The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1867-10-27
COLUMBIA. {.
Sunday Morning, October 81. 1867
I1nreach1asnt---singular ,E1ptossitiOn.,

II
AWashington letter to the Boston
Post, contains, some extraordinary
statements in regard to the policy of
Mr.. Lincoln, in reconstruoting the
Southern. States, which were first
disclosed by General Grant, in, his
testimony before the Judiciary Cm-
peachmeht) Committee OF Congress.
The course pursued by President
johnson, it appears, was identical
with that which had been determined
upon by Mr.. Lincoln; and it further
appears that Secretary Stanton had
drafted for Mr.. Lincoln proclama-
tion, on the subject of reconstruction.
in which he claimed that the whole
power on this subject belonged to the
: Executive Department.
:, The principal charge against Presi-
dent Johnson, by those favoring i'm
peachment, and the one upon which
they rely for his conviction, is that
he attempted to reconstruct the
Southern States, without Legislative
authority, thus usurping Legislative
powers, in violation of the Constitu-
tion. They do not dispute that the
Presidents policy has been consis-
tent, and that it was completely shop-
ed in his first proclamation, relative
to the restoration of North Carolina,
as State in the Union. The policy,
as contained in that proclamation,
has been steadily pursued, whenever
and wherever the President has acted
in the premises. If his policy of re-
construction was violative of the Con-
stitution, and rendered him liable to
impeachment, for high crimes and
misdemeanors, this policy is oil en-
bodied in his first North Carolina
proclamation. The correspondent
then notices General Grants testi-
mony before the committee, as we'll
as Stanton's completely in the matter.
He says:
. s"The General stated that lust
prior to Presidents Lincoln's assassi-
nation, he was called in consultation
on the subject of North Carolina, and
that MIR. Lincoln then read in his
hearing proclamation which had
been prepared, and which he pro-
posed publishing-and, that the pro-
clamation subsequently issued by
President Johnson for the reconstruc-
ton Of North Carolina was the iden-
tical proclamation which had been
prepared by the late President. It
is thus proven by General Grant that
the policy of Mr.. johnson is but the
carrying out of the plans and pur-
poses of President Lincoln. But the
evidence of Mr.. Stanton is still moro
interesting, and shows up the posi-
tion then occupied by the ex-Secre-
tary of War. The fact was drawn
from him that he had drafted pro-
clamation for Mr.. Lincoln, in which
the whole subject of reconstruction
was claimed as belonging to the
Executive Department. He was re-
quested to furnish the Judiciary
Committee with copy of this draft,
and he promised to comply, if the
document could be found, but he
afterward took good care that it
should not be. .found-nor has he ever
furnished the copy"
What will become of impeachment
now? The Posts correspondent is
said to be very reliable gentleman,
and one of the few Washington cor
respondents in whom the public have
confidence. According to his state
ment, Mr.. Stanton's draft of pro-
clamation ignored in toto any inter-
ference, on the part of Congress,
with the subject of reconstruction;
and that, had Mr.. Lincoln lived, he
would have exercised exclusive au-
thority and restored the States by
proclamation.
THEIR NAMES. The New York He
raid, in speaking of the Virginia cleo
tions, says:
A large proportion Of the Southern
blacks under Slaverv were Onlv known