radical schemes for garrisOniHg The
South. He is completely master OF the pO-
sition, and although a Radical Congress
mayexclude our representatives, they )cm-1
not make us the victims of unjust and OPP
pressiye Legislation. ,rru-y s,.r a.,ril-- ~ b,
: The whole tone of the Message convincesf
us that the present Congress can do nothing
worse than deny us the representation to
which we are entitled. Their power for
mischief begins and ends with that cause
less insult and affront TO the SOuth-the
exclusion of our delegates. fEe0 w .n10I
The position of the President upon the
subject of Congressional interference with
the exercise of the right of suffrage in the
States protects us from all party factions
and fanatical legislatiotfupon that question.
AS long as Summer and Stevens shall fail to
command vote in Congress sufficient to
override the veto, they, will be impotent in
their rage.
Inthe frank, manly announcement of the
President, that he has taken every neees-
sary step to restore the Constitutional rela-
tionsof the. Southern. States.S and desires
them to e''resumea their placesFin both
branches of the, National leg ature, and
thereby complete the work of restoration
as soon as they have adopted "the Constitu-
tional amendment abolishing slavery"-he
makes fair, bold issue with Congress.
{ Heinyites the Southern States to speedily
and unanimously adopt that amendment,
and declares that its. adoption reunites us
beyond all power of disruption, We
have, in doing this, he tells us, certain
means of casting all the disorders of the
past into oblivion, and this will be the
crowning evidence Of our sincere desire for
the future maintenance of the Union. This
measure will eiiace the sad memory of the
past, and will eventually secure the South
population, capitalSan the warm sympa-
thies OF the people of the North. Beyond
this the President demands nothing at our
hands but that protection tor the emanci-
pated negro which all of us are willing to
afford him, as an houest and Industrious
laborer. -
The Message of President johnson will
dissipate all apprehensions as to his earn
est desire for amnesty and oblivionrot past
offenses. Z fEyeTy patriot" he says, 'mast
,oisK for GgenerdI amnesty at tbe earliest epoch
consistent 10Th public Sgfetylo estates that
after 1.-The late terrible econfict" there "must
be spirit of mutual conciliation," and we
''must work together in harmony."hh,aoab,