The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1867-04-10

seems to me their condition is the most de.
piorable to which any people can be re-
dueed
1t IS true that they have been engaged
In rebellion, and that in their attempt to
bring about separation of the States and
dissolution of the Union there was an OBJ
legation resting upon every loyal citizen
to treat them as enemies and to wage war
against their cause, 1nfcxibIy opposed to
any movement inpcrilling the integrity of
the government, did not hesitate to URGE
the adoption of all measures necessary for
the suppression Of the ins,lrreetion After
q long and terrible struggle the efforts of
the government were triumphant and sue
'cessful, and the people Of the South, sub
hitting to the stern arbitrament. Welded
forever the issues OF the contest. iIostili-
ties terminated; soon after it, became nv
duty to assume the responsibilities Of the
chief executive officer OF the republic, and
| at once endeavoreQ to rcpress and control
the passions which civil strife had engen-
dered, and, no longer regarding these err
ing millions as enemies, again acknowl-
edged them as our friends and our coun-
trymen.
The war had accomplished its objects
the nation was saved; and that cardinal
principle of mischief which from the birth
of the government had gradually but In
evitably brought on the rebellion was to-
tally eraslicated. Then, If seemed to me,
was the suspicious time TO commence the
work Of reconstruction; then, when these
people sought once more orr, friendship
and protection, / considered it our duty
generously to meet them in the Spirit of
charity and forgiveness, and to conquer
them even more cffectlnlly by the mag
nanimity of the nation than by force of its
arms. 49,,
Iyet believe that if the policy of re-
construction then inaugllrated, and
which contemplated an early rcstora-
ton of these people to all their political
rights, had received the support OF
Congress, every one of these ten States
and all their people would at this mo-
ment be fast anchored in the Union,
and the great work which gave the war
all ITS sanction and made it just and
holy would have been accomplished
Then over all the vast and fruitful re-
gions of the South peace and its bless
ings would have prevailed, while now
milliens are deprived of rights guaran-
teed by the Constitution to every citi-
zen, and after nearly two years Of legis-
lation find themselves placed under an
absolute military despotlsm. "a mill
tary republic, a government formed on
mock elections and SUPPORTED only by
the sword" was nearly q quarter of a
century since pronounced by Daniel
Webster, when speaking of The South
American States, as ga movement, in
deed, but retrogade and disastrous
movement, from the regular and old
fashioned monareilical SYSTEM and,
he added, "if men would enjoy. the
blessings of republican government
they must govern themselves by rea-
son, by mutual counsel and consulta-
ton, by sense and feeling of general
interest, and by The acquiescence of the
minority in the will of the majority
properly expressed, and above all the
military must be kept, according to the
language of our bill Of rights. in strict
subordinatian to The civil authority
Whenever this lesson is not both learn
cd and practice,l there can be no polit-
zeal freedom n It is absurd, preposter-
bts, it is 4 scott and satire ON cofistitu-
tiohal liberty for forms of government
to be rreseiibeh by military leaders
land the right of suffrage to be exercised
at the point OF the sword
| confidently believe that time will
come whey these Statas will occiipy
tleir true positions in the Union. The
barriers which now seem SO obstinate
must yield to the force of an cnIighten-
cd and Just public opinion, ara SOONER
OF later unconstitutional ard oppies.
sivc legislation will lie cfiaeed from oul
statute books. When this slfnll have
been consummatcd | pray God that the
errors OF the past be forgotten, and that
once more we Shall be a happy, united
and prosperous people, and that at last
after the bitter and eyentful experience
through Which the nation has passed
! we shall all come to know that our only
safety is in the preservation Of our fed
eral Constitution and in accordance tt
every American citizen and to every
State the rights which that Constitution
secures. ANDREW Johnson.
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