The Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Ohio) 1863-1886, 1866-03-01
PRESIDENT JOHNsONs VIEWS
AND PALIcY.
- e---- ~ " -
Authorized statenIent from Go-
vernon COx.
WAsuINoroN, February 26


Tho following important letter was
read to night by Governor Cox of Ohio,
to the Representatives. in Congress
from that Slate
aWAsHINoroN, Monday, Fob. 26.
"0encral George B. Wright, Chairman
Union Central Committee, Colum.
bus, Ohio;
"DEAR STR :-On Saturday last had
aniutervicw with the President which
Iregardcd as of sufficient importance
to reduce to writing my remembrance
of his statements while fresh in my
memory. | waited upon him this morn
ing to make known what / had done,
TO ask his veriication of the truth of
my report, and his consent TO make
the same known to tho country. lie
frankly gave his consent and asscntcd
10 the accuracy Of my report.
tTBe President said he had no
thoughts he was not willing to avow
that his policy had simply aimed at
tho earliest possible restoration OF
pcace on the basis of loyalty. No Con
gressional policy had over been adopt
ed and, therefore, whom he entered
upon the duties of his Office he was
lobligcd to adopt one OF his own. lie
had in some sense inherited that Of Mr.
| Lincoln, pithi +vlsieh ho tisouSirU ne
agrccd and that was substantially the
ono which he had carried ont. Con.
grcss had 20 just ground Of complaint
! that ho had dono so, for they had not
seen fitto declare their views, or adopt
any measures ombodying what could
be called policy Of restoration. liz
was satisfied that no long continuance
of military government could bc tolcra.
ted that tho whole country would
properly demand the restoration ol
truly civil government; and not to
give tito lately robellious States, would
bean admission Of the failure Of tlic
administration OF the party which Ind
carried through the war toproyo them
solves equal to the exigencios now. (
E.ylTbc work OF destruction was over
and rebuilding had begun. Military
government alone would not pacify the
South. AT the end of u long period OF
such goyernmepLwo would be no near.
Eer and probably not so noor, tho end
as now, and would have the samo work
ito do. Hence thero is q roal necessity
for ethe adoption Of policy which
should restore civil government just as
The rebellion should be thoroughly cnd-
cd, aud thoso conditions accepted by
the South which were to be regarded
as absolutely necessary TO tho peace oi
the country. Tho proper system o.
Ipacihcation should be ono which tend.
I'd oyefy.whero TO stimulate che loyal
lty of the South rather than 10 impose
upon them laws and conditions by di,
rect external for.o. , a1alj le
Thus, in case Of the Freodmen's Blu
rcau, he was not against tho idea o.
tho bureau in toto, Tor he had used 1t
and was still using it, It might con
tinue for a period Of more than year
but ho had contemplated that either by
IproclSmaton of his own, or by some
action Of Congress, tho condition o
lpeaee and technical ond Of the robeI
Hon would propably bedeclared at som,
Iporiod not very remote; as he under
stood tho present law, tho Bureau
I,night continue II year from that time
\ MEANWHILE. he could say to tho South
j Itdepcbds,on yourselves to say wheth
OF the Bureau shall be discontinued a
an .carly day, for ! will put an end Il
y It just us soon as yon, appreciation 0
il tho freedmen make it unnecessary. p
Thus tho hope of.gettlhg rid Of the in
stitutiatii stimulates them 10 do right
whilo ttey arc not discouraged by tn,
Eidcatbatllh llhoro Is no hope OF aid from
lwhat tlloy regard as a sorts of military
llgovernlhelit Ii onHtho othor hand
lltho Bageau wtre lhade permanent bJ
Legislation, all the objections 10 hat
urged in his message applied in tul
/ lorce to,it; dnd instead OF encourHg
ling the South to loyalty would tcnt
10 make tho hatred Of tho Government
inycteriitc.
elnc sutne principle oiStimulalinI
| loyalty wa shown Ia tho lmanuop h,
had hvld martial law over them, When
over they should show that martial la,
wits not needed, it should be removed
Thoir own conduct would then deter
mine tho matter, and tho earnest desir
and interest OF all the best pooplo b
increased to obey the law, because b
, 50 doing they would hasten the with
drawal OF interference of the miltar
arm in their affairs. in precisely tn
same way he had acto6 in regard
: civil affairs generally in thar sectior
Regarding it as necessary to impos
conditions upon the robellious State
Q which guarantee tho safety Of the conr
b try; aud regarding tho existing oflicoI
/. OF government as having disqual
fed themselves by their treason fc
continuango in pcwor, he depose
them, and established Provisional &,
: vernmonis. LsH ls~
6 "Then ho asked himself what cond
tions ought to bo demapded of then
a and how their disposition to acceI
them in good faith might bo stimuli
: tod by tho conditions, namely: Amen'
: mont of tho State Constitutions c:
D cluding slavery; acceptance ofthe sau
/, amendment Of tho Constitution Of Il
United States; reputation Of tho reb
debt, and admission Of freedmen to VI
D rious rights, &c, TO stimulate the
+ to accept these conditions, being suC
as, using his best judgement, and
tho absence Of any Congressional pla