The Plymouth weekly Democrat. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1860-1869, 1868-02-20


fine feeling manifested in the south, and
thought we ought to take advantage of il
as soon as possible"
And he adds:
"But since that time there has been an
evident change there"
In his letter to the president of the
18th of December, 1865, many months af.
ter the close of the war. many months after
Mr.. Johnson had adopted his policy, Gen.
Grant said:
"Both In travelling and while stopping
saw much and conversed freely with
the citizens of those states, as well as with
the officers of the army who have been
among them. The following are the con
clusions come to by me:
Il am satisfied that the mass ot think.
ing men of the south accept the present
situation of affairs in good faith. The
questions which have heretofore divided
the sentiments Of the people of the two
sections-slavery and state rights, or the
rights of a state to secede from the union
they regard as having been settled forever
by the highest tribunal-arms-that man
can resort to. [ was pleased to learn from
the leading men whom | met that they
not on ly accepted the decision arrived at
as final but that now the smoke of battle
has cleared away and time has been given
for reflection, that this decision has been
fortunate one for the whole country,
they receiving the like benefits from it with
those who opposed them In the field aud in
the cause"
"My observations lead me to the conclu-
sion that the citizens of the southern
states are anxious to return to self-gOvern-
ment within the union as soon as possible
that while reconotructing, they want and
require protection from the government
that they are IN earnest in wishing to DC
what they think is required by the gov
ernment, not humiliating to them as citi
zens, and that if such course was point
ed out they would pursue it in good faith
1t is to be regretted that there cannot be
greater commingling at this time between
the citizens of the two sections, and par
ticularly of those intrusted with the law
making power"
That is the description Of the condition
of the south given by Gen Grant at the
very time the president of the United
States was welcoming these states back
again in all their practical relations to the
! United States
Now, sir, upon this subject l beg leave
to read the testimony of my distinguished
colleague given at about the same time at
the close of the month of September, in
the speech to which | have already refer.
red My colleague says:
Il desire. in the first place, to remark
that to Inc the general condition Of the
country is most promising and favorable
Mark you, this is the testimony of my
colleague when Mr. Johason had almost
consummated his policy Of restoration.
81 know there are those who take
gloomy views of what is called the work of
reconstruction, but to me the prospect
seems highly ring. The war ter
minated suddenly and the submission on
the part Of the people of the southern
states has been more complete aud sudden
than had expected"
Here, Mr.. President, is the testimony
of my colleague, who had intimate rela-
ito Us with the south as the governor Of the
state Of Indiana; testimony given at the time
the people had acquiesccd in the result of the
war. that their cond ition Of obedience to
the law in respect to the government was
more encouraging than he mad expected.
What a strange contrast does this testimo-
ny Of my colleague, given at the time,
bear to the remarkable speech to which
we have just listened from the senator
from New Hampshire, Mr. Cragin Ii
1T were courteous aud in senatorial lam
guage would sag that scarcely any OF
the statements of fact contained in that
speech are entitled to the credit and conf
dence of the country. Since this world
began no community has been so misrep-
resented, SO uniformly and foully belieG
as the men Of the south who have sought,
under Mr.. Johnson's policy, to bring
their states again into practical and har-
monious relations with the government of
the United States.
Then, Mr.. President, this is the evil
dence of what was the condition of south
crn society at the close Of the war. The
war had done its work. The south was
conquered, to use the language of the ma
jority subjugated, if you please. They
yielded obedience to law; they acquiesced
10 the Authority of the government. and
Gel Grant said that he felt that it was
our duty to take advantage of this favor
able condition Of the popular mind Of the
south. To take advantage of it for what
purpose? To get these people back again,
to place the states once more in harmoni
Gus and practical relspions with the gov
ernment. Finding this favorable condi-
ton Of the conntry, Mr.. Johnson, as pies
ident Of the United States, proceeded TO
his work of restoration He issued his
procla. alton of May %, 1865, to which
I now call the attention Of the senate.
He does not assume to possess the power
Of making state governments. He, as
military governor of Tennessee, had issued
his proclamation declaring that tho peo-
pie, by virtue of the inherent right aud
power, had amended the constitution OF
the state; and upon that very doctrine of
the right and power of the people TO
amend their constitutions he issued his
proclamation Of May 20, 1865. In the
first place, / will state that he directed
each of the departments to extend its OPP
erations into the southern states. Then
he goes on with the work of providing for
restoration; and what propositions does he
A L., IL. Il i