Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1866-08-31
JoNHsON's REpUDIATION OF LINCOLN.

1t would be easier to define what is not than
what is the peculiar policy which Mr.. johnson
and Mr.. Seward have invented and submitted
to the South for adoption; yet there are a few
plain principles which underlie it. 1t is based
upon the idea that no legislation of Congress is
required to restore the Rebel States to their for
feited privileges; it assumes that Congress can
demand of them no conditions whatever, but is
bound to admit them on demand to its halls
A State, on this theory, may fight for years
against the Union, and, losing its arms, at once
take part in the government. Or if there be
any preparation of measures or time required,
the President may alone determine the duration
of the penance and the nature of the purgatives.
His policy, in short has for its central idea the
unlimited efficacy of a Presidential amnesty
those whom he has pardoned other men have
no right to question.
This is Mr.. Johnson's policy. That of Mr.
Lincoln is absolutely antipodal 1t is well
known, and the proof is now in the possession
of the Government, that Mr.. Lincoln, near the
close of the war, declared that he had no power
whatever over the reconstruction of the Union
that belonged to Congress. His Messages to
| Congress repeat it, His message of December,
1864 was specially intended to assure the
Southern people of the kindness they would re-
ceive upon their submission; yet he explicitly
| limited the extent of the mercy they could re-
| ceive from him. aSome certain and other pos
sible questions are, and would be, beyond the
Executive power TO adjust; as, for instance, the
admission Of members IL Congress, and whatever
might require the appropriation of money
The EGecattiue pOloer itself aoould be greatly d.
n1i1ished by the cessation of actual aCdr. Par
dons and remissions of forfeitures, however,
| would still be within Executive control" This
was well understood North and South. No
| language could be palmer than this, which, in
promising Executive clemency, limited it to in
dividuals, and expressly disclaimed the power
to extend it so far as to restore States to their
old relations. Jefferson Davis, in his Message
of March, 1865, faithfully repeated these opin-
ions: at will further aforementioned that Mr..
Lincoln declared that the only terms on which
| hostilities could cease were those stated in his
Message Of December last, in which we were
informed that, in the event of our penitent SUBJ
mission he would temper justice with mercy,
and that the question 1ohether zoe lo0ad be gOU-
erned as dependent traitors, or permitted to hare
a representation IN their Congress, lUGs one on
,ohich he could promise nothing but uolich ,oould
be decided By their Congress, after our submis.
sion had been accepted"
1t is useless to say more. When it is proved
that Mr.. Lincoln distinctly declared that the
| admission of representatives from the Rebel
States was for Congress solely to decide, it is
the extreme of effrontery to claim that his pol
icy is carried out by Mr.. johnson, who affirms
that Congress is without any jurisdiction in the
matter.-N Y Tribune.