The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1876-03-31
From the Republic.
THE CO.N.FEDER.ATE SPIRIT.

Why is it that after more than decade has
elapsed since the war ended, the South, en-
rched and liberated under the principles and
measures OF the Republican party, is still
source OF irritation to the national common
W ealth and hinderance to the country peace?
What was the object of the rebellion, and why
was it put down by the North at such a fearful
sacrifice Of life, If devotion to the crime is
made test of Southern respectability and
qualification to serve the Southern States?
While Abraham Lincoln lived, patriot sat in
the char OF the Chief Magistrate OF the Ma
ton. Treason was made odious tor the simple
reason that President Lincoln regarded the
union OF the States as the grandest work OF
our forefathers and the attempt to destroy
the Union was, therefore, the blacklist crime
OF the age. Mr.. Lincoln lived up to his idea ;
and there was no danger with him Of confound-
ing treason with loyalty. The assassination OF
Mr. Lincoln by the bullet Of rebel sympa-
thizer made Andrew johnson his successor, a
man OF great obstinacy OF disposition, but &C :
cessible to flattery as a Southern man. HIS
birth in a Southern State, his early poverty, and
the influences OF slave life and slave owning
by which he was surrounded prepared the way
for just what occurred. The commencement
OF his Presidential career was inauspcious.-
His mulishness was his notable weakness. He
knew the terrible struggle through which the
country had passed and be knew that blood
shed and death had made mourning IN almost
every household. But even before he had be-
come accust omed to the occupancy Of the
rooms in the White House which had witness
ed the vigilant anxiety Of his martyred prede
cessor, he was willing to treat for the destruc-
ton OF that sentiment-the sentiment OF the
Republican party which preserved the Repub-
lic-and for the admission Of the rebel enc
mics OF the Union to an equality With the men
who had elected Mr.. johnson and who were
true to Republican principles and are true to-
day. Mr.. Johnson's friends unreconstructed,
with all the treasonous enmity to the Union
strong in their hearts, with no effeort to detach
them from the pursuit of disloysl career, a
career which the issue OF the war had rendered
infamous were taken by the hand and instead
Of being required to prove that they were
worthy of it, we're petted and pampered and
made the recipients Of benefits and privileges
under laws through the fundamentally Of Mr.
Johnson which the grace Of the Republican
party had passed and intended for men who
admitted their doings and were anxious to dc
right. Those benefits and privileges were
obtained by rebels utterly unworthy of grace
or amnesty especially from Republicans
They had fought to destroy the country; and
before the wounds had healed which rebel bull
let's had inflicted upon the manned and mutt
lated bodies OF Federal soldiers, rebels in large
numbers had secured advantages and protec
ton and the exercise of rights which apper
tanned only to men of honor who had beer
mistaken and who were resolved to show tina
the mistakes OF the past should not be repeat
ed In the future. Would any right-thlnkinf
citizen imagine that men subdued In the act o.
rebellion, and whose lives were spared which
had been forfeited, would apply for grace o.
amnesty with living treason in their hearts b,
which they were untitled to receive it Die
the curse of slavery, even where the institu
ton went down In blood, continue as a curs
in the heart, and mind and conscience OF thu
Southern Democratic leaders? And does |
strip the Southern Democratic character o
every vestigs OF truth, and honor, and manli
ness, and leave the amnestied Democratic re
bells, whose number has increased since tn
time of President johnson, IN oil their nsket
deformty as self convicted enemies of tn
G ,untry, true only to the revolving instincts o
the slaye-owner, laboring TO bring into the cub
ection of servitude the colored citizens Of th,
South, who remembered old days, and whom
they had aud would shoot in their tracks i
they dared to think for themselves