The semi-weekly Republican. (St. Francisville, La.) 1872-1872, 1872-07-09

Opinion Of Gen. Bradley John-
SON Of Virginia.
Gen. johnson thinks the Southern
States wherever the ballot is left free
will support Greeley and Brown
He considered the ticket good for at
least 120 Of the ELECTORAL votes of
the Southern States. The unanimity
of sentiment throughout the South
in behalf of Greeley might seem sur
prising, but it could be explained
according to the simplest principles
which regulate human conduct
When the war ended the Confeder-
ate soldiers gave their paroles of
honor to obey the laws, and they did
it with the frankness of soldiers
Instead Of being met by a spirit of
magnanimity. they had been SUBJ
jected to unceasing obloquy and in
sult-and have been compelled, again
and again, to reiterate the pledges
which, once given, they considered
final and binding forever. He says
that their self-respect has prohibited
them from any such reiteration, and
they silently waited until the time
should come when they would be
met as equals and treated as men of
honor. This Liberal movement, un-
der the leadership of Greeley and
Brown, is the first hand that has
been fairly extended to them. and
they are meeting it now as an hon
est effort for reconciliation. Mr..
Greeley's course, while in many re-
spects, as concerns matter of detail,
is at variace with the ideas of the
South, in the main, to the Southern
native, has been singularly consist
ent He was the first to reiterate
the policy of " malice toward none,
good will toward ALL" which Lincoln
had died in enunciating, and the
first to openly and fearlessly advo-
cate general amnesty. He went on
Mr.. Davis's bail bond and showed
by that and other acts that he was
truly anxious to secure to all the peo-
pie the rights and privileges guaran-
teed under the Constitution. 1t is
necessasy, also, said Gen. johnson,
to bear in mind that at least one
third of the voting power at the
South has no political antecedents
Or convictions. Many thousands of
young men belonged to no national
party, nor have they ever participa-
ted in any national political contest.
The Presidential election of '63 was
abnormal in its nature, and it cannot
be really said that the people Of the
South have been connected for near
ly twenty years with auy national
political organization. The power
Of this vast body of men, vastly SUI
perior to the more numerical strength
is free to form new political alliances
upon new issues, and with them the
issue is not party principle but gov
ernment and the administration of
its laws. They go back beyond con-
stitutional rights and seek more par
ticularly the preservation of the fun
damental conditions of society,"
They seek to restore. habeas corpus,
rights of personal property, protec-
ton from general warrants for the
seizure of private papers, the subjec-
ton Of power to the control of
law, and the predominance of civil
over military power. They have
done with old issues, and in the re-
suit of the election hope to regain
the personal rights lost in war;
These are the reasons why Confed-
crate soldiers support Mr.. Greeley
with such unanimity. With the SOL
diers the entire white population of
the South will vote.-B. Il. Gazette
Comet