National opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1865-1874, 1866-10-12
OUT VI R. LIN.
COINS POLICY.

Nothing can be more absurd than
the prcteXt Of Messrs. johnson and
Seward that they are but carrying
out the reconstruction policy of the
lamented Lincoln. First, look at
the probability of the thing:
If Mr.. Lincoln had avowed the
same policy now sought to be en-
forced by Andrew johnson, there is
no reason why the various classes of
their countrymen should not. as to
this matter, have been affected to-
ward the two men in the same way.
The Republican masses voluntarily
chose both and gave them equal
tsupport. And yet they uphold Lin
Ic0ln to a man, and have discarded
johnson with an equally overwhelm-
ing unanimity, on the sole ground of
this reconstruction question. Again,
the Copperheads of the Nallandig
ham and Seymour stamp have now
as gushing an admiration for John
son as they formerly had bitter ha-
tired for Lincoln. Finally, tllezebels
all fought with Dispersion against
Lincoln, while Judge Abbott now
says that there is not an "Omnibus
loaF' of respectable men at the
South who do not accept the policy
of johnson. But why should Alex
ander II. Stephens, Wade Hamp-
ton and the butcher Forrest hail
that as lovely now which they re-
sisted unto death when proposed by
the President that is Just gone
But the enormous absurdity of this
pretense would not justify us in
more than giving it the above sim
. pie statement.
Secondly, strictly speaking, Mr..
Lincoln did not have a definite re-
construction policy, because he had
just reached that stage of national
affairs when he died, and his atten-
ton mad almost wholly been taken
up with the practical questions of
the war. The rebel armies had Just
been subdued, and the era of recon
struction was just being introduced
and beginning to elicit the opinions
of thoughtful men, when the Good
President waSno more. Whatever.
therefore, may be said as to his re-
construction policy must be based
on hints which he previously gave
and on his known public character.
Thirdly nothing else can be infer
red from these but total condemn
alton of the policy of Andrew john
son. The leading idea of that pol
Iicy-that the Executive, and not
congress, had the prerogative of
settling the conditions of recon
struction-he more than once ex-
pressly diSclaimcd. The whole sub
ject was gone over with the rebel
commissioners at the famous meet
ing at Hampton Roads, and ii will
be remembered that JEFF. Davis, in
giving an account Of it, sneered bit
terly at Mr.. Lincoln's protesting to
believe that all he could do i'll favor
of the South would be III the way of
amnesty, While Congress would
have sole charge of the terms and
conditions of restoration. But why
argue this matter, when President
johnson himself, on the 2ith of July,
1860, wrote t. Governor Sharkey of
Mississippi, as follows: " 1t must,
however, he distinctly understood
that the restoration to which your
proclamation refers, iciH be .subiect to
tie 'ciH Of Congress- That was the
position not only of President Lin
coin, but of every respectable public
man in the country ut the time. In
Mr.. Lincoln'S mind it was associated
with that other principle, as he eX-
pressed it, of" building up from the
sound materials of the South"
which is in such pointed contradic.
ton To the whole Johnson policy.
If, by the kindness Of his nature, he
was ever betrayed into too great lcni.
ency, he had no hesitation in null
tying the advantage which he saw
the rebels trying to take it. Thus,
he countcrmanded his order for al
lowing the Virginia Legislature to
meet the moment he perceived the
true character Of its members. I'm
short, his policy was the predomi-
nance OF loyalty and the extinction
Of treason, and he grew more and
more intrepid in its application the
longer hc lived. Were he living
now, he would have established the
principles for which his brave boys
fought and conquered on firm and
imperishable foundations. lie
might have won over some of his
enemies, but he would have kept, as
he always kept, the great body of
his friends by the inileXible develop.
ment of his truthful, disinterested
and patriotic nature. To suppose
even ioi one moment, that such Il
man could have rclapscd into John
sonisin is beyond the reach of any
well regulated imagination.-Boston
JOurndi.