Daily union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1865-1866, 1866-04-03

recommendations. and give them all the solemn
" and binding force Of organic law
This was the policy of Abraham Lincoln, advOca.
ted and approved by his Cabinet and politica
friends, adopted and urged by Andrew Johnson
and yet, when he has the courage TO say, in tbs
Congress of the United States. as he did in his
mastery message, vetOing the Freedmen's Bureau
Bill
II hold it to be my duty 10 recommend to yor
in the interests of peace and in the interests Of
the Union the admission of every State TO II,
share in public legislation; when. however insub
ordinate, insurgent. or rebelliOus its people may
have been. il presents itself, not only in the atti
tude of loyalty and harmony, but ia the person!
of Representatives whose loyalty cannot beques.
toned under any existing constitutional or legal
test"
he is charged with being traitor to the country
and rs having gone over 10 the Rebels and the
Democrats.
And when the Joint resolution was adopted as
would require for its ratification "scDcn Of N,
Nafes" in rebellOn-when these seven States,
did ratfy it, by acts Of their Legislatures, Score
tary Seward on the 18th Der 1863, officially
announced its ratification and included in the
number the States Of Virginia, Louisiana, Ten.
nessee. Arkansas, South Carolina, Alabama,
North Carolina and Georgia.
By this official proclamation. these States have
exercised the highest function belonging 70 q
State in the Union. They, even rs thus declared
changed by the supreme law, and yet, they are
denied representation IN the Houses OF Congress
10 aid in ordinary legislation.
But this is not all IN lS63-A Abraham Lincoln
proposed a plan for the establishment OF loyal
State Governments in the States then in rebel
hon-and what was his plan? Hear it-and
then tell me. in what it differs from the policy
OF Andrew johnson:
And il is suggested As not improper that in
constructing loyal State governments in any
State, the name Of the State the boundary, the
subdivisions, the constitutions, and the general
code of the laws as before the rebellion. be main
tanned subject only TO the notifications made
necessary by the conditions hereinbefore stated.
These were the abolition of slavery, and taking
an oath to support. defend. protect the COnstitu-
ton, and abide by all laws and prOelamatinns in
reference 20 slavery. 80 far as not modified BY
subsequent legislation or declared void by the
Courts.
TO this plan Abraham Lincoln adhered until
the day Of his death. In his last public speech,
delivered but three days before his cowardly as
sassinstion in reference to his policy Of restora-
ton he said.
The plan was submitted 10 my then Cabinet
and approved by every member Of it,"
Hence, we have seen that from the beginning Of
the war, all through its long and bloody struggle
10 Its glorious termination. the Executive Depart
ment committed itself and the country against
the idea Of defunct States. Loyal men North and
South advocated the same great truth-and thus
Encouraged. they urged upon their people, and the
Nation to sustain the country in its terrible strug
gle.
Eyen-handed Justice demands this policy now
Is well as then. 1t was the platform on which the