New Orleans Republican., 1871-10-19

surrendered and dispersed. Much bite
feeling existed in the minds of many Q
the Southern people, and the work of re
construction in the Southern States wa
yet to be accomplished. The manner ii
which this was to be effected had alread.
divided the people. and as it was essen
tial to the friends of the Union that tn
work should be done 80 as to perpetual
the g-ea. principles involved in To
war, it was necessary that the govern
ment should be prepared for any emer
geucy. For this and the further reason
that General Grant had achieved nobl,
| distinction as soldier and friend O
liberty, he was chosen President
When he was nominated by the Re
publican party he was the General o.
the American army and under pay as d
soldier. This was something unusual in
the history of our country. But once
before had the people gone directly to the
army for its President General Washing
ton had retired from the army several
years, and was engaged in experimenting
the cultivation Of his farm when elected
President. General Jackson was defeated
in his first canvass for the Presidency
because of the prejudice that had been
aroused il the people against the preten-
sions Of military men; and that was ten
years after the hero of New Orleans had
retired from military life. General Taylor
was taken from the army and became
President in 1S49. This was two years
after he had won the battle of Buena
Vista in the war with Mexico. His selec-
ton w;as the first made directly from the
army, aud he was sixty-ive years old
when he became President He was a
plain old man, who had done his country
good service in the tented field, and the
condition Of political parties in 1s4S
favored his election to the Presidency. The
Democrats had divided, and a portion
Of them, under the name of free-soilers,
supported Martin Van Buren, while the
Democratic party nominated Lewis Cass
General Taylor received the nomination
of the Wing party, and became President.
He was not politician, and publicly pro-
claimed before his election that he had
mo friends to reward, nor enemies to
punish" 1t is very probable that if Gen
eral Taylor had been a much younger
man, and a more ambitious man, he could
not have been taken from the army and
made President without incurring the op-
position Of some portion of the American
people: for their prejudice is easily
aroused against military men who aspire
o civi. rule
The nomination and election Of Gen.
'ral Grant. in 1868, was considered po-
itical necessity. The peculiar condition
II the country seemed to demand it.
Complete c;vi, rule had to be established |
h-oughou: the whole length and breadth |
Il the Land before peace could prevail, |
Id i: was correctly supposed this could
Iot be accomplished without the aid of
be military arm of the government. To
lake government the more effective in
astorinS permanent peace, and to re-
ard, perhaps, worthy man, the Amer
'aa people, or that portion of it largely
the majority, concluding to deviate
'om the usual course in such matters,
'ok General Grant from the army, where
e was chief in command, and placed
I'M at the head of civil affairs. None
'emed to understand better than Presi-
ent Grant what the majority wanted
hen they placed him at the head of the
ation. In his inaugural address to the
mericaa people, without distinction of
fty, he emphatically said, "Let
have peace. He knew this
be the wish of the majority of his
untrynen, and it was a gentle intima-
N to those who were belligerently in.
ned, or disposed to have their own way
reconstruction, that the government
'uld be prepared to enforce the laws ]
en- against violence. The work of re- {
Instruction is completed, and the neces- ,
y for even the semblance Of military
need no longer exist if the S
aerican people determine to have civil
for the next President. We repeat the +,
rk OF reconstruction is completed, but
ace can not be considered permanent ;
til all parties yield faithful obedience 6
the laws. If all have honestly made !;
their minds to this, civil rule can pre- =
i without the aid of the military 9
rely, no portion Of our people require =
be told this. Nor is it necessary to i
them that if they desire to have .
ilian instead Of soldier in the Presi-
ltial chair, the matter is in their own ;,
Ids.
t is the opposition of the minority to :,
rule Of the majority that has brought =,
'ut necessity for the use of extraor. "
'ary measures. Let the minority re- T.
m'ec this, and yield gracefully, in the =
are, to tie constitution and laws.
en- the country can have peace without IL
aid OF the military to enforce it. Then p
VIII be unnecessary for MIR. Pendleton Il
ell the people that they have "an auto tc
tic power greater than that of Samson. "
le stood and closed his arms around fl
pillars OF the temple ready to bring it U
rn upon the heads of all who were 10
hin II " Tho poopIa o.o A. =. r.,