The day book. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 1857-1867, 1866-01-12
A WORD OF CHEER FROM
MASSACHUSETTS,.

tne OCaLe government.
1t is a remarkable document, and takes
strong grounds in favor of speedy recon-
struction of the Union.
He comedies with the President in his re-
construction policy, and is for recognizing
the States at once, and giving them their old
position in the Union by the aid of such in
strumentalities as are to be most readily
found and expecting not too much from
them in the outset, involved as the greater
portion Of the citizens South were in the en-
deavor to overthrow the Government, he
would yet trust them; encourage them with
the hope and expectation CT finally seeing
them determined and cordial supporters of
the Union.
He congratulates his people upon the stand
taken by Mas achusetts in support Of the Gov
eminent, and begins the discussion of the pres
ent state of affairs by assuming that the States
in revolt never were out of the Union, insist
ing that State in rebellion" does not cease
to be State.
off (he says they had conquered the Union,
they might have become independent, or what
ever else it might have been stipulated they
should become by the terms of an ultimate
treaty of peace. But being conquered, they
failed in becoming Independent, and they
failed in accomplishing anything but their own
conquest. They soere still States-though bel
ligerents, conquered"
After laying down the conditions upon
which the States in question should be read
mitted to all the privileges of the Union, not
acceding to which, the Government should
consider them as still in " state of war;" he
says:
1--WE are DESTROYS of their reorganization,
and to end the use of the war power But l
an, confident we cannot re-organize political
society with any proper security IL. Unless
we let in the people to a cooperation, and not
merely an arbitrary selected portion Of them.
2. Unless zoe give those ,cho are By their intel
hgence and character. the natural leaders Of
the people, and soho surely soN lead them By
and-by, an opportunity to lead them moso"
The Governor goes on to say that he is
aware that it " has been a favorite dogma in
many quarters, No rebel voters But it is
impossible in certain States to have any voting
by white men, if only loyal men, l. e. those
who continued so during the rebellion, are
permitted to vote The true
question is, now. not Of past disloyahy, but Of
present loyal purpose"
He goes on to show that we must not de-
ceive ourselves as to the supposition that any
considerable portion of the Southern people
were Unionists, and that where there were
Union men, they were not, in a general way,
"the positive men. They were with very few
exceptions not the leading minds, the coura-
geous men, the impressive and powerful char
acters, they We're not the young and active
men, And wien the decisive hour came, they
| went to the wall II "All honor to
the loyal few But l do not regard the dis
tinction between loyal and disloyal persons OF
tie white race residing in the South, during
the rebellion, as being for present purposes, a
practical distinction. 1t is even doubtful
| whether the comparatively loyal few with
certain prominent and honorable exceptions,
can well be Disseminated from the disoyal
mass.
He then takes view which must be patent
to all, and it is that talent will vfndicate its
prerogatives in the South, and that it is idle
to suppose that in the new order of things, it
will be crowded on one side of mediocrity.
He maintains that "they whose courage,
talents and will entitle them to lead, will lead
and he says further, pertinently and signif-
cantly: II only know that we ought to de-
mand, and to secure, Incorporation of the
strongest and ablest minds and the natural
leaders Of opinion in the South. If aoe cannot
gain their support Of The just measures need
full for the aoork Of safe reorganization, reor-
ganization aoiH be delusire and full Of danger9'
He adds:
d" Why not try them They are the most
hopeful subjects to deal with, in the very ma
turs of the case, They have the brain, enc
the experience, and the education, to, enable
them to understand the exigencies of the pre-
sent situation. They have the courage, a
we'll as the skill, to lead the people in the di
rection their judgements point, in spite of thei
own and the popular prejudice. Weaker men
those of less experience, who have less hole
on the public confidence, are comparatively
powerless."
AS was to have been expected, he favors
negro suffrage, but in other respects he is fal
in advance of many leaders in his State, who
were considered as hitherto acting with him