New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1867-08-12
THE SOUTHERN STATES.
THE PROGRESS AND IMPLEMENTS VI ~"
i'''' CONSTRUCTION
,,,.,,sc,,,r y Johnson on THE REPUBLICAN
PARTY.

W, I,,,e commented in The TRIBUNE
IN - IN a Committee of Atlanta ia @
OI 'D' - ievrs In part upon the scheme Oh 49, ~.
tot,n,, odopted by Congress and onere" " ~oots
,roscribed states for their acceptance -. - a aud
re intended 10 be severe; they are also S1 %
N those who may agree with nue. 'oue' 80 hoo talt
'.,,o not go iptend,d by you. shoulu nav w
-, 40 or had published the letter. which, Oeho'
&c, ~ dome | claim no right 10 its puOnoalOH s
TuE TsrBUNE for fully recognize your Isus and
- reject whatsoever you may deem eAPo ere
one, therefore prefer complaint on 'iii9 "ctAd
though from your usu a fairness niis' = ~
Won 70 pursue a different course 49,. +ho
'VT tn Go ~ The North and am sure that the
remark il NOT applicabIe even yourself ana very ~
OF the editors and leading men OF tha' C cd
informed Of the true condition OF Things III "o SO w
the other nine States which are termed dsoya ESpo
sally are they not informed OF the real leehgS anu
e.. ~ those who are adverse to the Congressional
soherne Of reconstruction If they were, would IAN
hone that the policy of the dominant power would DO
less exactng and prOscrpve, not to say oppressive II
those who lead public sentiment N your portion OF tne
Union be true patriots and statesmen their real desire is
10 prcmote the welfare of whole country ana perpe
nate oood g9pJt1aent in cOnradiStmctOn to mere party
asoendapcv This certainly should be the ann OF al
good men, you that no other 1eelng mas Paoo
in my breast never, in my whole hfe chelSheu son
timept or did an act intentional hostility to the Con
stution of the United States or to the Union OF the
states based upon it, according to my honest opinion OF
ts spirt and meaning The late has wrought great
changes i'm the Southern States and has brought before
the people OF the Union. for final decision many
grave questions, involving, in my poor Judgment
the character and destiny of our Government
Indeed constitutional liberty itself is in great peril
This ia my honest conviction. Statesmen should survey
onr SURROUNDINGS with the view Of averdng that peril
rather than the maintenance of party ascendency NO
man can more ardenty desire the restoration OF the
Union upon the principles Of the Constitution than uo
submit to all the legitimate results Of the war, ana
would gladly adopt any plan Of reconstruction which
would not seek to impose terms upon us inconsistent
with those results and calculated to imperil constu
tOnal liberty You seem TO think that am iacuousIy
opposed the Congressional schemes that WISH 10 pro
long and aggravate present political disturbance anu
discord; that actuated by spirit OF dSloyaIty
that throw the small mite of my poor influence into the
scale Of strife and discomfort Little de you Know ana
Less do YOU appreciate my earnest lOngngs for peace
harmony prosperity national equality and justice Inc
scheme of reconstruction offered to processes TO extend
TO us the right OF choosing by vote 1t calls on us 10 say
whether we for against convention such as thaV
scheme contemplates When L. In the exercise OF that
volton express myself opposed to 1t, you and the
other leading Republicans of the North who consider my
DOOR opinions worthy be noticed infer theretrOm that
am disloyal factous, and rebchous IL those VINO are
opposed to that plan of reconstruction are thus 10 DO
branded, why call to choOsef II we De Hee 10
choose is IL quite consistent charitable and just to de-
desire that we shoudi AVE. than this to threaten
US with perpetual Acknowledgement and contscaon
we do not 50 chOOsel is that the to establish state
Governments deriving their just powers from the con
sent of the gOvernedi 1t is true am dsranchlseu-l
am not permitted under the Sherman Dill but
did not know that therefore, not at liberty TO
write and speak freely my fellowctzens, without
being denounced as dsOya and fact0us Ipofess 10 De
LOYAL to the constitution and intend to be loyal to the
Union when it shall be settled that Georgia constitutes
one OF the States Of the Union. But loyalty means
fidelity and adhesion to the Republican party, L
shall never belong it be loyal 70 it, so long as IL
persists in course policy which must end in the over
throw Of the Constitution. have taken the oath OF am
nesty and intend keep it, in good faith in letter ana
spirit 1t binds to support the Constitution Iha'
will do 70 the best Of my ability 1t binds me 10 support
the emancipation of the negroes from Slavery That
intend 70 do and favor their Investment by law WITH
every right that is consistent with their welfare the III
terest of weorganized society and the perpetuaooh
good government More than this you Woulu ho' ASK U
me We NAV differ honestly to what rights are oou
pae with these ends but that difference does not con
ste either of us traitors dsoy alss in any legit
mate sense of that term.
II Won could mingle personally with them, doubt no
Won would be surprised to learn how little OF prejudice
against the negro account Of color and race exists
the minds Of almost the entire Of the Southern PEG
pie We are their friends and wish them we'll although
they are taught otherwise by those who have come
among for the purpose Of using them for political pur
poses They appeal their passions and preudces and
are busy engaged in organizing them in antagonsn u
the white Where how this will end We should
be in the dark for the bloody lessons of his
tory confess TO gloomy forebOdings for the future
Heaven grant that may be wrong In my apprehensions
You will ask, YOU the friends Of the negro, why
do you object to their being universally enranchised =
Irepy not merely because their skin is black, but be
believe that they too Ignorant to such
franchsemen rightly and well; that it will be fatal u
good government. We have probably sixty thousand
cOlored people Georgia, who will hereafter go to the
baobOx, under the plan Of Congressional recOnstruC
tion-a greater number than that OF the white vOtiDI
population And it will be in all the ten prescribed
States The result must be that the several govern
ments Of these pass into their hands (wh
are being taught by political drillmasters tina
they have injuries 90 ayenge against the whites
with the tremendous power Of taxation confscator
and OF fixing what shall be the security 70
the life and liberty Of the white citizens Is no
this a terrific picture TO contemplated And can tn
Northern people wonder that the Congressional polio
meets strong, earnest and honest opposition Let III
suppose case, that will bring the subject home to tn
NOrhep people Suppose enough of such ignorant voter
could be suddenly planted in any ten of the Northern
States to overcome the Of their white citizens
control the several governments Of those States how d.
you think York. Massachusetts, Connecticut, Penn
sylvana, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, Rew-Hamp
shire and Maine would like the Operaton9 How would
they feel under such policy that would put all ther In
terests in the hands of such powerI
But itmay be replied those States disloyal
rebelious the ten prescribed Southern States
that we deserve such fate not gOing'to discuss
whether VIC are, truth, rebeIous States We should
differ on that question. But admit that rebels,
or have been and therefore deserve to be punished is
this the way TO punish In view Of enlightened states
manshpi Is wise to punish by forcing upon bad
government That might possibly do II We were the
ony ones TO endure the penalty. But it will extend it's
baefu Influence 10 all the other States II viii destroy