New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1872-06-30

announced the doctrine that slavery was
national and freedom sectional; and in
case the people of the free States were not
willing to submit to this great Innovation
upon the principles of true repubheanism,
the advocates of a progressive slave power
had determined that the slave States
should secede from the Union. Long be-
fore matters had reached this crisis, how
ever, Mr.. Greeley saw that slavery was
destined to get the better Of freedom in
the United States if not checked, and he
became its most active and determined
foe. And it is evident he was prompted
by the most humane and patriotic motives
in adopting this course. He believed that
freedom was of far more benefit to the
American people than slavery, and, there
fore, became the friend and advocate of
freedom. In taking this course Mr.. Gree
ley, we venture to say, was not governed
by sectional considerations. He was do
ing what, in his judgment, would most
benefit the country and its entire popula-
ton in the end. He did not wish to see
the country afflicted with disastrous
civil war, although its rayages might be
confined to Southern soil, for he felt that
the great destruction of life and property
that would follow so sad an event was
loss to the country, great sacrifice Of its
material interests. For these reasons Mr..
Greeley would have avoided war. And
knowing that the Southern people were not
alone the authors Of slavery in this
country, and, doubtless, feeling that
they were not alone responsible
for the aggressive political attitude the
slave power assumed before and after the
election Of Mr.. Lincoln, Mr.. Greeley's
great leniency, exhibited toward the South
ern people since the close Of the war, is
easily explained His ideas have all been
directed toward the establishment Of
government at Washington that would
secure universal amnesty for past political
offenses and restoration Of prosperity in
the South as a means of making the
country generally prosperous. Andhere
Mr.. Greeley is unlike Mr.. Grant, whose
policy it has been to crush the Southern
people and hold the Southern States as
dependencies of a centralized power,
welded by himself We are satisfied this is
not the way to eface the bitter feeling
engendered by civil war and restore the
country to general freedom and prosper
ity; nor do we believe the American peo-
pie will indorse any such anti-repubican
policy by rejoicing Mr.. Grant We be-
ieve they are disposed to be just to the
South, even beyond the measure Of restor-
ing to her people in general all the rights
that adorn and dignity American cit
izenship. We believe that if it is just
to recompense the South for injury sus-
tanned, the American people will not deny
even that justice Whatever course will
tend to benefit the country the most we
are satisfied they will indorse.
1t is now said that ''among the costly re-
suits of Mr.. Greeley's election would be
the enactment of laws recompensing the
South for losses incurred in consequence
of the rebellion"
We are quite certain the political enc
mics of Mr.. Greeley know nothing Of his
views upon this subject at this time. Some
time before the close Of the war he was
known to favor the following ''plan Of adj
iustment which if accepted at that time
might have saved much more than four
hundred millions Of dollars to the country,
and thousands upon thousands of valuable
lives
/. The Union is restored and declared
q Slavery is utterly and forever abolished
throughout the same.
g. A complete amnesty for all political
offenses, with restoration of all the inhao-
itants Of each State to all the privileges Of
citizens Of the United States.
4. The Union to pay $4G0, 900 in five per
cent United States stock to the late slave
| States, loyal and secession alike, to be appor-
| toned pro rata, according TO their slave pop
ulation respectively, by the census OF 1861,
| IN compensation to the losses of their loyal
/ clIlzens by the abolition OF slavery. Eacn
State to be entitled to its quota upon the
ratification by its Legislature OF this adjust
ment. The bonds to be at the absolute dis
posal OF the Legislature aforesaid.
D. Inc said slave States to be entitled
heneeforth to representation in the House
on the basis Of their total instead of their
federal population, the whole now being
free.
g. A national convention tobe assembled
as soon as may be to ratify this adjustment
and make such changes in the constitution
as may be deemed advisable.
Even now it might be considered wise
craftsmanship to restore, at cost Of four
hundred millions of dollars, the peace and
prosperity Of a country already embracing
forty millions of people and territory
stretching from the st. Lawrence to the
Pacific ocean. 1t is acknowledged gener.
ally that our country has been greatly Zen
Gifted by getting rid Of the institution o
slavery; and while we are prepared to al
NIT this, we can not lose sight Of the fac
that a very important section Of our coun
try has been greatly impoverished, and it
people, in many instances, reduced t
want, from the action Of the government
in taking from them over four hundred
million dollars worth of slave property
that belonged to individuals by authority
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