The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1866-03-01


their disposition TO accept them in good faitl
might be stimulated The conditions were
namely: Amendment of State Constitution
excluding slavery; acceptance of the same
amendment of the Constitution of the United
States; reputation of rebel debt, and admis
SION OF freemen TO various rights, &c. Tc
stimulate them to accept these condition,
being such as using his best judgment, and
IN the absence of any Congressional plan, be
thought the nearest to right of any he coulC
frame, he engaged that on their acceptance
with evidence of good faith be would permit
them 10 recognize their State Governments
elect Legislatures, &C., and so far as execu
tive acts could do, would restore them TO thei
position in the Union of States. They had SC
Tar accepted his conditions that he regarded
the experiment a success. He had reorgan
lied the Post Office Department among them
had reopened trade, and removed restriction
thereon through the Treasury Department
and in like manner in all Executive Depart
ments, reorganzed them as States in ths
Union, only keeping enough military held tc
protect the freedmen and to induce them tc
do something more thorough in that direc
ton.
Now but one thing remained in which those
States did not exercise full rights of States
IN
this he had advised that some principle o
stimulating loyalty be applied He would
admit only such representatives as are in fac,
loyal men, giving satisfactory evidences oil
this. Whenever State or district sent loval
man, properly elected and qualified, he would
think 1t right TO admit him the same as if he
was from any other State, and he would admi,
none but such loyal men. so that other States
or Districts might be thus induced to elec,
and send similarly. When they had ali done
this their representation would be full. and
their work would he done Such was hi.
plan. He did not ask to be Judge Of election,
and qualifications of ofmembers of Congress n,
OF their loyalty. Congress is its own iudoe
and he had no dream of interfering with its
constitutional rights, but he felt ike urg;no
upon the country that this mode of fin.
lshing the work SO nearly completed in other
respects was the only feasible one that had
been presented. aud that 1t was impossible to
i,ynore the fact III 1t The States were exercising
their rights and enjoying their privileges
within the Union, were in short restrained IN
oil other respects, and that it il too late IN
question the fundamental right of representa-.
ton.
then remarked to him that / heard il
suggested that legislation could properly be
made by Congress purely civil in ;ts cb.,ac.
ter providing for the protection of freadrnor
by United States Courts Of ;nferioy ;r,,s.;c.
ton in all cases were States ind moi do q
themselves.
/ tie replied that such an idea wou,d run
exactly parallel to his plan. but he had not
thought 1t yet time tn fix his own ideas Z the
precise mode OF accomplishing this, and be.
cause we hada margin Of time lasting til after
the next session of Congress. during which
the present freedmen's bureau could continue
In operation; If before thatitime the Southern
States should recognize the necessity of mas.
sing proper laws themselves. and providing q
proper system of protection for freedmen.
nothlng further on cur par, would be neces.
sary 1t they oid not do what they ought,
there would then be time enough to'elaborste
a plan.
lie then referred 10 the fact Of men who
nave been rejoicing over his veto message
saying that IT these men in good faith adopted
views OF his policy, he had himself held aud
acted upon. and which he had so fully elsbo.
rated IN hls annual message and explained
10 me, the country surely could have no cause
Tor sorrow IN that. If disloyal men and
rebels, everywhere, North and South, shonld
cordially give their adherarce to conditions
OF restoration, he had informally insisted
upon, he thought tha. was precisely the kind
q .raci6cation loyal men everywhere would
rejoice in.
The more they were committed 10 such d
course the better he would ike it. for If then
were not sincere they would at leas, diminish
their power Of dangerous opposition in the
future His whole heart was with the bod,
OF true men who had carried the country
through the gar, aud he earnestly desired tc
MAINTAIN cordial and perfect understanding
with them. This sentiment and purpose be
regards as entirely consistent with his deter
m'ned opposition to the obstruction poicy q
those extremists, who, as he believed. would
keep the country in chaos till absolute ruin
might come upon us.
Such, my dear sir, is the statement of the
President on this important matter. and !
you could meet his straightforward, homes
look, and hear the hearty topes of bis voice
as ! did, am well assured you could believe
with me, that although he NAV not receiv,
/ personal assaults with the forbearance Mr.
Lincoln used TO show. there is no need Il
fear that Andrew johnson is not sincere il
his adhesion TO principles upon which he wa
elected. Very truly yours, j. d. Cox.