Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1865-1869, 1866-03-21
The South and Martial Law.


Such is our respect for President JoHNSoN'S
Judgment and craftsmanship, and such our con-
fdence in his patriotism, that we would not
willingly venture a suggestion that could be ln-
terpreted as a criticism upon his course. 1t
would be alike thankless and presumptuous.-
On different occasions during his admin
istration, and before his policy was fully
developed we have had our periods OF
sohcitude. But We have been generally
not only satisfied but delighted with the
event. The President has so tempered energy
with discretion; has exhibited such sagacity
and reflection, and has shown SO much courage
and generous feeling, that We have learned TO
take his Judgment and his superior knowledge
of affairs as the standard on which public opiu-
ion should be based, and to which public action
should conform. We believe that he has
measured and mapped out the whole field be-
fore him that he has considered every proba-
bility and contingency, and that he has even
settled in his own mind the precise order Of his
successive steps and measures.
The steps thus far taken by him have been
taken deliberately and with method. They
have all tended to the tranquilizatiOn Of the
country, and the restoration Of the Southern
States to their places in the Union. There is
not a rational test Of loyalty that has not been
applied TO them. They were required to lay
down their arms, which they did at once. Not
more rapidly did the armed clan Ofthe Scottish
chieftain disappear at the wave of his hand
than did the armed Contederates after the sur
render Of LEE. 1t may almost be said Of them
as the poet said OF the clansmen Of RHoDERIC
DHU-
1t seemed as if their mother earth
Had swallowed up her warhke birth
They were required to take the oaths of am
nesty, which they did promptly and kept
faithfully. They were placed under martial
law and required to conform their action to it.
Their obedience was unquestioning and eXem-
plary. They were authorized, as time pro-
crossed, to hold municipal and State elections.
In some few instances persons we're chosen
whowere not acceptable to the authorities, ami
the elections were set aside. There was not a
murmur of complaint among us. In all but
these few exceptional cases the elections were
recognized and permitted to stand. The Gov
errors, and other State officers thus elected
have been acceptable to the President; and
the Legislatures, chosen by the several States
have been allowed to assemble, transact bust
ness and perform all proper legislative
functions. The President is satisfied with
Southern loyalty, and he has, in official papers
and in oral addresses, vOuched for il. He has
built up, story by story, the pyramid of recon
strUction. So far as his agency is concerned
nothing now remains to be done but TO crowr
the edifce by proclamation declaring the
cessation of martial law and the restoration o
the babeaS corpus. Until that is done m.
work is incomplete. Until that is done IN,
work is in jeopardy and may be thrown to tn
ground by the Presidents enemies. The les
the power conceded to the Southern State.
the greater is the sway of the RadicalS-th
more power they have to operate against an
to thwart the Presidents restoration policy
Whatever remains unsettled Is 4 field for Rae
ical agitation. With the continuance OF ma
nus in the South, the Presidents opponent
are furnished with foundation on which
Mace their lever, by which they hope
wrench the South from its proper position an
rend the Union permanently asunder-fC
,vbatever keeps the States that ought to be
tbe Union out oft tends to break the Union.
We would venture any suggestion with diff
denee, for, as we have iOtimatsd' we hav
80 faith in the Presidents knowledge q
nnhl;c affairs and judgment as to what Shout
he done, and how and when it should De dom
- 90 have in our own. But itapPearS 10 l
that his uOsitiOn is weakened, and radle"l Il
sn.nces strengthened by every hours CO..
tiuuancs of martial law. Many Oh Jus y