The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-03-09

hounds were on Mr.. Lincoln's track four
years ago.
The Reconstruction COmmittee-Its At
tempt to Assist the Republican Party in
the New England Elections.
From the Herald.
The Reconstruction Committee has given TO
the world series Of carefully chosen extracts
from the evidence before it on the condition
of the Southern States. There is now in the
hands of the committee valuable mass of evi-
dence as to the extent TO which the Southern
people are reconstructed in their political sen.
timents. 1t is a pity that it did not suit the
purposes of the fifteen to lay before the world
the whole of this evidence, OF digest of the
whole OF 1t. The information that would thus
have been furnished would have been useful,
and the people could have learned by it the
exact political condition of the late Confederacy
But we could scarcely have expected anything
SO fair from body so bitterly partisan. Instead
of performing its plain duty in this matter, the
committee has given selections from its ma
teral chosen with an especial view to the
effect they may have on the New England elec
tons. 1t sOnos out not faithful report, but an
electioneering document. 1t has garbed the
testimony, choosing for present publication
only such parts as it deems likely to inhame
the public mind against the South, and so to
strengthen the position of the Republican party
in opposing the restoration OF those States.
1t will crafty every true friend of the coun-
try 10 find that this partisan committee gong
through all the evidence before it with this par
tisah purpose in view has been, able to say so
little. 1t will reassure all men and give new
faith in the ultimate success OF the GOOD cause
to find that this notorious Fifteen-this radical
mquistion has not been able after all its labors,
to put forward one good substantial argument
against reconstruction. Opinions are given.
General Grierson 'thinks" that il the disoyal
bad been more severely dealt with there
would have been more loyalty In the South
al present. 1t may be very important that
General Grierson thinks this, and yet very
sensible persons may doubt If the best sort of
loyalty is made in that way. General Grierson
is coghizant that slaves have been told that
when the soldiers went away they "would be
Just as much slaves as ever" This proves that
there sre men down there who will tell lies.
But is the tact that there are some liars in a
given community to deprive all the decent men
Ill that community OF the benefits of law, and to
entail upon the whole country the evils of
anarchy? General Saxton also testi6es. This
general has always been one OF the military pets
OF the radical party. He is "a hero that never
set q squadron in the field, MOI the division of a
battle knows" He is major general, though
it is notorious that he was never in hight. He
owes his promotion not to gallant services, but
to happy choice of political views. 1t shows
the reckless disrespect the radicals have for
what Is good and great, and for public opinion,
when they set up the expressions OF such man
against the very positive declarations of men
like Grant and Sherman.
Testimony IRON General Thomas is included
to give weight and one good name to the docu-
nent But Id giving the honest soldiers story
they had to give the good with the bad, and
though here and there a sentence in what
Thomas says indicates that Rebel thoughts are
still strong in the South there is so much that
is the other way that these utterances OF one
man will alone well nigh destroy the radical
position that the Southern States must be kept
out on account of the sentiments OF the
people. Thomas interrogated as to the feel
inc Immediately after IpniS aurrpn6pr
that the universal report made to him was
Ito the effect that the mass of the people we're
very happy at the downfall OF the Rebellion,
and at their prospect of soon getting again
under the Constitution and Government of the
United States" The "mass of the people, then
were not very good Rebels at that time, and if
they now feel less happy at the prospect of get
ting under our Government is not the inference
inevitable that it is the course of the Radical
Congress that has made the change? "People
in Alabama" says Thomas, think they have
had fair trial in their attempt.to gam their in
dependence, and have failed completely" and
that is the whole point on which reconstruc-
ton turns, and the only peint OF which we
require to be sure, in order to be certain that
restoration is safe and proper, The people are
satisfied that their attempt was failure, and
have thrown away all the thoughts and hopes
it gave rise 10.
Besides this declaration of General Thomas,
and the similar one previously made by General
Grant, all the statements OF the radicals che other
way are trivial and trashy. We might If any
point was TO be gained by it, admit the truth of
all the radicals say in this document, and in
quire-What then? When YOU have shown all
this, what have you proved? What has all this
got to do with reconstruction? with constitu-
Iional rights and national policy Nothing what
ever All this rehash of the idle gabble OF Schurz
is impudently irrelevant as to the great question
| before the country. 1t is an examination of the
pitiiul points OF peoples life, OF their prejudces
their small vices, their likes and dslikes-things
| with which the law does not meddle in countries
| N oil thndn fln
| points are quoted against the South, and great
| party tells us that these are reasons why the
nation should not reestablish itself its former
strength, and should not restore eleven great
| States to their natural places. Did great party
ever before put forth anything so lost in fmbe.
cility as this?
The Test Oath.