Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1866-03-22

DNaH - ENAN vi lAbAALH @DAAN1Df
One Of the charges which the radicals
persistently make against Andrew john
son is that the policy he has announced
with regard 10 the reconstruction Of the
4 Southern States is inconsistent with his
past course and the principles upon which
he was elected. The radical organ in
this CITY, which has not the boldness TO
come out openly against the President,
insinuates this daily, by garbied extracts
from his speeches and select cuttings
from the radical journals Of the North,
detrimental to his fame. For ourselves,
we think that a very brief examination
Of the platform laid down by the Balti-
more Convention Of 1864, which nomi-
mated Lincoln and johnson, and a refer
ence to the preliminary action of that
body, will satisfy any candid mind that
the inconsistency complained Of is not
with the President but altogether on the
side Of the radicals in Congress. Let Us
make a hasty review;
II is a matter Of history that the the
orv Of Mr.. Lincoln throughout the war
was that the States of the South W
were out of the Union, and that the sole
object Of the war was to terminate an in
surrectien within them, and compel the
resumption of constitutional relations
with the Government. This was the
identical view Of Congress, when by sol
emu resolution il declared that the war
was waged in no spirit OF conquest and
Andrew johnson was well known TO CO.
incide with the President and Congress
on this vital point. With such light be-
| fore il the Republican convention Of 1864
met, nominated lincoln and Johnson a.
I the opponents Of its principles. and
adopted a platform which spoke only OF
bringing rebels back to their allegiance,
and 10 submission 70 the Constitution
and the laws.
The s~ubtugation of the South was no.
where limited az, and the abolition of
slavery was proposed to be effected, not
bv force Of arms, but by constitutional
/ amendment. All Of these purposes have
since been accomplished, rebellion has
/ ceased. the abolition Of slavery has been
consummated, the insurgents have re-
turned to their allegiance and to obedience
/ Ia the Constitution and thelaUs, and the
/ President naturally thinks, the ayowed
| object Of the war having been accom-
| plished, that il is time for the states 10
resume their old position in the Union.
| The conclusion is logical, and how far the
| Convention of 1864, the recOgniZedrepre-
I sentative Of the Republican party, COM
mitted itself to such asequence let the re-
cord show. II is to this that We desire TO
direct particular attention. When the
Convention met. and a temporary organ
ization had been effected, Hon. Simon
Cameron. Of Pennsylvania, rose and
moved that Ell the States be called,
/ including those which were in the mill
tarv possession Of the Confederates.
This Thaddeus Stevens violently opposed,
declaring that he saw in the proposition
more danger 70 the country than from
the rebellion Itself; but in spite OF his
objections, the motion Of Cameron pre-
4 vailed, dudfqH the States WfTc caAed,
from Maine 70 TsrGs, THIS dfsfa7etty con-
forming 10 fHe be0Ty3oo ma then nan
.fqfaeH 5y thC President, that The South
era states could nat, By secession, PIT
Themselves ont Of tho UaiJB.
The cali being proceeded with, Of the
Southern States, Virginia, South Caro-
lima. Tennessee, Arkansas, Mississippi,
Louisiana and Florida presented dele
gates. = committee upon credentials
vss hen Faised. who made a report, in
which fhav proposed that the Southern
delegates should be admitted 20 the priv
iIeges OF tine floor, but not to the rignt oi
voting. The Convention, however, by
the decisive vote Of SIC 10 l5lr oVeFruled
the action of the committee Ia this re-
spect. and admitted gifH fjU rights and
5rifIeges the delegates from Tennessee,
ArkgUza~ and LOuisiaua, three States
whose representatives ROW IN vain KNOCK
at the door Of Congress for admission.
The Others were excluded upon grounds
Of informaIity or insufficient constituent
cies: but the fact that the States they
assumed to represent were called was a
full recognition OF tha equal status OF
those c5mmonwealths with tbs states OF
the North.
Such having been the action Of the
Convention which nominated Dir. john
son. we should like 10 ask whether the
inconsistency lies in the President, who
IS seeking to carry oUt the policy Of the
party which placed him where he Is, or
in Congress. which Is following the lead
of Thaddeus Stevens, whose mad sug-
restiaus were overruled in Baltimore less
than two years ago.
The precedent sell by the Convention is
the guide Of the President whilst Con-
grzss adopts the r~epudiated doctrines Of
Steveus-BGlt8I0re Transcript