The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1866-02-16
LOuaI Officers South.

Amid some things in President John
sons reply to the Virginia delegation not
wholly acceptable to the North, there are
others so true and vital that they should
not be overlooked, nor their Importance
undervalued. Among these Is the stress
he lays upon the complete loyalty of all the
officers TO he chosen 10y the people of the
late rebellious States. The Virginia reso-
lutions had beSpoken his sympathy on the
ground that constitutional amendments
were in danger of being forced upon her
while ''>he had no voice In the councils of
the nation But the President lays down
principles which directly rebuke her for
delinquency in this very respect. He says,
in language which was omitted from our
regular report of his remarks:
I'm going into the recent rebellion or
Instruction against the government of the
United States YOU erred, and in returning
and reSuming your relations with the fed
er;,l government | am free TO say that all
the responsible positions and places ought
to be confined distinctly and clearly to men
who are loyal. Ii there were only five
thousand loyal men in State, or less
number. but sufficient TO take charge of
the political machinery of the State, those
five thousand men, or the lesser number.
are entitled to it, dad al tie rest Should be
erciwlod"
Surely, this is explicit enough to suit
the most eNacting loyali>t. This is what
President Lincoln termed building up
again from the sound elements" For all
the present purposes OF reconstruction.
President johnson regards all those South
erner> mo are tainted with diSloyalty a.
nobolicS lie does not see them-he looks
TO the loyal men alone. I've they many or
he they few. The governments of the
Southern States which he is for recognizing
are the loval governments alone-the rep
RESERVATION which he desires TO see in Con-
gress is 10 lie exclusively composed of 10y
III men He Will sustain and commend
Congress for reJectin. Alexandria,. Steph-
ems and every other pretended member
elect who cannot conScientiou>ly take the
ties; oath. Probably nine-tenils of those
who have iilus far been chosen could not
have his approval. He virtually SAYS to
Virginia: You have no right to expect
To he allowed a voice In the counsels of
The nation, until You send men here who
have not been implicated in your traitor
Gus course for the last four years. Send
men IL loyal a. the government TO which
they come. or >enI home AT all
This i actually Il bolder position than
i assumed by many who criticize the
President for his aliedged leuiency. They
say that ii Is asking TOO much of COM
munity that they should choose repr,sen-
ative- who did not really represent them
that it i better TO have the rule of the
majority respected. even though ii Is not
wholly >;ltl>i:ictory-amd that this liber-
alltv will have a good effect on the ell
ightcnmcnt of the masses. But President
Johnston S;lys. no. they ought 10 know
enough how 10 elect loyal men to Office.
whether they are iov.ll themselves or not.
1t l. one ui the clear conditions of their
submission to the United States govern
llen. which any nl;;n OF common sens.
can perceive That this government is TO
receive into liz bosom and 10 accept rs lis
accents mcn who are still allen 10 lis spirit
ana hatcrS of il authority. l. downright
aD>ur,litv that cannot and shall not lie toll
Grated And the President i right. Il
l. extremely desirable that rs many loval
constituencies a. possible should be soon
represented IN congress; but ii Is indiS-
Pen>lhle that whatever representatives art
admitted there. should themselves be lov.ll.
ANY either course would bring the govern
mcni into contempt. Now that President
johnson las made this point clear 10 the |
iulic>t apprehension. We trust Ne shall
see. ii not more LOYALTY at The South
which Ne do hope 10 see-more GOOD
Seli>e ;ml more regard 10 the obvious die |
tales "i proprietv.-Bostoa Jommti.