The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-07-23
DO the Democrats IndOrse President
LnhnsOn,s Reconstruction Policy?

. WE nOUce tnat Ine democrats, IN tnelr various
conventions throughout the country are making
haste to avow their support of the policy OF
President JOHNSON with reference to the re-
storation of the Rebel States. We advise our
eager Democratic brethren to go little slow IN
this matter. In their hurry they may indorSe
too much
The restoration policy of President JOHNSON,
so far as carried out, rests upon precisely the
same ultimate principles as that of Congress.
The only difference is as to detdls-not as to
principles. 1t is question OF degree-not of
kind.
A little review of the history of this recon
strUction business will fully substantiate our
declarations. When, by the overthrow of the
Rebel armies, the strife of arms had ceased, what
was the actual political condition of the South?
1t was this:-In each State there was a State
Government, with its full array of officers, execu
tive legislative, and judicial, in full and undis
puted operation. (We leave out of the account
the two or three States where there was sort
of divided Government, as in Louisiana, etc.
These Governments had come down in regular
and unbroBen succession from the old Govern
ments of these States while in the Union. The
Rebellion had made no break in the chain of
continuous State existence. Each State Govern
ment had grown regularly out of its predecessor.
Moreover, these Governments we're the choice,
the undoubted choice, of the people. Nobody
denies that. Sill further, they were the only
State Governments within those States. 1t they
were not legal and valid Governments, then those
States had none at ALL They were the regular
successors of the previous Governments: they
were the choice of the people; they were in
actual operation: and they had no competitors.
1t is difficult to perceive how the case could be
made stronger.
Now, the Democratic theory is, that these
State Governments in the Rebel States at the
close of the war, 1cere loyal, valid AID constltu.
t0nal-the true, as well as only, governments
there. The Democratic theory of the pohtcal
effects of the war demands this conclusion. For.
if these were not the legal and valid governments
of those States. then they had none then their
governments had lapsed, ami they had become
mere unorganized communities.
Now, what was President JoHNsoN's view of
the matter? Did he go to work upon this
Democratic theory? Was this the principle upon
which he commenced the scheme of reconstruc-
tionS By no means. He went to work upon
exactly the opposite theory. He looked upon
these Rebel State governments as mere usurpa-
whatever. In cutting themselves loose from the
Union, by their own free and voluntary action,
and in waging war in their corporate capacity
upon the Union, they had ceased to have any
constitutional existence, and were the mere
organs of Rebellion and revolution. Accord
lngly, he at once overthrew them in toto. Not
Vestige did be leave of these governments, from
governors, legislatures, and Judges, down to
magistrates, constables, and path masters. He
swept them completely out of existence. In
vain did they plead State rights. In vain did
they urge that they were still in the Union. In
vain did they contend that Rebellion could not
take any State out, of the Union. In vain did
they urge any or all of the pleas which the
present Democratic theory of their status author.
lied them to urge. The President was inexorable.
They were mere Rebel organizations, having no
valid or constitutional existence, and out of
being they must go and out OF being they did
go. Even in the Amnesty Proclamation the
President specially excluded from its benefits
" all persons who held the pretended offices of
Governors of States in insurrection." The infer.
ence is irresistible thai, in the Presidents view,
during the whole war, the Rebel States we're
without valid and constitutional governments.
And this is precisely the view of Congress and
the Union party.
The first step in the process of reconstruction
being to overthrow the unconstitutional Rebel
governments, the next step was to organize
something in their stead. This was done accord
ing 10 certain programme laid down by the
President and executed by his agents. 1t was
aeao work from the bottom. And now, Just here,
did the President take the ground that these
States as soon as reorganized, were entitled to
unconditional admission into the Union? By
no means. He insisted that certain conditions
precedent must be performed by them before he
would recognize them as entitled to admission
And here, too the principle underlying his action
aud that of Congress is identical. Each imposes
certain conditions precedent to their admission.
II Is only question of particulars. The Presi-
dent says, you must do one thing; Congress,
YOU must not oaly do that, but little more.
The President imposes those conditions which
he thinks the safety Of the country demands.
Congress imposes such conditions as thinks
the safety of the country demands. Each goes
upon the principle that some conditions may be
constltutionally demanded.
Hence, we repeat the admonition to our
democratic brethren with which we started out,
that in indorsing President JOHNSON they may
snd that they are endorsing too much. The
DrnciDles OF his reconstruction policy as carried
out bv him, are Identical with those of Congress
and the Union party. 1t is merely difference