The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1866-12-12
THE MESSAGE,

We have received the President
Message since our last issue, and la,
before our readers to-day those part
of itwhicll treat of the most importan
matters, the document being too lons
to publish the whole of it in on
columns. 1t seems that, in spite of TIT
predictions that President johnson
would modify his opinions with regard
to the condition of the Southern States
in order that there might be possibil.
ity ola reconciliation between the Execu
tive and Legislative branches of the gov
ernmenton this important question these
surmises have proved unfounded. 5The
President has not changed in the slight
est particular, but reiterates with in
creased emphasis his former opinions
and argues with even greater ability in
defense of the policy Of reconstruction
which he recommended at the com
Increment ofhis Presidential term
Without indulging in any yituperative
terms towards the Radical Congress,
whose hostility to him is not attempted
to be concealed. he demolishes every
objection that has been raised against
his policy, shows the tabslrdity of the
position held by the Radicals, land de-
monstrates clearly that all the dictates
Of justice demand that the Southern
States be speedily restored to their
rights in the manner in which he point
ed out from the beginning. He shows
the absurdity Of the Radical theory OF
the self-destruction Of the States, and
throws up to the Radicals the fact that
not only the Executive and the Judi
ciary repuliate it, butaithat even the
Radical Congress itself has time and
again in its legislation acted on q CON
trary, hypothesis, He shows the injus-
.tice of making States pay taxes without
representation in the taxing body, a
thing which is so contrary to'a time
honored American principle, We
earnestly recommend the perusal of
this document by all who wish to see
an exposure, from a master hand, of
the injustice and Inconsistency of the
Radical party which now has control
of'the Federal government. g A74 /
But all the Presidents logic, and all
his earnest efforts to do justice to the
Southern people, are thrown away on
the madmen who have recently assem-,
bled in the Capitol at Washington. !; 1t
had been limited by certain over conf
dent individuals that the Radicals, sat
isfed with their victory at the polls,
and firmly seated in power for two
more years, would be willing to listen
to moderate counselss and would en-
deavor to- second the President in his
efforts towards the reconstructions of
the. Southern States. But no sooner
had Congress assembled than the dom
inant party gave unmistakable evidence
of its intention to continue the war on
Mr.. Johnson's policy, and to vent its
on the Southern people to an
extent much greater than had ever be-
fore been dreamed Of They take
away from the President all power and
patronage and do not recognise him at
all in the government of the Country
It is useless to impeach and remove
him, as many of them have threatened,
as they reduce him to mere cypher,
and put it beyond his power to thwart
any of their proposed measures. Mr..
Johnson once, out Of the way, they have
nothing to prevent them from passing
any measures they may see fit for the
and degradation of the
Southern people. They have already
given notice of a bill to abolish all the
state governments, and provide for
them territorial organizations, and
there is no, doubt that it viii pass at
an early day. All the labor and fex-
pense of the last year and ahaIf, which
have brought quiet and repose to the
South, must now 60 for nothing, and
The South must submit to a Radical
government set up at Washington, nm
der unprincipled officers whom she has
and with constitutions con-
forming to the Radical ideas of equal
ity and justice. Within a month more
we may expect the new Radical2pro-
yramme to be in full operation, with
such dire consequences as it is very
easy to foresee. 2 i3li! ] i, lil.s.iE
We have no disposition to comment
1t this time on the prospects of the
South under the regime which the Rad
calls are about to inaugurate. Time
will show the wisdom of the policy laid
1own by President johnson, and the
,aneful effects of the revolutionary