The Windham County reformer. (Battleboro, Vt.) 1876-1897, 1885-10-30
L1NCoLN's RECONSTRUCTION POLIO,

was the Same as Johnson's--A Reminis-
cence of ti,e Last Days Of the Noble Pres
idents Life.
letter by A NJ Kelley, late minister to Russia. ]
But the fact was that Mr. Johnsons policy in
this matter was Abraham Lincoln's policy, as
President johnson constantly claimed; aud IN
confirmation "reminiscences of the last days OF
Mr. Lincolns life, which, believe, has not hith-
ertO appeared in print, may not be without ln-
terest:
] was member Of the last general assembly
of Virginia that convened during the war. We
had passed many days without session, when
on the afternoon of Sunday, April 2, 1865, we
met to consider the situation. The proposed
evacuation OF Richmond was not only known,
but in fact in progress, and the legislature
convened to consider our duty. Being of Opn-
ion that the fall of Richmond and Petersburg
would speedily conclude the war, and that in the
political troubles which must then speedily fol-
low 1t could not be without advantage to have
an organized representative body at the pitol,
l wrote, and according to my present recollec-
ton, offered resolution declaring it to be the
duty of the assembly to remain. motion
was made to invite the senate to Our room and
to close the doors, and in secret session the sub
ject was considered. Governor Smith had al
ready been invited to the hall, and he addressed
the joint body in a speech OF great vigor IN ia
vor of the opposite view, and resolution to
follow the retreatng army and resume sessions
Il think at Lynchburg-prevaied The bulk
of the members left the city that night with the
governor, but several, among whom was, de-
clined what seemed to US useless adventure.
On Wednesday, think, Mr. Lincoln arrived
in Richmond, and was one OF some five or
eight members who called on him. He seemed
to be fully aware of what had occurred in our
last meeting and expressed to me his regret
that the legislature had not remained, repeating
more than once that while he had no authority
to speak for congress, in his opinion there
would be no difficulty in providing for the i'm
mediate admission of such senators as the as
sembly might elect, and that lawful elections
might at once be held for members of the lower
house. He Immediately caused an order to be
published inviting the reassembling of the legis-
lature andpiomisng a safe conduct to all men,
bers on their way to Richmond, and on Friday
morning we met IN a building then known as
the law building to consider the presidents
proposal. At that meeting were at least two
gentlemen still living in Richmond; and let
ter was then prepared embodying Mr. Lincolps
proposal and diref.ing It's transmission as
circular'to all members who could be reached
newspapers bling almost obliterated then 10
Virginia.
When the president returned he found his
policy vehemeLtly opposed by the leaders of
the Republican party, and especially by Mr.
Stanton, easily first in force among his cabinet
advisers and Gen Lees surrender Immediately
followin ing, the Virginia question was swallowed
up in the vast and momentouS political prob
lens which the collapse OF secession presented
to the country.
Nor was this new or exceptional position of
Mr. Lincoln. In the Louisiana case in 1868 he
announced the same doctrine aud gave it ex.
preston, and in one of the last speeches OF his
life, delivered, l think, the very day after his
return from Richmond, he stated that every
member of his cabinet approved the plan for
the restoration of louisiana.
Mr. johnson always claimed that his recon
struction policy was Mr. Lincoln's, and was
founded on principles to which the Repu5 llcan
party and the country were committed-that
the ordinances of secession were either valid or
invalid; if valid, that the seeded states were
out of the Union and whipping them back was
tyranny if valid they left the states as before,
and while individuals might and should be
punished for rebellion the states could not; that
ii the states were out a successful war waged
for the preservation Of the Union had destroyed
it; il they were in, the constitution covered
them and prescribed as we'll their rights as their
duties.
1t is not unlikely Therefore, that he desired
the immediate rehabilitation of the south
ern states; and it lie certain that he waged
unceasipg war against the congressional Subst-
tute; but it is much ,easer 10 attribute defect
i've memory to both General Grant and Mr.
Depew, or one Of them for that sutlices-
than to suspect Andrew Johnson of the folly of
contemplating \ weak imitation Of Oliver
Cromwell and General Grant Of snch compiled
ty in the plot as concealment would imply.