The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1868-12-14
-'oNnAY. DECEMBER IA, 1868.
ssAffer a Fair TriaI!i

N Andrew Johnson's recent message 1t is as
Serted that "after fair trial they (the Recon
'truction acts) have substantially failed and
proved pernicious in their results, " wherefore
his Excellenoy, embracing the last opportu-
nifty, again advises that they be expunged
from the statute-book. This recommendation
Is certainly a logical one, and would be de-
serving of the earnest consideration of Con-
eress were it not for two stubborn facts which
Mr.. Johnson wilfully and Enthusiastically ig-
nores. In the first place, the Reconstruction
policy of Congress has not, thanks to Andrew
Johnson, had fair trial; and in the second
place, despite all the hindrances which have
been thrown in its way by Andrew Johnson
and his sympathizers, Reconstruction has not
proved failure, fraught with pernicious re-
suits alone.
Wherever and whenever it has been pos
sible, the President has, from the outset stu
diously labored to defeat the Congressional
policy. AS soon as he discovered that the
illustrious soldiers assigned to the command
of the five military divisions created by the
Reconstruction acts were intent upon discharg
ing the duties imposed them in a manner con-
sistent with the letter and spirit Of these acts,
he commenced their removal; and only failed
to replace them by subservient tools Of "my
policy because the army did not contain
enough material of that sort TO meet all the
demands. By characterizing the policy Of
Congress as unconstitutional, and therefore
null and void, he encouraged the unrepentant
leaders of the Rebellion to array themselves
systematically against the Reconstruction
acts, to prescribe all the loyal
whites, and to persecute to the death
all the loyal blacks in the Southern States. In
Georgia and Louisiana this reasonable con-
spiracy between the President and the Rebel
leaders has resulted in the most disastrous
manner. In the former State, men who were
legally elected to seats in the Legislature were
ousted by the dozen, for the simple reason
that there was "visjble admixture' of negro
blood in their veins. The horrible slaughter
at Camilla was legitimate result of this
action; and throughout the South outrages of
a similar, but less extended character, have
been perpetrated with the most unblushing
effrontery, in defiance of Congress and all the
power of the Government, which was not,
through Presidential agency, arrayed on the
side of the Rebel element of the population
At the election of November 3, the result Of
this course was manifested by majority of
As, ,6S8 for Seymour, although at an election
held but few months previously the Repub-
lican candidate for Governor had majority OF
7O47-a change which could only be brought
about by reign of absolute terror.
In Louisiana, also, system of prescription
and persecution was inaugurated under Pre-
sidential auspices which resulted in swapping
the Republican majority of 23,2S7 of last
spring, in q majority of l3, 447 for Seymour
and Blair, excluding the entire vote of twelve
parishes where the reign of terror was so
paramount and the manner of voting 80 ire
gular that the State canvassers threw it out in
lump.
So much for the "fair trial" which Recon-
struction upon the Congressional basis has
received. But despite all the agencies of
terrer, despite all the appliances of torture,
despite innumerable wholesale butcheries and
cowardly assassinations, despite prescription
and persecution, the great work has COM
rebellious States, North and South Carolina,
especially, being fully restored to their former
relations with the Union, and the mass of their
people, of all colors and political creeds, are
quiescent in the happy result.
To the passage from Mr.. Johnson's message
which We have quoted are to be applied, more
than to any other, the words of Senator Con-
ness, characterizipg it as "a disrespectful and
offensive document" 1t will, as a matter of
course, have no weight whatever with Con-
gress, except, perhaps, to inspire that body
with redoubled vigilance throughout the short
period during which the peace and prosperity
of the nation will be hindered and embarrassed
by Mr.. Johnson's Presidential antics.
The Transfer Of the Indian Bureau to