Baton Rouge tri-weekly gazette & comet. [volume] (Baton Rouge, La.) 1865-18??, 1866-09-18

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groes even In the District of Colun.
bia, and only in an indirect way, not
as political right, but as the hoped
for result Of political selfshness did
they provide for it by an amendment
of the constitution. What was
prophecy with me Congress has
made history.
Relinquishing political instru.
ments for gaining the full enfran-
chisement OF men, instantly turned
to moral means, and enunciating the
broadcast doctrine of manhood suf-
frage. | gave the widest latitude TO
that, advocating the right Of black
and white, of men and women to
the vote. If any man has labored
more openly, on a broader principle,
and with more assiduity, 1 do. not
know him. More ability may have
been shown, but not more directness
of purpose, nor undertaking consist
ency. ! attribute the recent misun-
derstanding, in part, to the greater
excitement which now exists to the
narrowing of the issues, and to the
extreme exacerbation which Mr..
Johnson's extraordinary and injudi-
cious speeches have produced. TO
this may be added my own indispo-
sition to join in criticism upon the
President, and the fact that I urged
a modified form of that policy which
he, unfortunately for its success,
holds, Upon Mr.. Johnson's access
sion, | was supremely impressed
with the conviction that the whole
problem of reconstruction would
practically pivot on the harmony of
Mr.. johnson and Congress. With
that we could have secured every
guarantee and every amendment Of
the constitution. Had united Gov
eminent said to the South, promptly
backed up as 1t would have been by
the united North: tsWith. slavery
we must take out of the constitution
whatever slavery put in, and put in
whatever slavery, for its own sup
port, left out" there scarcely can be
doubt that long before this the
question would have been settled !;
the basis of representation in the
South conformed to that in the North,
and the principle the most funda-
mental and important Of all might
have been established in the consti-
tuition; namely, that manhood and
full citizenship are identical. Such
great changes required two things,
viz: Promptness and unity of coun-
sci. To secure these, bent my
whole strength. / urged the purga-
ton of the constitution. / reasoned
against mutual distrust, and plead
for unity of Governmental action. /
did all that I knew how to do to
confirm the President in his war be-
gotten zeal against slavery, to pre-
vent such suspicious and crimina-
tons as would tend to preserve in
his mind his prejudices and bring on
relapse into his former hatred of
Northern fanatics. ! thought I un-
derstood his nature, and the extreme
dangers at such a critical time of
irritating proud, sensitive and pug
nacious manof Southern sympathies,
little in sympathy with Northern
feelings or ideas, and brought into
the very leadership OF those men and
that train of principles which he had
all his life hated and denounced.
That he was sincere and tenacious
would make the case all the more
difficult. | thought | foresaw that
division between him and Congress
would be the worst disaster that
could befall us; that the practical
test of true craftsmanship just then
was not to be found in theories or
PHILOSOPHERS, however sound, but in
securing and confirming Mr.. john
son in his then dispositions. Upon
the assembling of Congress, / went
to Washington. ! found Southern
men lying PROSTATE before Mr.. John
son, and appealing to his tender
heartedness, for he is, q man of kind
and tender heart, 'disarming his
warm anger by utter submission. /
found Northern men already uttering
suspicious Of his fidelity, and, con-
scious of power, threatening impeach-
ment. The men who seemed alive
to his danger were unfortunately not |
those who had the management of |
affairs. Bad counsels prevailed. The |
North demanded and the South sued. |
We see the consequences. Long |
after l despaired of seeing the Presi-
dent and Congress harmonious, l felt |