Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1865-04-29
RICHMOND WHIG.
WIN. IRA SMITH, Proprietor.


TT is natural that the policy to he adopted by the
g. President of the United States and his Cabinet
ii he important work Of recognizing the civil ad-
.igfstratfon of the several States lately restored
,..iep.-;nate authority should be a subject of in
teps, ,olcitude to the Southern people. We have
no doubt that the views Of President Johnson, as
expressed in recent speeches, have been eagerly
read aud considered as indications Of his inteuded
course Of action. On the subject of State organi-
eston, wefnd nothing in his words toreShadowing
purpose to disturb the harmony Of the Federal
system, under which the nation so long lived and
pvospered. He evidently has no sympathy for
those extremists who have advised that the sepA-
rate State lines shall be botted out, that their in
Cernal governments shall be destroyed, and that
they shall be recognized only provinces or terri
tories belonging to the United States, yet not com
posing integral parts of the system.
His words on this subject are explicit. In
eplying to the address of Gov. Morton, of Indiana,
ne laid
Nov permit II c to remark that while have
opposed dissolution and dsntegratiOn on the one
hand on the other | am equally opposed to consol-
dat,ou or a Capitalization Of power in the hands Of
q 'ew." "The Government is composed of parts,
each essential to the whole, and the whole essen
tal {, each. Upon this idea destroying States, my
position has been heretofore well known, and see no
cause to change it now" "Some are satisfied with
the dea that the States to be lost in territorial
and other dvisons-are to lose their character as
States. But their life. breath has been only sus-
pended, and it is a high constitutional obligation
We have to secure each of these Stat eS in the pos
session and enjoyment of a Republican form of
government"
81 hold it as solemn obligation IN any one of
these States where the Rebel armies have been
beaten back or expelled, | care not how small
be number Of Union men, If enough to man the
nip Of state-l hold it, l say, high duty to
yrotect and secure to them Republican form OF
Government" &C. If State is to be nursed until
it again gets strength, it must be nursed by its
friends, not smothered by its enemies"
The meaning of this is plain. The States will be
preserved with all their original powers restored
But they will be preserved as States Of the Union,
forming only parts of the great Federal system
AID liable to the duties imposed by that system
The machinery of State will not be entrusted to
chose who have used it In reasonable attempts to
destroy the Union The men who recognize the
obligations imposed by the Union must now be en-
ployed IN the work of bringing back their respec-
tive States to their original orbits.
In view of the obligations resting on them, the
people Of Virginia must learn to feel and act for a
restoration Of the shattered mechanism of their
civil Government If they love Virginia, they
must place themselves in an attitude to help her.
They must cordially recognize her true position as
; member Of the great Federal system, which is
bound to exercise its power for her protection aud
20 guarantee to her a Republican form of Govern
neut. It those who have been led astray by phan-
toms now vanished, shall heartily and sincerely
tlru 20 their duty, acknowledge their allegiance to
Constitution which her best citizens helped to
.rame, aud to laws and Executive acts passed or
done iu pursuance of that Constitution, then the
organic lite of the State will be speedily inygo-
.ated, her vital functions will be restored to
lealtb, aud the brains, hearts and hands of her
people will be once more employed for the common
veal