The New era. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1865-1871, 1866-11-22
TIFF, LINCOLN POLICY.

/ 4
Stanley, while he was acting as Military
Governor of North Carolina, in 1862. 1t
shows clearly what he regarded as the
actual relations of the States in rebel
! lion, to the Federal Government. Mr..
Lincoln never for one moment treated
those States as out of the Union, or init
mated All opinion that their existenceas
States had ceased. Hence, he recognized
them as States, and desired to have
them represented in Congress, even
While the rebellion was in full progress.
His theory was, that the rebellion did
not, and could not, unless finally tri-
umphant sunder their connection with
the Union, or essentially change the re-
lations to it as integral parts thereof
President Johnson's theory is the same,
and III the Wisest manner he is endeaVor-
ing to carry it out. In his efforts at re-
construction he has hot departed an
inch from the path marked out by his
predecessor, and every reproach cast
upon him for these efforts, is dishonor
to the memory Of him for whom the
revilers of President johnson profess to
have the profoundest veneration:
EXECUTIVE MANSION, WASHINGTON,
September 29th, 1862.
Hon. EDWARD STANLFY-My Dear
Sir. Your note informing me that you
will leave for North Carolina soon, is re-
ceived. Your conduct as Military Cover
nor of that State, as reported to me by
Gen. Burnside, and as | have heard it
personally from yourself, has my entire
appreciation and it is with great salts
faction that ] learn you are now to re-
turn in the same capacity, with the ap-
probation Of the War Department.
shall be much gratitied, if you can
find it practicable, to have Congression-
al elections held in that State before
January. It is my sincere wish that
North Carolina may again govern her.
self conformably TO the Constitution of
the United States.
Yours, very truly, a. LINCOLN.
BY this letter it appears, that in the
apinion of Mr.. Lincoln, all that was
necessary to restore the insurgent State
of North Carolina to her Constitutional
relations with the Union, was the elec-
ton of members of Congress. This
opinion he maintained to the close of
his life,-and were he now at the head
Of the Nation there car be no question,
he would advocate, IS President john
son does, the admission Of Senators and
Representatives to Congress who could
take the oath prescribed, not only from
North Carolina, but from all the States
lately insurgent. It is true President
Lincoln was abused and vilified by GER
tain extreme Radicals for advocating
such policy, as the following extracts
from the manifesto of Ben Wade and
III. Winter Davis issued in 1864, will
show
We have read, without surprise. but
not without indignation, the Procla-
nation of the President, Of Sth July,
1861.
The supporters of the Administrator
are responsible to the county for its
conduct; and it is their right and duty
to check the encroachnents OF the EX-
ecutive on the authority of Congress,
and to require it to confine itself to its
proper sphere.
so lar as IL the PrOclamatlOn) con-
tains an apology for not signing the bill
Congressional plan of reconstruction it
is political manifesto against the
friends of the Government.
So far as it proposes to execute the
bill which is not a law it is a grave EX-
ecutive usurpation.
The President proceeds:
Now, therefore, I, Abraham Lin
coin, President Of the United States do
proclaim, declare and make known that
while am las l was in December last,
when, by proclamation, propounded
plan for restoration) unprepared by
formal approval Of this bill to be in
f1exibly committed to any single plan
of restoration.
That is to say, the President is re-
solved that the people shall not by law,
take any securities from the rebel
States against renewal OF the rebellion
before restoring their power to govern
US.
The President persists in recognizing
these shadows of governments in Ar
kansas and Louisiana, which the Con-
gress formally declared should not be
recognized.
The Presidents proclamation holds