Weekly Calaveras chronicle., 1866-09-01
The Reconstructed.

eye-witnesses to the massacre of New Or
leans, throw light upon the proceedings of
Johnson's reconstructed rebels. and disclose
the spirit by which they are animated, which
Will be somewhat astounding to the few gen.
uine Unionists who still believe in the hon.
esty of the President, and the loyalty of his
reconstructed friends in the South. Upon
the testimony of Governor Wells, who GER
tainly has had ample opportunities to know
OF what he speaks-having been believer
and an advocate and participant in the exper
iment OF conciliatioiI-the whole policy of
the President in the South has been lamen-
table failure if peace and good order, and
promotion OF Unionism were its objects, but
most perfect success, if the rehabilitation
OF the slave oligarchy. and the persecution
and suppression of Uuionists of the South
were the objects sought to be attained. When
the war closed, next after Tennessee, Louis
lana was supposed to be the most advanced
of the rebel States in Union sentiment, and
likely to be among the first to qualify for re-
admission into the Union. Its chief city had
long been in possession of the Union military
force, and Union sentiment had been encour-
aged. protected and promoted by the Gov
ernment under the Administration of Lin
coin, and State Government had been or
ganized under Union auspices, and Union
men elected to its various offices. When
Johnson came into pawer, and inaugurated
his policy of reconstruction, the whole face
of affairs was changed. Instead of assisting
the Union men of the State, and continuing
to develop Unionism among the people, the
rebel leaders were pardoned and patronized,
and admitted into offices of trust by which
they were enabled to control and decide the
fate of Union men. Governor Wells assisted
the President in Louisiana in establishing
this baleful system. He was warned. by Un-
ion men, of the result. They told him that
whenever the rebels held the power, at the
very first election in which they participant
ed, they would prescribe every man who had
not been in the rebel service and fought for
the rebel cause. Governor Wells admits that
the prediction of the Union men has been
verified in every election except in his own
case; and says that he was elected to the
office of Governor for the reason, publicly
avowed by the rebels, that his name at the
head of their ticket would be useful in secur-
inc tho ADM ssiop Of fha;r rohal Ponrosa,to
tives into Congress. The workings of the
Presidents system disappointed Governor
Wells and opened his eyes to its impolicy.
He was satisfied that the peace of the South
could never be secured while impenitent reb-
els were admitted to office, and allowed to
persecute and prescribe loyal men for their
fidelity to the Union. Against his predilec-
tions, he had become thoroughly convinced
that nosmen, who through one of their mouth
pieces. Judge Abell. could charge Grand
Jury that the violation of an official oath was
perjury, when not treason, were deliberately
conspiring to again violate their own official
oaths, and repeal or subvert their Constitu-
ton of 1864, which abolished slavery. He
therefore favored the reassembling of the
State Constitutional Convention of 1864, and
the ratification by it of the Congressional
Amendment to the National Constitution, by
which the rebel leaders are to be excluded
from office until Congress, by the requisite
thirds vote, shall recind their disuual-
ifcation. This was Governor Wells offense
against the President, and occasioned him to
pass the Governor-by and open communica-
ton with subordinate officers in the State
for the purpose of suppressing the Conven-
ton, and preventing the Congressional plan
of reconstruction from receiving the sanction
and ratification of the State of Louisiana
For this purpose Johnson licensed the mob,
and gave orders for the United States army
to assist, if necessary. For this he concur
red in and sanctioned the unparalleled and
iniquitious construction of law, that when
murderous ruffians attack peaceable citizens,
the latter, and not the assailants, shall be
arrested and punished.
1t is sickening to read the tale of horror
narrated in the history of the proceedings of
the mob of New Orleans, and to know that
our Chief Magistrate is the father of the
bloody work, and responsible to God and the
world for it. When such deeds are done
with the Presidents sanction, to accomplish
political purpose, we may well fear that furth-
er violence is in store for us. No better
commentary upon the necessity of carrying
out the Congressional plan of reconstruction
could be offered, than the action of johnson
and his friends in Louisiana. Had loyalty
been made prerequisite to Office and official
favors, service in the rebel cause would not
now be a matter of boasting in the South,
and the hounds who now dog Union men
out of Southern States would have forsworn
secession and all its works, and have shuffled
themselves into the ranks of the conscripted
men. Under Johnson's policy the reverse is
the case, and rebels boast of their treason,
run for Office on their rebel military fame,
and hunt the Unionists out CT their States.
The duty of the Union men of the North is
plain; the Unionists OF the South are enti-
tied to protection, and must have It. If the
Secess,onists are SO deeply embittered against
their Union neighbors that they cannot live
in peace and on fair terms with them. and if
one of the parties there must emigrate, let
the Union men of the North see to it that
the rebels shall do the emigrating.
1MPRovEMENrs.-Messr Peek and Co.