Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1867-12-05

6 A Subject of Patriotic and Pro
found Concern" and the Re
sponsibtiity therefor. : IA n
President JOHNSON, in his third annual
message, announces palpable truth, when
he says that :" the continued aisorganiza-
ton OF the Union" ais yet subject OF
profound and patriotic concern" Every
patriot has cause to lament it; eyery bust.
ness man has cause to lament it; every
taxpayer has cause to lament it. MOI
aione dothe Southern people surfer through
this continued disorgahization of tn.
Uaton. Almost every industrial and
business interest in the whole Union l.
affected by it. From all sections, the crs
goes up from the Republican presses gtc
Congress to put the Finances into such a
shape as will give prosperity to the coun-
try. They realize that; the property Of
the whole country is in condition to de-
mand instant relief, or there will be crash
and smash-up deplorable to contemplate
and we are now told that the questions
connected with Finance are likely to dwarf
into pigmy insignificance all other ques-
tions.
For this condition of matters there is no
necessity. Had Statesmanship character
ized the rule OF, the Republican party
since the close of the War, the face OF
affairs would wear q much more cheer
full look. When President JOHNSON SUBJ
United his first annual message to Congress
on the .4th of December, 1865, he showed
that be had inaugurated policy of Restora-
tion, which, although irregular and not de-
manded by the Constitution, had it been
accepted and ratified by Congress, would
have put the whole country on the high
road to prosperity. He found the States
suffering from the effects of Civil War;
and he debated the question whether it was
for the good of the country that he should,
las the head Of the army" hold these States
''as conquered territory" and he came to
the Just conclusion, that military Govern
ments, established for an indefinite period, y
by dividing 'the people into thelvanquish-
ers and the vanquished". .swould have en-
venomed hatred rather than have restored
affection" In addition to this, "they would
have occasioned an incalculable and .ex-
hausting expense" His purpose was to
bring about the restoration of affection be-
tween the sections that only a short time
| previously were arrayed against each other
in deadly conflict; and, in addition to this,
he sought to curtail the expenditures of
the Government. so that the shackles might
as much as possible be removed from trade
and the industry of the country. To ''re-
store the Constitutional relations of the
States" he had asked the Southern States
to adopt the Constitutional Amendment
declaring the Abolition of Slavery and the
;Nullity, of their Ordinances of Secession,
holding that :. it is not too much to ask, in
the name of the whole people, that on
the one Uside the plan of Resto-
ration shall proceed in conformity with
q willingness to cast the disorders of
the past into oblivion" He had persuaded
himself into the belief that the adoption
of this Amendment would ''efface the sad
memory of the past" and that its adoption
would "reunite rs beyond all power of dis
ruption." He did not suppose that beyond
this anything could be exacted from the
Southern people by his parry. But because
he did not demand that the Southern peo-
pie should, as a testimonial of q desire to
accept ''the situation" in good faith, pro-
| vide for the edisfranchisement'o of their lead
| ing men and the enfranchisement of the
Negroes, he incurred the lasting enmity oi
the leaders of his party, for which crime
many are intent upon impeaching him. =.
Supposing that he had done wisely and
well in the work of f"Restoration," and that
his work would be accepted and ratified by
Congress. he, tn his Gerry first Message, called
the attention Of Congress TO the urgent ne
cessity there was Of preparing ''in earnest
for our recovery from the ever increasing
evils of an irredeemable currency without
sudden revulsion, and yet without un-
timely procrastination." Conn ected with
this, and as essential thereto, he declared
sit the duty Of the Executive to insist upon
frugaliiy in the expenditures, as sparing
economy is itself a great national re-
source" y,q,s.a.t5 Fsr
Two years ago the President foresaw
what was necessary to save the country
from running into its present depression,
and which, unless there is speedy relief,
must run yet further upon calamity; but
the Radical portion of Congress, in their
assertion of Independence SofA the Execu-
tive Department of the Government-Sin
their arrogant assumption that they were
the Government+have allowed the coun-
try to, run into its present condition. upon
,rb;,l, %l,<, 30 t,;ot;,,, nor Elonlr@ othor
wise than with profound concern"
On the 9th of November, 1865, General
GRANT left, Washington City on a tour of
inspection through the South to ascertain
how the Southern people stood affected to-
ward the Federal Government. Having
returned from that tour, on the 1s.h of
December, 1866, he submitted to the Pres
ident written report, which was laid be-
fore the United States Senate and the
country on the day following. In that report
he represented the feeling of the Southern
people as gratifyingly friendly. He had.
however,a a regret, and that regret he did
express in these words: a- - A.79'
ut is to be regretted that there can not be q
greater comningling at this time bet,oeen the
CttlzenS o. ute ttOO S6CttOHS, anu PARTlCULAR-
LY OF THOSE ENTRUSTED WITH THE LAW
MAKING POWER" -
Could language be more plain than this
that all that was then needed to complete
fully and satisfactorily for the good Of
the whole country the work of Restora.
ton, was the permission of the Southern
States to resume their right of representa-.
tion In both branches in Congress. A few
days ago, when under oath, he testified be.
fore the judiciary committee, he testified