The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1867-05-10

April ~, leat. "a "a W. p Sa~'''A~' !
the SOUTH AND RECOSsTRUcTIoS.
From Arkansas We wrote Of the political
situation in the South. We have thought |
we might proftubiy refer further to this sub,
jeci. The passage Of the Military Bill, we
have said, merely opens to the South the
work of Reconstruction. The work donet
under Andrew Johnson's policy has been mol
reconstruction at all. 1t was only rebel rule
resuseiiated, with Andrew for its great Head
Center. It is, as the rebel Senator Foote, IN
his recent speech at St. Louis, said. Mr..
johnson has been the South worst enemy
in his efforts to befriend it. No people in
the world can come down and accept the sit
uation more thoroughly when they are
whipped, than the ex.rebels. Theywere pre-
pared to do it when the Confederacy per-
ished. They expected to accept the terms
that Congress should impose. Senator
Foote bears evidence TO the fact that it. Was
largely due to .bs representations OF the
President that the Southern States which he
named land the truth no doubt embraces all
Of them, rejected the Constitutional Amend
ments proposed by Congress. He pledged
himself to policy which he had neither right
nor power to carry out; thereby he led the
Southern people to place themselves in an
attitude OF hostility TO Congress, instead of
accepting the Congressional conditions which
but for the interference aud representations
Of Mr.. johnson, they would have done. The
end Of it all is, that there have been two
years of political and social disorder aud dis
quiet, where but for Ny Policy would
have been order and quiet capital and i'm
migration have been kept out of the South |;
that section has had two years advance
toward poverty and universal bankruptcy,
when they might Just as easily have been two
years OF growth in prosperity and the repair
alton Of the evils of war; and instead Of the
easy terms Of the Congressional Amends
ments, aud the machinery Of their State and
civil administration being now fully working,
they have their country divided into military
districts, and every county and every man
under military rule. II has been the stern
unyielding work Of Congress, and marks
its triumph. The man johnson who led III I'm
10 array themselves against loyal paople':
loyal Congress, has to WELD and himself plaes
Sheridan, Sickles, Schofeld. Thomas auc
Ord as rulers of the people he bns duped
1t is the fulilment Of the law Of compeass
ton, which the observant discover in God
government Of the world, that recrean
President has won only curses as the reward
OF his treachery; that if there be one elias
of people in the country more thoroughly
than all others hating Andrew johnson, it i
these rebels, to serve whom he broke hi
faith, and became a renegade and apostate
Between the two, we think a majority O
them would prefer Ben. Butler to johnson
SO stands the situation. The Southern
people are beginning to learn that, so far @
they are concerned, Congress is "the Gov
eminent" now, as Mr.. Lincoln was "th
Government during the war; i. e. the expo.
nent and organ of the real GoYernment-tb
great loyal people of the nation. That th
people are back of Congress, and it Is Blu
their servant that it is their una!terable pur
pose that, after all they have done to saw
the unity Of the country, there shall be loya
Governments 10 the South; that not Presi
dents nor Supreme Courts can divert then
from their purpose or thwsrt their will. Thu
determined are the loyal masses The ex
rebels are learning that not Andrew Johnso
nor any earthly power can save them frur
the nations predetermined purpose. The
will submit. 1t is solely the fault of Andre,
johnson that there have been any indication
OF their not submitting. Little Rock Illus
trates the whole situation. Garland, no.
rebel Y. y. Senator elect, the Johnsons an
other Arkansas magnates, came back afte
the war was over, courted friends among tb
Union element, professed that they had neithe
expectation nor desire Of ever again hayin
part In public affairs; that their sole desir
was that they should be pardoued, save III
wreck of their property, and live in peac,
They were pardoned. But the Presider
gave them his policy with his pardon, anC
presto what sudden change These hun
Die, whipped disciples of secession becan,
blatant, arrogant, rampant at once. The
exulted over their part in defending ii
Lost Cause, and the Union men they $
recently courtedwere as earnestly denounced
They held elections under Andrews recon
struchon policy, and the man that had No
been bitter, persistent rebel throughou
stood much better chances to be she
than TO get vote. There wer
many times, during the lal
year that II seemed that Union men woul
be forced to leave the State. Especially wa
this so when Andrew was swinging round th
circle last fall. Rebel threats to do hi
were not confined to street and bar room
th~F wore carried into the papers and III
eliot made - incense popular fury again,
the loyal man until he should be driven fro,
the South. When Congress showed fixe
purpose to have its own way and nut Nj
johnson under, these blatant rebels woul
become quiet and Submissive. So the reb.
mercury has been rising and falling up vile
Mr., johnson was up down when Congre,
was winner. We had a sample of il durin
our stay in Little Rock Congress had passe
the Military Government Bills, Gen. Ord hs
come, taken possession OF his department
and discovered his purpose to carry out Ii
Bills In their letter and spirit The Rsdc,
Convention met, composed of wide~awal
men things looked badly for the devotes
OF the Lost Cause" Then the rebel O,
gan published there came out in editoria
recommending the people to accept the stu,
ton, and gave various strong arguments
be used by the Southern Democracy in a
effort to get the votes of the negroes. ]
less than week there grew within the SOUL
ern breast spark of hope that the Supreu
Court would pronounce the act of Congre
unconstitutional, and that same rebel orgs
came out - counselled the people OF A
kansas to 60 SLOW; to do nothing more VI
der the act of Congress so far as submittir
TO the situation was concerned, than tn
could possibly avoid that the Supreme Cou
and Mr.. johnson might possibly come
their relief and save them from the odiol
measures Of Congress. Now that the 81
rrar,,a Couvf didn't relieve them va have