The Potter journal. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1857-1872, 1866-10-09
TERMS $3.50 PER ANNUM.

succeed. I believe that should you pro-
nounce firmly, and with dignity and with
emphasis, such verdict as | believe yqu
are about to pronounce, it will not only
make the familiars Of this bad man. fall
away from him, but that the Southern
people themselves, instructed by The fact
that the masses of the free States who, con;
quered them at the ballot-box in 1S60,and
conquered them in the battle field in 1865;
are equal to conduct this Government; and
intend to conduct it; that the destinies of
this continent are in the hands of the mert
who saved it from treason. | believe that
when they appreciate the fact that nothing
is to be realized by any further resistance;
and nothing but injury and disaster 10
themselves is to result from any ftrther ad-
herence to Andrew Johuson, or any sec
onding Of his wild and frenzied policy,
they will at once accept the situation, and
not only ratify the new or 14th article
proposed to amend the National Constitu-
ton, but will, as an act of self-defence and
self preservation, confer upon their manu-
mitted millions all their civil and politicsl
rights including the right Of suffrage. The
signs of the times are all pointing TO sucH
sequel. Within few days past the New
York Hcrald, which has been the organ
of Andrew Johnson, and the mouth-piece
of all the sympathy with treason during
the rebellion-the newspaper which ridi,
culed the constitutional amendment which
denounced the civi-rights bill, which has
been encouraging the unfortunate man In
the Presidential chair in all his mistakes
and follies, accepts the situation, and, an-
ticipating the future frankly declares that
it is the duty of the President to accept
the decree Of the people as shown in the
result Of tie Maine election; and to enuu-
ciate the congressional plan Of reconStfuc-
ton as his own. Now, newspaper like
the New York Herald does not perpetrate
so complete transformation WITHOUT hav-
ing carefully considered all tic signs and
prospects. 1t has counted the chances3
and hence we may readily anticipate, that
when the New York Herald, which has
been more particularly the organ Of the
South for twenty five years tha6 any news.
paper in America, speaks in this wise, ttsisf
the Southern people themselves will do as
have indicated they would. The returti
of Henry Ward Beechet to his allegiance
is another indication not less pregnant.
Here was man who might well have
been called the Star of the Morning, the
leader of more men and women than any
individual in America. For some reason1
in moment of delusion or in moment
Of infatuation, which cannot be solved by
his nearest acquaintance, and which shed
dismay over his large congregation, he be-
came the apologist Of Andrew Johrson's
policy, and it is related by those who knew
him, that from the time he committed this
mistake, be became an urhapPy fhan.
Certain it is, that from having been a lead
er and teacher of influence, he was grad
ually sinking into q dribbler until finally
the tempest of blood and death, which at
New Orleans made tie 30th of july, 1866,
repetition of ST. Bartholomew, came to
release him from his errors, and be has
spoken in two letters his full and complete
conversion to the cause from which lie mo-
mentarily strayed. When Henry Ward
Beecher wrote his first lteters, he was vel
coined by the South as convert welcom-
ed too by the South at period when they
were preparing themselves to accept the
full or rather partial punishment for Their
treason. Mr.. Seward himself, in passing
through Erie few days ago, advised ~
associates that they should make this first
letter of Mr.. Beecher campaign docdment,'
for the purpose Of circulating it among Tho;
Republicans and Others who had BELIEVED
in the example and counsel5 of this re-
markable man. These two Instances show
how the truth is at work among our olpo-
nents, and how steadily the great princi-
pies for which we are contending are max.
ting their way through all prejudice aitf
bigotry in the face Of all the threats aipl
bnbes Of the Executive. 1t is precisely
this condition. of things which n1uSt react
upon the Southern people. The Peo,',,
must have long been misled and oppressed,
Nowhere upon Gods globe has any COM
munity been so used and misoS9l, 50 pr
verted to the basest purposes, and 50 stepped
in ignorance. 1t is no wonder 5lat when
the pIausibilities of Calhoun and JeiftrSor
Davis ripened into revolution that they
threw themselves into these theories aal
fell into dishonorable graves. Nor is it
any wonder that after Andrew Johnson
had mounted the PresideRtial eti;ti;r over
the murdered body of Abraham Lincoln,
and pronounced himself as it were, a new
Jefferson Davis, and became in-fict the rep
rcsentative Of their buried hopes 5hc South,
thus encouraged should readily have ac-,
cePted the tempting offer, and have r,liep
themselves under his standard, believing
that when he appealed to the people she
! North and Northwest. who. they bad been