The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1866-02-12

President johnson TO the vfr, mans
The Views OF = Practical Statesman.
The address of President johnson to the
deputation from the Virginia Legislature, which
we published yesterday, brings out into bold re.
lief bis leading ideas of Southern reconstruc-
ton and restoration. The business of this de-
putation was to lay before him certain resolu.
lions of their Legislature endorsing his South
ern policy, and to assure him that the people
of Virginia will abide by the results Of the
late contest, and intend to act in good faith in
meeting all the obligations thereby incurred.
The President, in reply, expressed his CON-
fidence in these assurances and that the spirit
OF the government can be preserved, and we
can become again united and prosperous as a
great people only by the exercise of mutual
forbearance and confidence, North and South.
In word, Cancellation is the cornerstone of his
Southern policy. He requires, however, first,
that the representatives Of the States and the
people should have the qualifications pre-
scribed by the federal constitution, and he
holds that loyalty is an essential element Of
such qualifications. Loyal representatives are
entitled to admission into the national legis-
lature. This Is the true test That his position
upon 1t may be clearly understood, he says
"In going into the recent rebellion and insur-
rection against the government Of the United
States you erred, and in returning and resum-
ing your relations with the federal govern
ment am free to say that oil the responsible
positions and places ought to be confined dis
tinctly and clearly to men who are loyal. If
there were only five thousand men in a State,
or a less number, to take charge of its political
machinery, those five thousand, or the lesser
number, are clearly entitled to it, and all the
rest should be excluded" This was substan-
tally the view of President Lincoln, and its
soundness cannot be questioned. Southern
men, therefore, elected 10 represent their States
or districts at Washington, if elected because
Of their services to the rebellion, have no right
TO expect recognition, even in the opinion of
President Johnson. But it, upon this test, there
members who can pass, he holds that they ought
TO be admitted. The States remain, but indivi-
dual rebels may be held TO the consequences Of
their treason.
President johnson next reiterates the doc
trine of mo taxation without representation"
and upon this idea and in the spirit Of these
Virginia resolutions of loyalty he looks for an
early consummation of the great work of re-
union. Let us be thus reunited, and "there is
no power upon earth which will care to have
controversy or rupture with the government
OF the United States" Furthermore, with
restoration fully accomplished, we can soon
"put into the commerce of the world two
hundred and City or three hundred millions of
dollars worth of cotton and tobacco and the
various products Of the Southern States" and
thus our national treasury and financial in
terests would be placed as on the base of a
pyramid. This ia practical statcsmaushp. He
il equally sound in his view that the constitu-
ton between The Northern hammer and tho
Southern anvil may be hammered till IL is
destroyed II we keep hammering it, The gov
eminent must be preserved. Extremists, South
and North, must be made to stand aside.
Andrew Johnson cares not for taunis or jeers
or destinations. He has his work to do lie
has marked out his course, and he viii pursue
it TO the end in behalf of the restoration Of the
Union, and Its peace, harmony and prosperity,
North and South. His faith is in Providence
and the people
This programme is like the house founded
upon rock. The storms may descend upon
it, foods may beat against il, but IL will
stand. II furthermore, az reported, Presi-
dent Jobnson's fixed purpose Is to fight
his battle within the lines of the Union
party-the party electing bim-it is clear that
tho democratic, If they really wish 10 assist him,
have only one course TO take. They must
abandon the rump Of their Chicago scmi-seccsh
organizations and join the conservative repub-
licans on o new tack. We mus. say yet once
more to the democrats, that elf the mountain
viii not come to Mahomet, Mahomet must 90
to the mountain" or he will be left hungry and
thirsty In the desert.