The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1866-09-12
SPEECH OF CARL SCHURz.
The Problem of"Reconstruction."
No Solution of it in my Policy"
Tho Reactionary Movements at
the South.
Result of the Rebels Obtaining
Power.
Republicans! Forward into Line

General Carl SChurZ, on Saturday
evening, delivered at the National Hall,
very effective and eloquent speech,
from which we make the following ex-
tracts. They will all repay perusal:
When the civil war had come to "a
close the problem presented itself OF
what Is commonly called RECONSTRUCT
ton. The principal difficulty of that
problem consisted then, and consists
now, in this: The political system OF
this Republic rests upon the right ofthe
people to control their local concerns in
their several States by the operations OF
self-goVernment, subject to certain re-
striCtions imposed by the national Con-
stitution, and in the right to cooperate
with one another in the government OF
the whole. This system was not to be
changed in the work of reconstruction;
but it was evident also that if recon
struction was 10 accomplish only the
mere setting in motion again of the ma
chinery OF government as it had been
previous to the war, and nothing else,
it would have forthwith invested the
very people who had been in rebellion
against the Government with the po W.
er in a great measure to control the very
results which had been won, and
against which they had struggled; and
this would have been a surrender OF
the consequences of our victory to the
discretion of the defeated.
Here was difficulty which struck the
mind of every candid man at first sight.
The immediate and unconditional re.
stOrRtiOn of the rebel States to the nbsO.
Lutte control of their home affairs and to
power in the General Government, was
so obviously incompatible with tho best
interests and sacred obligations of the
Republic, SO manifestIY against all
common sense, that when one of thG
greatest heroes of the war, led astray
by a too generous error of Judgment
admitted it as one of the StiDulntiODs Ol
an armistice, the people, startled out oi
their eQuanimity bythe mistake, raised
general OutCry against him all over
the loyal States; the President himself
repudiated the proposition with the ut
most promptness and decision, and
some of the journals which now ndvo.
| cate similar policy were among the
lOudest in their expressions of indig-
nant denunciation, calling 1t either
madness or treason. The hero l speak
of undoubtedly soon saw his error, and
the country remembers nothing but the
gratitude it owes him.
In fact, all those who had been faith.
full to the national cause during the
war substantially agreed, at it's close,
on two points with almost unbrOk en-
una nimity. First, That AS speedily as
possible all the attributes of our demo-
cratic system OF government should he
restored; but, second, that tho rebel
States could not be reinstated in the
full control OF their local affairs, in
their full participation in the Govern
ment Of the Republic, until, by the i'm
position OF irreVeTSible stipulntions, il
should have been rendered impossible
for them TO subvert or impair any OF
the results of tho war, or to violate nnV
OF the obligations the Republic had ta-
ken upon herself This appeared SO
reasonable, and, in fact, 80 absolute Il
dictate of common sense, that no man
with any pretensions to patriotism OF
AtatesmRnship objected To it.
Least of all did Andrew johnson oh.
ject to it. No man insisted more siren.
IOusly that the participants i'll the ro.
belliOn must be punished aud stripped
of all political power and social in1Iu.
ence, aud that the government OF the
States, aS we'll as of the nation, must bt
cOnGidcd exclusively TO the tried and
cver-faithfuI friends OF tho Republic
Nay, he was so fierce and radical in
those days that many OF us begnn 10 bC
seriously alarmed lest, by shedding the
blood Oi too many victims, by too Sc.
we're exnctiOns, by too merciless and
sweeping prescription, he might
offend the humane spirit of this nge
and cast n RhndOw upOns the fair cscut-
cheOn of this republic. Wo have
learned to know him better by this
time. Nobody fears that he Will hang
too mnny traitors now. He tells us that
he Is going tho round OF the circle, and
is just now at tho other end; and VIZ
have every reason TO believe It. Bu
lot that pass.
Cast look bnck upon tho days i'm
nedintely following tho close Of th'
wnr-thOse days of promise. How CnsS
was II then To accomplish all TINT woulI