Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1866-03-02
THE PRESIDENTS POSITION.
Attempts TO Re-estabiish Harmony.

TIN, PRFsIDEST,$ POSITION.
Attemots 10 Re-estabIish Harmony.
rv, noticeable forte tvaids restoring
th,. Harmonious relations between Pref lent
Jy..n.or. and the UniOn Earty, - Fudoly
SHAKEN ,,r late. have been made within
day OF iwO One is by Gov. Cox Of Ohio,
who hss Published an account Vi a eonyersa-
uon with Mr.. johnson. ON Saturday last.
In tti- Mr. JOHNSON declared tEat be simply
..nimed AZ the restoration Of peace "n the
basis OF loyalty that Congress could not
complain y! hls policy since they had adopt
ed none " their own that he w. not OF
. sed t, Freedmenr bureau. tor he had
u.ei and still Was using ii. and that he only
d. cir, d IL end 1t ~ soon bs the South by
pfupor action for the proieetio" 81 the
Freedmen should make 1t unnecessary; that
to make it permanent would not increase
LOYALTY hut hatred at the South he favored
C.ngress providing for the protection OF the
freedmen oi the United States Courts Oi IN
t,r,or jurisdiction in ali cases where States
did not do 50 Themselves. Mr.. johnson said
..if tie rebels and disloyal men oi the North
and SJuth rrjoiccd over the veto message,
tie country would surely have no cause OF
sorruw in that lie thought that was PIE
ciseiy tie kind OF pacihcation loyal men
every ~ here would rejoice in As to South
EN- Representation lie only desired the ad-
mission Of loyal men. And finally his rchOle
heart lrqs ruth The body Of true men lrhO had
carried the country through The rrdr, and he
earnestly desired 10 maintain cordial and
perttci uaderstGndiAg with them.
The other attempt to cultivate the olive
branch q peace, was by Senator John Sher-
man Of Ohio, who on Monday made pacific
and conciliatory speech in the Senate. Mr..
johnson. he rsid, had retained Mr.. LincOln's
cabinet, endorsed every measure Of his pre-
docessor. and thus far carried out his policy.
S. far as we know, every act and measure
of his has met the approval Of his Cabinet
without dissent. lie has executed every
law OF Congress calling for his action. lie
placed Gen. Howard at the head of the
Freedmen's Bureau and be has freely grant
ed everything asked for the maintenance and
aid If that bureau. He has untalteringly
executed every law enacted with reference
to the rebellion. He has only varied from
the policy of Mr.. Lincoln Gf he has varied
at ally in making it more severe upon the
dsloyal people of the South.
He claimed that Mr. johnson had honestly
exercise the pardOning power. In reference
to the Presidents speech, he said he deeply
regretted, and no true friend of the Presi-
dent could but regret such a speech, in
which the passions of the mob were invoked,
while Congress was arraigned as having or
ganized despotism. But our condemnation
Of its Objectionable portions should be pal
lated by the circumstances. Mr.. johnson
was irritated by the delay of Congress to
admit the loyal men of Tennessee. 1t was
a trait of his character to shOiU fight, wbeth
er hostile demonstrations came from friends
or foes, and We should cast the mantle Of
charity over his errors. In closing, Mr.. S.
said "the people sympathize with the Prcsi
dent in his desire to see Tennessee admitted
at the earliest possible moment. Other
States should follow under law of the land.
State by State. Surely Congress can define
what constitutes loyal man, and when
States accredit such loyal men, in the name
Of God and OF humanity let us receive them.
This exclusion OF ALL is the cause OF Irrita-
ton let it be removed Immediately. IL the
President refuses then to cooperate with
Congress, then there will be cause for diff
ference"
This Il eech, 1t is said, produced a decided
impression IN the Senate
The Ex-REBEL Vica President STEPHENS
on THE SlTUAuoN.-Alrxander II. Stephens,
late the so-called Vice President of the So
called Confederate States, made Union
speech ga the 22d inst, ut Milledceyille,
Georgia. he tells the Gcorgians tina; they
must cast of their prejudiccs and passions
that they must accept the issues Of the war
and sbide by them in good laith that the war
has brought about a new epoch in their
political existence; that the abolition of
slavery places the Southern blacks under
new relations to the white race, calling for
great changes in tie State laws in regard
to the Isgroes that wise and humane pro-
visions should be made for them; that
"Ample aud full protection should be secured
to them, 80 that they may start equal before
the law in the possession and enjoyment Of
all righls OF personal liberty and property"
ard that the Southern people should cordial
ly identity themselves with the Union and
tine Presidents policy Of Southern restora-
tion. lie makes the following curious con-
iessiOn Of his own private views during the
rebellion:
The old Union was based on the assumption
that il was for the best interests Of the people
Of the United States TO be united as they were,
each State faithfully performing to the people Of
the other States all their obligations under |
common compact. | always said that this as |
sumption was founded on broad. correct and |
statesmanlike principles. think so yet 1t |
was only wht n II seemed 10 be impossible fur |
Their TO maintain j; without hazsrdIng greater |
evils than would PERHAPS attend separation, |
that yiolied my assent, in obedience to the |
voice Of Georgia, TO try the experiment just re-
sulting 50 disastrous,y TO US. Indeed, during /
the irhols Iqmeniabie conficf ii tcas m y opinion
that hOIrereT the pending siTIfe might terminate,
so far the appeal 10 The sirOrd srds Concerned, /
after while, when the passions and excitement |
Of the day should pass away, an adjustment or 1
aTrahgemeHf would be made upon continental
principles, upon general bass of reciprocal 1
advantage and mutual convenience, on which /
the Union was first established
With regard to the freedmen he says:
Wise and humane provisions should be