The Ebensburg Alleghanian. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1865-1871, 1866-01-04
rhe A11eghanaan.
THURSDAY, JANUARY 4, 1866.
EDITORIAL Correspondence.
Deferred Letter.

After President Lincoln's death, great
solicitude was naturally manifested as to
the policy to be pursued by his constitu-
tional successor, Andrew johnson. About
that time the Vice President, in occa-
sional speeches, used language not lit
tie severe and inhammatory towards the
rebel leaders; so much so, that many
supposed he would pursue a policy On the
reconstruction of the rebel States very
different from that of the lamented Lin
coin. Suddenly called to the Presidential
chair, President johnson found himself in
position where he was not only obliged to
enunciate theories, but put them in actual
operation. All eyes were turned to the
White House, Watching with intense
anxiety the terms and conditions Of recon-
struction, as they should be developed in
the administration of the new chief ma
gistrate. The general expectation seemed
to be that (to' use the language of the
President as he then expressed it in his
speeches,) treason would be treated as
as crime and traitors punished ''-in
other words, that the leading rebels would
be compelled to answer to the government
tor the he;nous crimes they had committed
against it.
Subsequent events, however, have de-
monstrated, that President johnson did
not carry his implied threats towards the
rebels into execution. Patriotic conside-
rations, and desire to win back The re-
bellious South, caused the President to
adopt different policy, one of great leni-
ency and mercy. Any policy involving
reconstruction at that time was an ex-
pertinent, something to be tried and
tested; and with this view of the case,
the President appointed Provisional Co
Vernors in all the rebel States, to put the
necessary machinery in motion to bring
the rebel State governments back into the
Union. Instead Of trying and hanging a
batch or two of the principal traitors, the
President took the other extreme, issuing
PoA 0OLS " q
who had been actively engaged in the re-
bellion, extending TO them Executive.
clemency, without even the form of
trial. LIZ the judgment of many of the
best citizens Of the country, the Presi-
dent in so free a use of the pardoning
power committed a,great error. His OBJ
.aE j Ii
hoped by granting special favors to win
back to loyalty the men who had influ-
ence to exert over the Southern masses.
He supposed a magnanimous policy would
do more towards a successful reconstruc-
ton, than one more severe and arbitrary
In one view Of the case, President John
sons policy has been failure-in another
it has not. 1t has failed to change the
hearts of the rebel leaders to loyalty, and
still further to bring back the masses in
many of the rebel States to accept the
logical results Of the war A majority of
these leaders still secretly hate the govern
ment and cling to the political heresies
which impelled them on to secession and
rebellion. They sport the same naughty
airs, put on the same imperious manner,
ano use much the same offensive language,
that characterized them before the war.
In word, they are just as good traitors
now as they ever were, and no better. The
fact recently demonstrated in the Con-
yressional elections in the rebel States,
hat majority of the members elect are
traitors who cannot take the oath, and
among them some of the most conspicuous
eaders in the rebellion, is proof positive |
Ipon that point. And the disposition go
generally manifested in the rebel States |
o oppress the negro population, is another |
proof that the magnanimous course of the |
President is not received by them in the |
pirit in which it is dictated. In fact, the |
President himself, judging from his Off
,ial action, considers his policy partial
allure from the fact that he has double |
leaded governments in at least three of |
he rebel States, they having elected
Governors and he directing his appointed
Provisional Governors to override their
ctions and continue to administer the
State government until otherwise ordered
lie has recently granted but few pardons,
or the reason that he is not satisfied with
he workings of the policy, and thrcAtens
0 stop entirely unless he sees more pro-