The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1868-08-12

in 1860 had been due to a division within
itself, between sectional and national Demo
Gratis. President Lincoln recognized this fact,
and in his appointments, both for the army
and the civil service, he appealed for support
no less to national Democrats than to Repub-
licsns. Thus a system Of corruption which
had lasted for thirty years was completely
broken up. IL is true that some Democratic
Generals, like Mcclellan and McClernand, we're
superseded in the course OF the war, but they
certainly received prominent positions and
were allowed fair trial.
And when Linooln's administ ration had
nearly run its course and the Republican Con-
vention met in 1854 to nominate candidates for
another term, what course was pursued Lin
coin was nominated for President; nobody else
would have been accepted by the people, for
it was felt that he was the nations choice and
hope. But in the nomination for Vice Presi-
dent, an important (but by no means neoes-
sary) concession was made to National Demo-
Gratis by the choice of Andrew Johnson. john
son was elected with Lincoln, and soon, by
accident he became President, and here began
a complicated series of difficulties. From its
very liberality the Republican party was
placed in an exceedingly embarrassing position.
Scarcely had the Thirty ninth Congress elected
with Lincoln and Johnson), assembled in its
first session before IL was compelled to JOIN
issues with this accidental President. In its
work of reconstruction this Congress had to
oppose a defiant South, recreant President,
and that party in the North which had sym
pathized with the Rebellion. No previous
Congress had ever been placed in so unfortu-
nate situation, and at so eventful a crisis.
Its moderate measures for q restoration OF the
country - incorporated in the Fourteenth
Amendment-were refused by the party most
Immediately interested-the Southern States
Then by an absolute necessity, military gov
ernments and negro suffrage were resorted to
as the only means of eXtrication from diti-
Guilty which threatened the peace OF the nation
With what impudence then does the Demo-
cratic party make the charge against Congress
that it adopted its final plan OF Reconstruction
from partisan motives Suppose the Repub-
lican party 70 succeed in its scheme of South
ern restoration, how is it to gain anything for
itself as a party? The moment restoration is
accomplished beyond dispute, other questions
will arise than those which now occupy the
nation. Upon these questions, in the South
ern States, there will be no essential difference
OF opinion between the positions taken by
white and black voters. Upon these questions
the blacks as surely as the whites will vote as
the interests of their section dictate; and this
fact was anticipated by leading Republican
Congressman who advocated negro suffrage.
The charge of extravaganza and waste rests
upon no better authority than Governor Sey-
mours speeches; and the charge made by
the latter was fully refuted by statement
made by Mr. Blaine in Congress shortly after
wards, showing that the military appropria-
tions of Congress, after deducting the pay
ment to soldiers and sailors mustered out in
1865, did not involve a larger amount of ex-
penses per regiment than was appropriated
during Buchanan's term, notwithstanding the
latter was estimated upon gold basis. The
expenses of the Freedmens Bureau have baer
estimated in the same eXtravagant manner by
Democratic orators, in the face of facts Off
cially stated that completely refuted them.