The Greene County Republican. [volume] (Waynesburg, Pa.) 185?-1867, 1866-06-06

son South, and the outraged Indignation
of the North, answer Let tho Presl-
dent himself answer. as he tells us that
in exchange for all this he has given us
that a omenable and rotten thing--"My
Policy"
1t is useless now to rocapitulate the
acts OF almost Il year ago-useless to
speak of the steady growing doubt and
pain Of the people through the months
of the summer and autum following his
elevation to power. Yet 1t was those
acts OF his, his course at that time, that
laid strong the foundations and made
secure the corner stone upon which was
upreared the editice that threatens the
welfare, security, and even the hate of
the nation toSday.
Had we not then withheld our hands.
his hands would have been powelless
for evil. Had we not said, "Wait," he
would have had time to consummate his
iniduity. Had we not slept with the
harvest Of the war Hndcr our care, the
enemy could not have stolen in and
Sowed tarcs. Slept My friends we
are awake now!
Said one to Cromwell, while he was
fighting for the liberty OF oil England,
at thou vert to meet the Kingin battle
what woulds thou do?' ST the King
should meet me in batllo' was the reply
II should kill the King Because
believe the President OF the republic to-
day to be the greatest enemy OF the re-
public, | would have him politically so
slam that tor him there should be Meth.
er need fprayer nor hope of resuriec-
ton. Politically / say, physically, he
need have no fear. It's his old foes.
not his old friends, tho party to which
he has gone not that from which he has
deserted, that breeds murderers and
fights with the weapon OF assassination
q weapon not TO be used on so faithful
and devoted a servant.
Andrew Johnson has declared, "Io
who is rot for me isagalnst me- re who
supports my policy is my friend, he who
opposes it is my enemy Ii this were
all, it would be little indeed, but he has
declared further, "IIc is a Union man
who sustains my Union restoration poll
cy, and none other" 1t behoovos us
then to look to this policy, standing as
the touchstonc by which every mans
loyalty in the land is to be tested to>day.
Months, nay years ago, Congress
passed confscation act by which leads
ing traitors should be compelled to re-
pay somewhat to the nation of the losses
they had cntailed on it through the war.
a contiScation act which Andrew john
son declared to be too lenert and tens
der by half. Leading and CONSCIOUS
traitors must be punished, said he, their
lands taken away, their social power
broken. The land thus confscated TILED
by the freemen, enriched by their toll,
more valuable than when they tell into
our hands, Andrew Johnson has restor
ed to their old Rebel owners-a premi~
um set on treason by giving more than
was taken away.
"No man shall be qualified for power,
nor be able to take oath OF Office, who is
not also able to take the test oath of
present and past loyalty to the United
States," said Congress. "lVho is TO do
this work Of ofrestoration? Certainly not
the Rebels who have fought, or those
who have given AID or influence to the
Rebel cause responded the President
then ran with swift feet to appoint Perry
and johnson, 'Sharkey and Marvin.
Governors, Judges, Collectors, officials
innumerable-not one of whom could
take the oath, nor stand the test Con-
gress and himself had prescribed.
"Treason Is the greatest of crimes and
must receive the greatest OF punish
ments," said Andrew johnson then
signed the death>warrants of few hired
cut~throats in Washington, and turned
to grasp the hands of Lee and Stephens
Floyd, Toombs, Johnson, Morgan and
Beauregardi turned to watch the great
criminal, traitor,a and assassin, till the first
flame of indignation had burned itself
down, till it was no longer possible to
try him by tribunal that would mete
him out justice, till it was allowable to
give him the farce of a trial, that will
release him, acqut him, tail to condemn
him, or condemn him to Executive elem
ency and pardon.
"The pardonlng power should be us.
ed most slowly and sparingly. We
must not forget that what may be mercy
to the individual is cruelty to the Stste." l."
Thus said Andy Johnson year ago ;
then pardoned all, save a few executions