Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1866-06-07
WHICH Is rHE TRUE POLICY

The opponents Of President Johnson's plan
OF reconciliation are opposed 70 ienient meas
ures. They believe, or profess to Believe that
majority ofthe South are not 10 De trusted,
and that To restore them TO their rights in the
Union n once, and on easy terms, would be
an act ofnatonal suicide.
The Presidents supporters claim, on the
other hand that the late war was wagedyol
Iy for the maintenance of the Union, and that
the object then, shall be the object now. They
afnrm that the surest way to harmonic the
nation is 10 allow every loyal representative
TO take his seat; that slavery being dead, no
human power can revive it; and that motives
of self-interest will prompt the Southern States
TO legislate wisely in reference to free labor
They claim, further, that President johnson
is but carrying out the policy which had been
laid down by his predecessor.
All history teaches that the traces of war
are soonest removed by Cancellation. Without
instancing examples. which will occur to
every reader, such the Norman in vasion of
England, the conquest Of Ireland, the religious
Wars of the Middle Ages, &c, we propose
briefly 20 allude to the events which followed
the termination OF our war for independence
when there was the most bitter feeling on the
part of the Wings against the Tories.
.'It was argued that they deserv we'd no favor;
that their bitter prejudices, their disa ppointed
hopes. their modification at defeat. and their
want OF ~ mpathy with the Government, would
necessarily prevent them from becoming good
citizrns- On the other hard, IL was commended
thai the suIest way of making them friendly
ana extracting bitterness, was TO treat them
with forbearance, and as far a. possible forget
their past conduct; that sin civil war no man
was Justly answerable for anything but in
sincerity IN choosing his side, or inndelity in
adherIng TO it, Those who advocated mild
measures were At frs very unpopular, and
stigmafized as traitors who had loined hands
with the enemies Of their country: but after q
few years reason gained the supremacy over
this feeling, and the Incorporate spirit sub
sided. Refugees were allowed TO return, con-
bscaied property was largely restored. and
those who had waged war against America
became quiet law-abidIng citizens, and even
loving the Government they once despiSed.''
But. Il Is urged, ''treason should be pun
ished-" Has II not been punished Is not the
desoiatIon of the South, the destruction OF
property, the fearful suffering through which
the people passed a terrible punishment and a
warning for all time /, But it is said this does
not reach the le',ders--they should be made an
example of. Have they NOT been, To proud
ambitious, sensitive spirits, who dared all and
failed: who retired from contest they had
needleesiy provoked, defeated, broken. humil-
isted, what greater punishment can be in
fiicted than they already suffer. IL the mere
forfeiture of life TO such men comparable with
the keenness OF torture which attends the
blasting of their cherished hopes and the
downfall of their overweening ambition
Why, men every day commit suicide for a
tIthe of the mental disq uietude which must
affiIct these leaders, against whom vengeance
Is invoked.