Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1866-03-08


Of interfering with its constitutional right
but he felt like urging upon them aud upon
the country, that this mode of finishing the
work, 80 nearly completed in other respects,
was the only feasible one which had been
presented, and that it was impossible to ignore
the fact that the States were exercising theiI
rights, and enjoying their privileges within
the Union; were, in short restored in all
other respects, and that il is too late to aues
ton the fundamental right Of represents
ton. ,7..
then remarked to him that [ heard il
suggested that legislation could properly be
made by Congress, purely civil in its char.
acter, providing for the protection of the
freedmen by the United States Courts OF
inferior jurisdiction, in all cases where the
States did not do so themselves. He re.
Piled that such an idea could run exactly
parallel to his plan, but he had not thought
1t vet time to fix his own ideas of the pre-.
cisc mode Of accomplishing this. and be.
cause we had O margin of time lasting till
after the next session of Congress, during
which the present Freedmen Bureau could
continue in operation. If before that time
the Southern States should recognize the
necessity OF passing proper laws themselves,
and providing proper system of protection
for the freedmen, nothing further on our
part would be necessary. lfthey did not do
what they ought, there would then be time
enough to elaborate o plan.
He then referred briefly to the fact that
certain men who have been rejoicing over
his veto message, saying, that if these men,
in good faith, adopted the views of the
policy he had himself held and acted upon,
and which he had so fully elaborated in his
annual message, and explained to me that
the country surely could mot have no cause
for sorrow in that IF disloyal men and
rebels everywhere, North and South, should
cordially give their adherence to the con.
ditions of restoration he had uniformly in
sisted upon, he thought that was precisely
the kind of pacification loval men, every.
where would rejoice in. The tnofe they
were committed to such course the better
he should like it. for if they were not sim
cere, they would at least diminish their
power Of dangerous opposition in the fu-
turr. ..f' f....-t ...
HIS ,ohole heart 1ds Nth the body of true
men ,oho carried the country through the
soar. and he earnestly desired to maintain a
cordial and perfect understanding Dith them.
This sentiment and purpose he regarded as
entirely consistent with determined op-
position to the obstruction policy Of those
extremes 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 if
you could meet his straightforward. honest
look, and hear the hearty tones of his voice,
as did, am we'll assured you could be-
lieve with me, that although he may not re.
ceive personal assaults With the forbearanee
Mr.. Lincoln used to show, there is no need
to fear that Andrew johnson is not sincere
in his adhesion to the principles upon which
he was elected. Very truly yours,
Signed. j. d. cox.