The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1866-01-10
The Presidents speeial Message,

President Johnsons special message, which we pub
s iH this ISSUE will be read with more than ordinary
interest, as well as Gen Grants manly report which
aceunpsEl es it. These two documents not only de-
mg,sa tN4 theory upon which the radical programme
is based put they embrace much that is gratifying to
Of Tie south What could be more satisfactory to US
under h circumstances than the presidents unqual-
acl atanent that the south had through their con
duct 15Yn in good faith desire to return to their
relations with the federal Union. From what he says,
is Ient that he considers that the south has done
t -a expected Of her, and all that he asked Of
laE dent to executive clemency Happily for US,
m has through this message placed himself in posi-
1 fhare he cannot stop, and from which he will not
lE eacede. He held out to the olive branch Of
aa nd restoration on certain conditions, which con
a.Gaas he admits, have been fully complied with.
Before ne appearance of this message he might, had
he chose have thrown the whole matter into the hands
of radical congress- with the remark that the subject
was bevond his control; but, instead Of doing that he
has told congress- and the world that the southern
DaopIe have complied with all the requirements prece
dent to their readmission into the Union that they
had, for many months acted the part Of quiet and
loyal citizens that they have given every possible evil
dence that they honest and sincere in their pro-
fessions of desire to return to the Union The issue
between the president and the radicals is broad and
well defined He thinks it is time to declare that the
is at end and to leave the States in the exercise
of their functions as equal members of the Union. On
the other hand the radicals insist upon treating us as
out of the Union, and that the price of admission is
the adoption Of their radical opinions and radical de-
sres Under this state Of things the south occupies
singular postion-in the Union far the executive
is concerned and out of it far congress is inter
ested Even if congress should not heed the presi-
dents appeal, he can do much for us with his Veto
unless the radicals control twohrds of congress-
He also exercise the power still in his hands for
our immediate relief, to the great extent which these
powers reach. He can withdraw the entire military
force from midst; he restore to the writ Of
hagea8 corpus; and he can abolish the freedmens bu-
Should the president elect to do this and it is
not improbable we well afford to wait awhile ard
its effects upon the radicals No serious nconve
nence would result to u.s. while the radicals Of the
present congress would be deprived of the power to
annoy Everything indicates that the president will
stand firmly up to the work he has laid out, and will
not cease his labors until it is fully accomplished.
1t is truly gratifying that Gen. Grant has given the
weight and influence of his to the presidents
policy. His report is plain statement of the facts
he saw them, and not trumped up, vanished one,
concocted to suit the morbid appettes of the radicals
He did not find the south in that condition reported by
the Covode faction, but he did find them honest and
sincere in their professions for a return to the old
Union He trips up the radical theory when he says
is to be regretted that the citizens of the two sections
do not comingle together, particularly the law
makers. The bureau comes in for share of the gen
erals criticism which has already had the effect of
stirring up the head centre to the issuing of new orders
for the purpose of remedying the evils spoken of by
the general
This report of Gen Grant, as well as the presidents
message should be carefully read BY every one inter
ested in the affairs of our country.