, 1866-05-04
THE copPKRHEAD POLICY or
KEC1S AT&kICTIalN.

The Copperhead policy Of reconstruction Is
very simple one. 1t requires no conditions
precedent for the future good behavior OF the
rebels. It exacts no guarantees; it iutlicss no
disabilities; it proceeds on the hypothesis
that treason and rebellion are not crimes that
should be rendered odious or punished, but
ra.'."- ~'-t-."" "'>a -r~7 a"-'a to bc applaud
~ doors OF Con-
1850, - - - the WatchwoYd.
-s': '---. ---.~s.. urnry Uc Immediately
placed on footing Of perfect equality with
loyal constituencies, provided they can find
some Copperhcad or chip in porridgc'' who
can take the test oath; aud once their tools
are Inside of Congress, they can, By uniting
with the Northern Copperhcads and dough-
faces, repeal the test oath, aud thereafter the
leaders Of rebellion, from JET. Darls down,
can come in and take seats. THIS is also the
johnson scheme Of reconstruction. The tlrst
hatch Of fellows to be passed in arc to act the
part ol the Trojan horse, filed with armed
men to open the gates for their companions
without the walls, md to surrender the city
to them.
In any scheme OF reconstruction Congress
must look al the character Of the constituency
who elect the Representative. The latter is
but an agent the former is the principal :;
the ole is but the weather-vane, the other
the wind that turns and shifts 1t.
In the minority report of Messrs. Wash
burn and Boutwell, of the Reconstruction
COMMITTEES, on the question Of the admission
Of Tennessee, those gentlemen make the fol-
lowing observations, which must cummand
the impartial judgment of ererv intclli-
gent reader as at once sound aud
Syycf NJ o1w n..ff 1.n = nt.a
of reconstruction can successfully cuntrorcrt
this argument.
Regarded as a national question. and subj. Ct
sGvc1,cr ;te pence prosperity OF the country. ii
Is Of prime Importance 70 secure In cach state 4
10. al }este for the maintenance Of Government. 1t
teems 'cWfse 10 cont:der OF prims1y importance
the po!;iical charatrr OF the rcprcscn1 stiye who
ra7y otter himstlf Tor n seat In Congress. The
right be represented is right Of The people, No
individual haa right 10 lie represented Until he
has ca 1uly elected. while It Is emtncntly proper
foi caeh branch Of ccnsrcss ipqui.e into The loy
att Of ever. c13itnnnt Of eca, Ahosc Loyalty may
tcn.tt'iores1. Ills still vastly Inorc inpor,apt ia
a=cerlsin the ioya1ty Of the constituency be catms
10 represent The official hfe or rbe Representative
Wher IN The Senate or The Hous. is comparatively
bs.ef. "hi!e the conatltuecc, is enduring. If The
constituency he :oE.l, the roEtr OF the Htp
1c..ut.,ite for evil evrn ftongh be be a mat
OF di>!o.sl of1n,cu4 Is relatively ur1mportaut Nu
ifLe constituency u aiAi0yaa, liA 1e nfstga
Ell TO i;t fo1cer to GDtf perniconkiy. Me uXe .Ces
fare II is al-o to he oh.esred that Technically
corr :cc1*o, man II loyal Nbose disloxslsy cauno
. 1r ptu.ed. II i con. tsutncy ois,oyal, 1t vii
alWty: be m its poAer 10 .elec: as it, representa-
tive rau RHO i FREE from any psrsoai F'trticpa
ticn tn ai~oyci r,oceeHH5s. oad VT .cao ,clt gir
hS ros< Gnf futnee In sa0rn<r to thN1r, iu.p1r
dnd dEnaGy 10 d<ti-oy the Goce71neEt-
II T. fhis lait snnsfHeraff0n f1At command!
the johnson policy Of reconstruction to th
favor and support Of cydy Coppcrhead IN th
United Stntes.