Delaware Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1843-1874, 1866-04-05
For the Delaware Republican.
RECONSTRUCTION.

For the Delaware Republican.
RECONSTRUCTION.
NO l.
The time has come when the great questions
of the day must TO met In u fair and candid
manner These are not the tunes to deal in
fancies and abstract questions. The vagaries
of past poiitics must be laid aside for the stera
realities Of the facts that surround us. Look
ing upon the grove questions that present
themselves as inBurmountable barrer5 in the
vay of reconsttuction, the lover OF liberty can.
not but feel the necessity tIr preconcerted ac
tiou and united patriotism. Our President
should feel nothing animate his breast but the
love OF country. and the weighty matters that
hang around him to stimulate him IN his
course and draw around hin the great aud
good men who have contributed 30 much TO
crush out the rebellion and restablish the
Union, These msns council and influence
would be host Ia the work Of reconstruction.
Their united Wisdom would poiut the hest ard |
most pleasant way TO place tho late rebel |
States in a situation that they might govern
themselves according 10 the spirit and genius
of our Institutions. The Cabinet should be e
INIT each member having but one aim aud
enc object in view, and that object aud ain
the most feasible plan to reunite our shattsr,
confederation and cement more firmly than
ever tie bunds that made us one. Both
branches OF Congress, ia harmony with the
President and his Cabinet, should be a band
Of brothers in dealing with those who have
trassgressod the law outraged the customs
OF civilization and endeayored to break up the
Government; men whose parsciaal sets have
placed them in the category Of criminals who
should be dealt with according to the most
rigid requirements OF the Law.
A the close Of the rebellion the author OF
this article was in one of the rebellious States,
and saw the feeling experienced by the men
who made war on our institutions and |
spent their best energies i'll the effort to sup |
port and defend slavery. He saw them peu-
niiess without energy, hope spirit, depart
IRON 'neiv benss made desolate; for hearths |
around when there could he nothing hut |
mourning, conquered and subdued men. They |
expected nothing from the North. Thousands |
OF them expected finally to have 10 leave the
country fer crimes they bad committed gaiust
society AID civilization. Many Of them ex-
peritd individual vengeance To tOllsw tnem,
TO ;helr tcr,esi and deal With them ms they
wold have done 70 their Northern friends bad
The ehivary succeeded. They knew they hed |
no political rights they had not forfeited; their |
very lives we're To- Fitted t. the laws and JUS
tice. Laying aside the Congressional con-
sltaction ui the subject of conhscation they !
knew that the law OF conquest had .orfeited |
their titles to lands. They were eware that |
groes were IN better condition th~u many of
thea, f,r they kusw now To Till the soil and
earn their daily bread But not so with the
rebel; he left the trenches, in VIII ch he had
ptriled his life for treason, ragged and
wretehed. lie mate hi5 way toward his
once happy home with sad heart; Il broken
epitit and weary step. He expected to be
convicted Of treason and lose his high estate
in the land--;ls righr of ftlnc liIa, he ex-
pected the negro would be admitted to cit.
iZenship, and that his land would be given to
him tor his suGerings and nnrequited TOLL
Returning home so subdusd how -usily should
the work of reconstruction have progressed
t. completouY How soon could these con-
quorea States haze been re-iustated and the
harmony Of the Union restored Butt this was
not written in the look Of fate. The demon
destruction had not been satated there lad
not been enough tucmOil aud destruction IN
the land; discord And vengeance had not run
riot long enough in the dcsolnted feids apt
dilapida.sd cities OF the South. The cry Wa,
for more blood and blood they had when Lin
coin tell by the hand OF the assassin that tn,
third accidental President might bctrav thos,
vino crushed the rebellion and placed him il
power.
Il Wac known to the world that President
Lincoln would pursue lenient policy to ward,
the rebel States. Bat at the same time It Wal
we'll kno6n that MIR. Lincoln was as firm A,
he wee mild and that he would rigidly enforc,
his views and carry out the line OF policy thai
he had laid down during the rebellion. 1t ID
awell known fact that nations rs well as in
dividuals, vindicate their integrity, and pun
ish oife1 iers il they wish to be respected -
The culprlt pardOued but seldom respects the
hand rom whence came the clemency; and it
is well know historical fact that the people
who receive condescensions from the Govern
ment always look upon that government as
weak and imhecile; and, instead of being
grateful tor fayOrs receiysd are lmpudent and
exartnyr aud al be hrst opportunity offs red
strike At The hand that granted the favor. All
governments are cowsrdiy that trLckle TO
popular ciamor. When PRECEDENT johnson
assumed the reigns OF government the masses
OF tue people of the South were 10 condition
10 submit 10 whatever lite Of police, the prcs
ident might choose to adopt. They were CON
quored and these people hal been educated
70 the OLD dc mocratic doctrnn that TO tue VIC
tor belonged the epoils No one dissen,sl
from that opinion aud it gas evident IN 90
most casual observer that had the Presiden,
maze any require n!ents Of these people he
coh'd NV" hem compiled with. But while
these pi"~atrGus auspices ge;c evident tb,t
az absorbing ambition, that hal rtised A po,,
ooy RON Inv 'Rllor shop To the Presidency.
Whispered 10 the ear OF the accid entail Pref
dent IN a voice low hut firm nthar. i. anotber
IN
yoa itttl@ dreamed eff four ycars in your pres-
snt office is not long enough to satisfy man
ike you; the power is IN your own hands Ia
eleFate yourself and you eau use il. Won can
gan favor in tln eye. OF the southern rehsl,
by placing them in power. Discard Won,
friends that have corq"orrd tho rehetlion,
the office holders Will sick to you. and thnv
added to the democrats North and South 90,
plarH YOU in power. You cua proclaim lar,
ousm ~ every lie you write and gver, sur.cl
yoe maNe, sdd At tn same time tnanaye I,
hhH' Your friends, in the South btheve IA
Sou arc "''- taem. YOU can avow youl ;el
W - ne fo''ned 10 make treason odious bu
uhs COCO cure that every leading traitor
PAr0ot eu asa sent on his way to prepare pub
lie opinion and elecuoueer in favor of Won
The small still voice hat had ,bus e5dre;
sed the third gcciirntai President was rcr,y
nized by him as the one that had awaken
the dominant energies of tho poor Tailor I
Tennessee. 1t WAS ii voice that had imna,lr
hlui On rom one emergency In auotber-th.
same voice that had cheer him az ne elm,
ed The Alpine sleeps, mounted the slipper
glaciers Of adversely. Whenever his ster
Jagged Whenever his muscles became wear
u rts at his tar to cheer hin on, Cd, 10 ii