The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1865-06-19

The work OF reconstruction Is proceeding
with extraordinary rapidity. The proclama-
tons of President johnson, which we published
yesterday, announce the appointments Of pro-
visional governors for two more of the seeded
States The Hon. James johnson is to be the
new Governor of Georgia, and the Hon. An
drew ]. Hamilton of Texas. In these appoint
ments, as in those for North Carolina and Mis-
sissippi, the President has selected loyal South
ern men in preference to Northern politicians;
and his own intimate acquaintance with the
wishes of the Southern people, the standing
and opinions of representative Southerners and
the best means to assist and strengthen the
Union. sentiment at the South, has enabled
President Johnson to push on his plan Of re-
construction very rapidly and very success
fully.
Eleven Southern States seeded from the
Union. Two others-Kentucky and Missouri
were claimed by the secessionists, but never
lost their loyal governments. OF these eleven
seeded States Tennessee, Arkansas and Louis-
ana were restored to the Union under the adj
ministration Of Mr.. Lincoln, and are now, to
all intents and purposes, as loyal as Maryland
or Delaware. Since the 25th of May, when the
rebel General Johnston surrendered, five more
States have been brought back. North Caro-
lima, Mississippi, Georgia and Texas have been
supplied with provisional governors, and Vir-
ginia has retained Governor Pierpoint, who
was elected by the loyal portion of the people
while the rebellion was still in existence. Thus,
in the short space of little more than three
weeks, five great States have been restored to
loyalty. South Carolina, Florida and Alabama
yet remain to be treated; but another pro-
clamation, to be issued in a few days, will in
clude them. So before the glorious Fourth of
July the United States will be intact, one and
indivisible.
Nor is this remarkably rapid reconstruction
merely upon paper. It is real and vital GER
it and acquiesce in it. So far from the aboli-
ton of slavery becoming stumbling block in
the way of reunion, as many persons naturally
expected the majority of the Southerners take
emancipation as matter of course, and pro-
mise to aid the government heartily and cor
daily in the tremendous task Of Transforming
the negro slaves into American freemcn.
There are difficulties in regard to this feature
of reconstruction, however, which only time
and patience can remove The appointment
of provisional governors who shall call Stale
conventions, which shall provide for the election
of State officers, State Legislatures and Repre-
sentatives in Congress, is plain plan, which
requires only the selection of loyal men to
carry out it's details to be in every respect sue
cessful. But in the discrimination between
loyal Southerners and rebels, in the exercise of
his power to punish and to pardon, in his care
for the poor whites-the class from which he
sprung-and in his dealings with the enamel
patcd blacks and their relations to the State, to
their white neighbors and to the United States
government, President johnson will find need
for the wisest craftsmanship and most dexterous
employment of the authority with which Provi-
dence and the will of the people have endowed
him.
C0riously enough, at the very commence
ment of his administration, President Johnson
is deserted by the very men from whom he
might have anticipated sympathy if not assist
ance. The radical republicans, who protested
to be so devoted to the welfare of the blacks,
are the most dissatisfied individuals in the
country, now that the abolition of slavery has
been achieved They oppose the appointment
of loyal Southerners as provisional governors,
contending that there are no loyal men at the
South and that Northern abolitionists ought to
fll these Offices. On the other hand they oppose,
through the Tribune, the punishment of any
rebels, stating that only slavery and State
rights ought to reap the penalty of treason.
The poor whites of the South they utterly
ignore. They insist that President Johnson
shall proclaim every negro voter, giving the
blacks ballots before he gives them anything
else. Of course the abolitionists know that it
Is impossible for him to do this, because the
suffrage question rests entirely with the States;
but that does not prevent them from organizing
against the President, under the leadership of
Chief Justice who has already disgraced him
self, his Office and the country by extrajudicial
decisions Nor does 1t prevent them from
threatening, through Mr.. Wendell Phillips, to
repudiate the national debt if negro suffrage
be not granted, or promising Cf we accept the
amended version of his SPECIFY to recognize
the rebel debt If negro suffrage is granted.
Mr.. Wendell Phillips, in a published letter,
states that what he said at Boston was that
he would advocate the reputation of all rebel
debts If the Union were reconstructed on a
white basis; and the clear inference from this
statement Is that he is prepared to advocate
the payment Of all rebel debts if the Union be
reconstructed on q black and white basis.
Whether he made the threat reported or offered
the bride here stated his party is alike inimical
to President Johnson.
But under the circumstances 1t is very clear
that the President has gained more than he has
lost by the desertion and the antagonism Of
the radical faction. The people have q pro.
found distrust Of these men, who, as Mr.. Ste
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