The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1867-01-09
Trouble In the Reconstruction
Camp,

Jorfty oftfe Black RepubtIcan mem
bers are in favor Of admitting tn,
Southern States on their adoption
of the Constitutional amendment
This little speck Of war in the Rad
ical ranks may yet, we hope, Leaf
to something serious, out of which
something may issue which shall
enure to the benefit of the Southern
States. It is at least a grain O
comfort to know that the enemies
of the South are not agreed on tn,
mode or measure of her degrade
ton, and where such disagreement
exists all the objects aimed at ma,
possibly be thwarted in the end.
The Radicals, they say, are in ia
vor of admitting the Souther,
States as soon as they shall adop
the Constitutional amendment, bu
in default thereof, they propose t,
legislate for them as territories
Now nothing but States can vote OF
the amendment; the offer to th,
South, therefore, admits that tn,
Southern States are now States
But if, after voting as States, thu
vote is contrary to the wishes Of the
Radicals, the States instantly cease
to be States and become territories
Hence, the only touchstone by
which we can judge of the differ.
ence between a State and a terrific.
ry, is it's willingness to vote as the
Radicals desire it to vote. The
absurdity of this logic is redeemed
by its novelty, originality and the
unblushing impudence with which
the proposition is made to rs. AMI,
the consequences Of it's rejection de,
nounced against us. 10
SrHr
The States were sovereign before
the Federal government was form
cd, have ever remained sovereign,
and will not cease to be sovereign,
whether they form a part of the
government Of the United States or
of the Confederate States. There
s no power on earth to destroy
hem, and reduce them to terrific
RES, a doctrine which the victors in
The late war. inculcated from the
time when the first gun was fred
until the time when the last Con-
tederate army surrendered. This
territorial theory is a plant Of post
'ellum production. And here we
must admit that President johnson
8 entitled to some of the credit of
is development. Sherman and
Toe Johnston entered into an ar.
'angement for the ending of the
var which would have proved hon
'rable to both parties and have left
10 room for reconstruction" 1t
vas based on the indestructibility
II the States, and left them as the
var found them, with their eonsti.
utions formed in their own way,
nd with officers of their own
'hoosing, on whom was imposed no
'ther burthen than a return to the
allegiance of the United States
This was the work of two of the
'reatest generals of the war, and if.
IS President johnson said, the
land OF John G. Breckenridge was
n it" they were assisted in their
abors by a man who has more
rains than all the occupants of the
Residential chair for the last thirty
ears put together. Mr.. johnson
aw tit to undo their work, and pro-
eeded to destroy the State gooern-
'ents, and to set up others in their
laces, formed by his own officers,
ppointed in his own way, with
ules Of procedure of his own d.
ection. In this he made a great
aistake and gave q hint to his enc.
hes to exercise the same authority,
0 the great detriment of the people
f the Southern States. If the
hermann Johnston plan had been
dopted, the South would have
cen restored to all her rights with
4 six months after the surrender of
er armies. bod q 1af, r..,.
'~-~>>~-~-o.~~~~>oooo~ 7i
Roderick and Florinda.
We take from the columns Of the
Iew Orleans Sunday Times, and