The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1866-02-28


Governor Cox, of Ohio (republican), in his
approved report Of recent familiar conversa-
ton with the President on the important SUBJ
ject of Southern restoration, has put forward
powerful argument in behalf of the adhesion of
the republican party to the administration.
We have also before US strong, statesmanlike
speech from Senator Sherman, Of Ohio, looking
in the same direction. The Governor presents
the Presidents vindication of his Southern
policy, as member of that great Union party
(which carried the country through the war;"
and It is . full and satisfactory vindication.
The Senator submits the reasons which should
still bind the republican party in Congress to
the Executive, and they involve considerations
Of prudence and wisdom which cannot DO
safely disregardsd.
Descending to mere partisan view Of the
ie.~e botwocn thv PRESIDENT ana the radicals,
the question first suggested is this: has Mr..
johnson violated any Of the pledges involved
in his election rs Vice President, or in his
present position as the successor Of Abraham
Lincolni To this question there can be but
one answer Andrew johnson has faithfully
adhered to the Baltimore platform of 1864,
and has faithfully pursued the general policy
indicated in the acts, proclamations, messages
and speeches of President Lincoln So far his
record is clear... But the alleged detection of
Mr.. johnson begins with this work of Southern
reconstruction; and yet even here his justifca-
ton il complete. The collapse Of the rebellion
occurred in the absence of Congress, and with
out provisions or conditions of reconstruction
from Congress, except the Freedmen's Bureau,
the official oath of loyalty, and the general dis
cretionary war powers conferred upon the
Executive.
Thus President johnson was left to deter
mine for himself his line of action. The ample
war powers with which he was invested he be-
lieved were sufficient for the EFFICIENCY. He
proceeded to act accordingly. He found the
late rebellious States under State governments
set up in hostility to the government of the
United States. He deposed them--he substi-
tuted provisional loyal governments and as
signed to them the duty Of reorganizing said
States as members Of the Union, but subject to
the penalties of their rebellion. He required
them In each State 10 recognize the abolition of
slavery in the new organic State law, to ratify
by the Legislature the amendment of the
federal constitution insuring this abolition
against all contingencies throughout the
Union he required them TO repudiate their
rebel debts, and to recognize the rights Of
their blacks to the protection of the laws as
freedmen, &c. He says that these conditions
have so far been complied with by nearly all
the States concerned, that he has restored them
to their former relations with all the executive
departments, only retaining military force
sufficient to protect the freedmen, and to in
duce the local authorities 10 relieve him OF
this duty. Thus, the President contends, the
late rebeIlious States are in fact so far REIN
stated as loyal members In the Union, that Il
Is too late TO question their fundamental rights
OF representation.
Why then are not these States readmitted
into Congress, at least In the persons OF their
representatives who can take the oath Of 10y
altyi Here the Executive comes into collision
with Thaddsus Stevens, who repudiates the
Presidents work. These rebel States, we are
admonished are still disloyal-that they must
be reconstructed by Congress from their found
ations--that II otherwise restored their strength
in Congress, added to that OF the Northern cop
pcrheads, will result In the reputation OF the
Union war debt, or In saddling us with the
rebel debt-that II not bound by constitutional
amendments they will reduce the black race 10
. worse condition than that Of the slavery sys-
tam abolished-that the blacks should have the
right Of suffrage or be excluded from the emu
meration Of the people for representation IN
Consrcs-thas Southern loyalty is oil sham,