The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1868-05-29
FENo has ObsfruCfed Ressora-
fiCE?

The N. Y Times is so well known ms leading Repub-
lcan newspaper that what says is justly entitled 10
great weight In the following editorial it shows con-
clusfvely that the real obstacle the restoration Of
the Union is and has been the Republican majority in
Congress We commend its remarks the especial at
tention Of all conscientious Republicans:
The point most strongly pressed against President
johnson OF late Is that he Is an obstacle to the pac
saton against Misunderstanding that he has resisted nae
icaon after bloody and desolatng during long
period of time when the urgent interests of peace and
Justice and national prosperity demanded that pac-
cation; and this specific charge is pressed against him
by the great body Of the Radical Press
Now the simplest justice conpes us to say-what cy-
erybody knows-that this is one-sdcd and unfair state
ment of the President johnson contended earnest
y and vigorously for qualification of the country by
the restoration Of the Southern States for years
while Congress resisted and defeated During the two
years which followed the close Of the war; the main ac
cusation against Mr. johnson that he hurryng
specification too fast The burden of all the Radical
speeches in Congress that the South was not ready
for the States were not fit TO be rou
lack into the Union that the people were still Mt
heart rebels and could not safely be trusted with self
government with share in the government of the
nation Congress refused receive the credentials
of Southern members Of Congress- to recognize
the Provisional Governments organized by the President
for the purpose of paving the way to reconstruction
refused to do anything but subject the Southern people
10 continued military rule.
During all this time Mr.. johnson was pressing resor-
alton and pacication upon Congress- lie insisted on its
necessity, on the advantages to he derived from it, and
the obligations resting the Government under the
Constitution to bring ii about speedily possible
the President, which the Obstacle to restoration
and pacfcation Congress opposed it, because it did not
like the Presidents plan of bringing it about =
just the President aerwa opposed II because he did
not like the plan Of Congress- Both would have favored
1t both could have ad it in their way But as nei-
ther could have it just exactly either it, each
in turn thwarted the other.
The President wanted the Union restored, and State
Governments re-established, substantially under the
State Constitutions which existed before secession mod
flied to meet the changes which the war had rem
cred necessary and this he pressed upon Congress and
the country with all the zeal Impotence and imprudence
characteristic of his nature. Congress would not con-
sent to restoration except the basis of universal ne
gro suffrage. This was its aim from the beginning. 1t
resisted every attempt at reconstruction any basis
short Of that Failing to carry that ut tho outset Com
gress contened itself with staviug off reconstruction
altogether, until it could carry negro suffrage It
would not allow the Southern States to be represented
in Congress 1t would not allow them to control their
own State Governments to make their constitli-
ton and laws until they could compel them to do on
that basis. 1t made itself an obs;acle-and very for
mdabe and effective oDstacle-to the 'pacifcat on Of
the country and the rcStoraton of the country" and
the restoration Of the Union long that point
unattancd and during all that time President johnson
little cnough) to accomplish what he now untruy ac-
cusod Of having opposed from the bcginning-naney,
the restoration of peace and the Union
We say nothing now of the comparative merits of the
two plans. Whether the President was right in trying
to restore the Union his basis motif il certain
all events, that he Is not chagcabe with having oppos-
od restoration, from the close of the war He did cv-
erythng in his power to favor IT, lie was years
ahead Of Congress in POINT Of time in trying bring II
until It's avorite policy OF universal suffrage had been
secured