New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1868-06-18
IN Is FINISHED.


which has passed both Houses of Congress
for the admission of Louisiana, the two
Carolinas, Alabama, Georgia, and Florida
will become law, unless before that day
vetoed by the President, in which latter
case but single day will be required to
re-enact it over his veto. Before that time
the bill for the admission of Arkansas, now
in the Presidents hands, will also have
become a lag, and thus the work of recon-
struction for seven of the States, so far as
Congressional action is concerned, will be
at last perfected. Let Heaven be thanked
1t has been long and weary struggle.
Looking back upon the path through which
it has led US, we can see more clearly
than we could while in the heat and turmoil
of the strife how all things have been made
to work together for good, how even what
seemed to be Our sorest trials and disap-
pOintments were really blessings in dis
guise and how the wrath of the Copper
head and the rebel has been made to praise
us. Just as it is true that had the first
battle of Bull Run been victory for the
Union arms and had the rebellion then
have been crushed out, slavery would have
been preserved with the Union, so it is
true that had reconstruction been effected
during the first few months that followed
the close of the rebellion, the emancipated
millions of the South would have been left
to the tender mercies of their former OPP
been infinitely worse than that of the
emancipated serfs of Russia, who are free
indeed, but free only to starve in
body and in soul, and to perish
like the beasts of the field. One
shudders as he thinks of what would
now be the condition of loyal men in the
United States had not the Southern States,
under the guidance of their rebel leaders,
rejected the first terms offered them by
Congress, and pursued line of conduct
that finally compelled the national Legisla-
ture to place the ballot in the hands of the
emancipated slave as the exigencies Of the
war had compelled it to give him the mus
ket. Looking back upon the history of the
past three years, we can now see how the
ambition of Andrew johnson and the pride
Of the slaveholding aristocrats of the South
were made the instruments under Provi-
dence for effecting that consummation, long
delayed and often apparently imperiled,
over which we now rejoice.
AS the war had its heroes and its mar
tyrs so had the struggle which now has
ended. Every step of its progress was
marked with innocent and sacred blood,
shed by the same unholy hands that had
fought against freedom in the open contests
of the war. Could the roll of the patriots
who have fallen by the hand of the assas-
sin during the struggle of the past three
years be made out it would be found to ex-
coed in number the death return of many
a hard-fought battlefield. These martyrs
have been of all ranks and conditions of |
life; among them were men of culture, re-
inement, and high position, and humble
men whose souls, shut out for years from
all light and knowledge, had only that
innate and indestructible love Of virtue and |
which lifetime of slavery can not
destroy. As the blood of these men sank
into the earth from it seemed to spring up
hosts Of others to take their place-and |
every massacre and murder, so far from
luelling the spirit of the survivors, ami
mated them with new zeal, and drew them |
closer together in that unity of action which |
alone has finally enabled them to triumph.
In the happier days that are now fast
when the fruits of the labors
of the present time are ripe, and when
peace and plenty and the smile of an ap-
proving God shall bless the land, the mem
Dry Of those who suffered for the peoples
cause will remain fresh and green, and they
will live forever in the hearts of the nation.
A little work yet remains to be done.
Congress has done its part; the people
nave done theirs; what remains to be &C
is the province Of those whom
he people have chosen to put in motion
he wheels Of the new governments. 1t
'eems that the malice of the foe is not yet
quite extinct; there are indications that a
ew more impotent efforts will still be made
% throw obstacles in the way ofthe inevita-
Die. A little patience and little firmness
IN the part of the peoples servants win
Ioon cause all these to disappear; and
with anything like good management the
seven States now virtually readmitted 10
he Union will be there in fact before the
ends, and give their electoral votes
IA November with one voice for Grant and
Jelfax.