Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1868-09-04

Washington, but few days before the
assassination, in which he urged upon
the people to 20 forward In the plan Of re-
storation which he had proposed, with
reference 10 the admission Of Louisiana,
and TO apply the same plan TO all the
other States as they should surrender 10
the government Of the United States.
On the assassination of Mr.. Lincoln,
Of course Mr.. johnson became President,
and the first great and important ques-
ton that came before the Cabinet was
this very question Of reconstruction.
Mr.. johnson found that the plan had
already been formed. Edwin M. Stanton,
Secretary Of War, was the very man that
drew il, and Gen. Grant swsars in his
testimony that he had heard It read over
twice in the Cabinet Of Mr.. Lincoln,
before Mr.. Lincoln as assassinated, and
that the same plan was put right
through" TO use the language OF Gen.
Grant, applied in the proclamation
which Mr.. johnson issued to the State OF
North Carolina and TO the other States OF
the South. Now, this plan Of recon-
struction proposed by Mr.. Lincoln and
renewed by Mr. johnson, was based upon
these fundamental ideas TO which have
referred. First Of all, that the people
in these Southern States who were enti-
tied to suffrage by the constitutions OF
these States, ought to be admitted to the
right Of suffrage under the reconstruc-
ton, provided they accepted the terms
Of pardon and amnesty and took the
oath of allegiance required by the Pres
ident, as one of the conditions of grant
ing pardon and amnesty. This was the
state of things during the summer and
fall of 1865, and in December OF 1865,
Gen. Grant, being at the head OF the
army, was sent to the South by the Presi-
dent for the purpose of examining the
condition Of things, and making his
report to the President to be laid before
Congress. That report of Gen. Grant l
have now in my hand. As desire
always to build upon sure foundation,
will ask some gentleman to hold light
90 that l can read the words of Gen.
Grant.
Gen. Grant, of date 18th December,
writing to the President, says:
81 am satisfied that the mass of the
thinking men Of the South accept the
present state of affairs in good faith. The
questions which have so far divided the
sentiments of the two sections-slavery
and State rights, or the right of the States
to secede from the Union-they regard
as having been settled forever by the
highest tribunal man can resort to. i
was pleased to learn from the leading
men whom met that they not only ac-
cepted the decision arrived at as final,
but now that the smoke of battle is cleared
away, the time has come for reflection,
and that the decision has been fortu.
nate one for the whole country. There
is such universal acquiescence in the au.
thorityof the general government through
out all portions of the country visited by
me, that the mere presence Of military
force, without regard to number, is sum
cient to maintain order, and to give the
country the security required; that the
force kept in the interior, where there
are many freedmen, ought all to be white
troops. The reasons for this are obvious,
without mentioning many of them. The
presence of black troops, lately slaves,
demoralizes labor, both by their advice
and by the furnishing in their camp of a
resort for the freedmen for long distances
around White troops excite no opposi-
ton; therefore small number of them
can maintain order in given district.
"My observations lead me to the con-
clusion that the citizens of the Southern
States are anxious to return to self gov
ernment within the Union as soon as
possible. It is to be regretted that
there cannot be greater comming.
ling at this time between the citizens of
the two sections, and particularly of
those intrusted with the law-making
power" (Cheers.
/ have read thus statement Of Gen.
Grant, made in December, 1866 just
about two years after Mr.. Lincoln had
proposed his plan of Reconstruction. and
six months after the war had closed, to
show you the state of the public mind, at
the South at that time; because at that
period the plan of reconstruction which
Mr. Lincoln proposed and AR. johnson
renewed to the States of the South, had
been practically carried into effect in all
the States of the South, with perhaps the
exception of the State of Texas.
Now, what occurred in December, 1865,
when the report of Gen. Grant came into
the Senate, accompanied by message
from the President, congratulating the
country upon the good condition of the
people of the South, and upon their good
disposition toward the Government of
the United States-what occurred in the
Senate2 Mr.. Sumner, of MASSACHUSETTS,
the same man who led the little band
of Radicals, in March, in resisting the
l. - nF
of Louisiaua-rose in his place, and de-
nounced the report of Gen. Grant and
the message of the President as white
washing" report and message. Then the
war began. [Grosns for Sumner.]
Aud, fellow. citizens, what then occur
red The House of Representatives,
under the lead of ThaddeHs Stevens (who
is now no more-who has gone to his
final account), and the Senate, under the
lead of men like Sumner, resolved that
they would trample down this plan of re-
construction, and that they would inau-
gurate another plan Of reconstruction, I
deuominated the congressional plan.
rHere the arrival OF the several ward
delegations, with their bands playing,
interrupted the gentleman for few min
utes. The enthusiasm, as these delegs-
lions appeared within the courthouse
yard, was most intense The band upon
The platform united in the general jubila-
ton by playing, "See, the conquering
hero comes"
Nov, let me be heard for few mo-
ments longer. / stated the principles
upon which the restoration Of the Union
vas to be properly conducted by Mr..
johnson, in pursuance Of the plan which
Mr.. Lincoln had proposed in December,
1868: but in December, 1865, under the
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