The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1867-04-24
ReVerdy Johnson on the Situation,
"kinderhook," the Washington correspondent O
the New Orleans Pcayune saws:

"Kinderhook," the Washington correspondent Of
the New Orleans Picayune, says: i
So far as can learn and have been anxious 10
lind ou: the actual truth, believe it the uuannoops
opinion OF the most Intelligent Southern men as we'll
as OF the best friends of the South in the Northern
States, that the Southern States ought to 60 to work
Immediately and reconstruct u use the most of
tens1ve word purpose yand reconstruct their resnec
i've States under the military government bill and its
! supplement. Such is The opinion of Hon. Reyerdy
johnson, and your readers, many of whom know him
will agree with me, that there does not live better
constitutional lawyer a more Jealous and devoted
| Trend TO the South than Reyerdy Johnson Com
gress had been differently constituted Of coursa bis
action would have been different; but when bills can
be passed in the House, over the veto by A vote of
ii to 70, and in the Senate by a vote Of 40 to 7
where is the utility of oppoSou-on the part of man
whose character and reputation stands so h1gh9 Rev
erdy johnson voted even to pass the supplementary
bill over the veto; and no one doubt that he did
so with high and pure motives and with the hest in
teress OF the South at heart. IftIrere is real states
man III the Senate, in the best and highest sense of
the word, it is Reverdy Johnson. 1t is not piyeo to
mortal man to penetrate the future; but statesman
OF the years and experience of Mr. johnson no doubt
can iOreSee that certain state OF things will follow
certain course OF action; that there is wav for the
South to get out OF her dilemma mot an easv or n
pleasant way, but still quite c0nsiscD, with honnr\
and that good policy, therefore, points out that a. thn
proper coarse to be pursued. Senator JoansGn *
'onhdent, too that the military govf rnmeut bill and
It's supplement constitute a ilnaIlty and the nmatur
which Congress Will require; that Congress will I'M
pose ne further terms upon tue South than are con
alned IN these hllS that II the Southern States will
accept these conditions, and "reeon>trucgn under
them, they Will be received into the Union in GOOD
ialtI ana heir representatives be immediately admit
tea to seats IN Congress. There is sound sense n,
well as good policy, in these views If they are
ADOPTED ana carried oU III the South the condition Of
the oouth VIII oe no than If they are rejected
even II congress fls to fulfill Mr. JUhusol's afcipa-
nohS; Nay, 1t sill be Infinitely better. The cont
lhandeFs OF II five military departments are now
known. Ihey are known to be men Who will infct
no g'atultJu8 insult or injury upon tie South: but
teV are who feel it be their duty to be stern
ana uhbending. II they the people of State sui
ieh> and making no effort to cooperate in the execu-
Ton OF the new law, they will be very likely to use
their power to make the order of things as dsa-
grceabe to the people as possible. If, on the con
rary they see the people accepting what's inevitable
with patient resignation, and cieerluY taking part
in reconstrpctng i'll the manner prescribed by Con
gress, they will not allow any offensive conduct on the
part of the blacks.
The Southern States will be reconstructed under
this bill. The only question for the Southern people
to decide is whether they will participate in the work
or have 1t done altogether by the negroes and North
ern adventures. think there can be 10 fear about
the result. The leading men Of the South will continue
to be the leading men, The persons who are elected
to Congress will unquestionably represent the inter
ests of the South and represented IN Con-
gress, what brilliant future lies before the South
and how quickly she thus relieve herself Of mar
tal law aud military government