The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1865-07-05
TFrom the New York Herald, June 49,
RecOnsfruCtinS the UniOn--Great
Success OF President JOhnsOn's
Plan,

SHCSGSs OA 1-EcSAucAt JOAk1SOIhs
Plan.
The work of reconstruction is proceed
ing with extraordinary rapidity. The
proclamations Of President johnson,
which We published yesterday, announce
the appointments of Provisional Cover
nors for two more of the seeded States.
The Hon. James johnson is to be the
new Governor Of Georgia, and the Hon.
Andrew J. Hamilton of Texas. In these
appointments, as In those of North Caro-
lima and Mississippi, the President has
selected loyal Southern men in preference
to Northern politicians; and his own init
mate acquaintance with the wishes Of the
Southern people, the standing and opin-
ions Of representative Southerners and
the best means to assist and strengthen
the Union sentiment of the South, has
enabled President johnson to push on
his plan of reconstruction very rapidly
and very successfully.
Eleven Southern States seeded from
the Union. Two others-Kentucky and
Missouri-were el2iGed by the secession
lists, but never lost their loyal govern
ments. OF these eleven seeded States,
Tennessee, Arkansas and Louisiana were
restored to the Union under the admin
istration of Mr.. Lincoln, and are now, to
all intents and purposes, as loyal as Ma
|rylaud and Delaware. Since the 25th of
May, when the rebel General Johnston
surrendered, five more States have bson
brought back North Carolina, Missis-
sippi Georgia and Texas have been sup
piled with provisional Governors, and
Virginia has retained Governor PierpoHt,
who was elected by the loyal portion Of
the people while the rebellion was still
in existence. Thus, in the short space of
a little more than three weeks, five great
States have been restored to loyalty
Soth Carolina, Florida and ALBANIA yet
remain to be treated but another procla-
nation, to be issued in few days, will
include them. So before the glorious
Fourth of July the United States will be
intact, one and indivisible.
Nor is this remarkably rapid recon-
struction merely upon paper. 1t is a real
and vital certainty. The Southern people
are anxious for it and aequiesce in it. So
far from the abolition of slavery becom-
ing stumbling block in the way of re-
union, as many persons naturally expect
ed, the majority of the Southerners take
emancipation as matter OF course, and
promise to aid the Government heartily
and cordially in the tremendous task of
transforming the negro slaves into Amer
lean freemen. There are difficulties In
however, which only time and patience
can remove. The appointment of pro-
visional Governors, who shall provide fer
! the election of State officers, State Leg
islatures, ,Snd Representatives in Congress,
is plain plan, which requires only the
selection of loyal men to carry out its de-
tails to be in every respect successful
But in the discrimination between loyal
Southerners and rebels, in the exercise oi
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 emancipated blacks and their re-
llations to the State, to their white neigh
4 bors and to the United States Govern
ment, President Johnson will End need
for the wisest craftsmanship and mos
dexterous employment of the authority
with which providence and the will of The
people have endowed him.
Curiously enough, at the very com
) mencement of his administration, Presi
> dent johnson is deserted by the very mel
from whom he might have anticipates
3 sympathy if not assistance. The radica
Republicans, who professed to be so de
t voted to the welfare Of the blacks, ARE tn
: most dissatisfied individuals in the coun
l try, nov that the abolition of slavery ha
!, been achieved. They oppose the appoint
! ment of loyal Southerners as provisions
4 Governors, contending that there are n
s loyal men at the South, and that North
t ern Abolitionists ought to fill these off
p ces. On the other hand they oppose
8 Through the Tribune, the punishment Q
u any rebels, stating that only slavery an
1t State Rights ought to reap the penalty {
g treason. The poor whites of the Sout
It they utterly ignore They insist th;
President Johasen shall proclaim ever
negro voter, giving the blacks ballo
before he gives them any thing else.
!. course the Abolitionists know that it
= impossible for him to do this, because tt
. suffrage question rests entirely with tt
: States; but that does not prevent the
a from organizing against Tue IEeslueut,u
: der the leadership of Chief Justice VII
= has already .disgraced himself, his ofit
and the country by exsra-judicial deci
ions. Nor does it prevent them fro
i threatening, through Mr.. Wendell Phi
= lips, to repudiate the national debt if n
gro suffrage be not granted, or promisir
>, Gf we accept the amended version of b
- speech) to recognize the rebel debt if n
= - gro suffrage is granted. Mr.. Wende
q. - Phillips, in published letter, states tn
: what he said at Boston was that he won
- advocate the repudiation of all reb
! debts if the Union were reconstructed (
- white basisj and the clear inference fro
" this statement is that he is prepared
70 advocate the payment of all rebel deb
: if the Union be reconstructed on bla,
. and white basis. Whether he made Il
threat reported or offered the bribe he
= = stated, his party is alike inimical to Pre-
= ident johnson.
- But under the circumstances it is We
!. clear that the President has gained mo
-, tLan ha has lost hv the desertion and II