Year: 1863

The Great Question OF tine Restoro t<on


OF the Southern States.


The organized forces of the rebels having
been for the most part crushed and the war
nearly finished, unless unhappily the fatal
policy of the radicals should prevail, the ques-
ton of restoring the insurgent States is occupy
ing the public attention, and is likely to be-
come the great question of the day-whether
those political communities are to be admitted
at once Internationally as States, pursuant to
the programme laid down in the resolution of
Congress in the extra session Of 1861, and ac-
cording to the first procamations Of the Presi-
dent, and also the letter Of Mr.. Seward, written
by Mr.. Lincoln's authority to Mercier, the French
Ambassador, or whether they are to be treated
as Territories, and held as such till they are CO.
creed to abolish slavery, according to the pro-
gramme laid down by Senator Sumner and
Wendell Phillips, and adopted generally by the
abolition press.


The niggerhead and copperhead journals of
this city are doing their utmost to prevent
their admission as States, raising great difficult
ties about what is most simple and clear. The
Tribune, after long advocating the theory Of
Senator Sumner and Wendell Phillips; has at
last come to the conclusion that it is better net
to touch this question at present, no doubt be-
cause its discussion would lead to one of two re-
sults-either that the Tribune must acknowledge
that all its recent professions of Unionism are
of, the most hypocritical character, or it must
come out at once squarely against the terri
torial scheme of Sumner and Phillips and the
radical minority in the Cabinet. Yet the
Tribune at the same time inserts long letter
to the President from General Hamilton, of
Texas, demagogue of the first water, strongly
advocating the view which he knows is accept
able to Stanton and Chase, because he is an
office seeker, and expects place from one or
other of these ministers. 1t is full of claptrap
of the meanest kind and is remarkable only as
one of the means used by the radical faction to
influence the mind of the President. When the
Louisiana deputation waited on Mr.. Lincoln as
to the restoration of that State to the Union,
with its municipal laws and State rights intact
he agreed at once to the proposition, but said
he must consult the Cabinet. The result of the
consultation was that the President changed
his mind, and said the question must
be postponed. Now it is well known that the
Cabinet is divided on the subject. Stanton and
Chase are in favor Of the plan Of Sumner and
| Phillips. PLANT, facile old Welles, who has no
mind of his own strokes his long, venerable
white beard, and follows his leader Of the War


Department or the Secretary Of the Treasury
whichever happens to strike out. On the other


hand, Seward Blair, Bates and Usher-four


against thrse-are in favor Of the programme


set forth in the resolution of Congress. And
there can be no doubt that vast majority of
the people of the border, Middle and Western


States are IN the same side, and that it is only


in three Of the six New England States that


there is majority i9 teyer Of the abolition
policy. s.s' ~ ..ss;'a


| The radicals, however, are moving Heaven
and earth to influence the President
against the we'll known sentiment Of tie
majority of the people of the loyal States.
Not only do they resort to the usual tricks and


arts Of politicians, but they have recourse to


spirit rapping to enthral and embarrsss his


mind. Now. all influential conservative men


who desire to see this civil war ended soon,


and the Southern States restored to their places


at once in our great temple of liberty. ought


to call on Mr.. Lincoln and impress on him the


necessity of adhering to his original purpose,


and Of throwing overheard the insane policy Of


the minority of his Cabinet, which would pro-


tract the war for twenty years. That policy is
! 70 destroy the white population Of the South
and give the States which il occupies to the
blacks, or to effect an amalgamation Of the
races on basis of perfect political and social
equality-the most absurd, visionary and i'm


practicable idea that ever entered tho mind of


man.


So far from listening to such delusions II il
the duty Of the President to see that free elec-
t;ons be held at once in oil the recovered States
or par, Of States now occupied by our gene
rals-Te, 'uessee, Mississippi Arkansas, Louisi-
ana and n orth Carolina These States were
never LEGALLY out Of the Union, and they are
now. therefore under the authority and opera
tion of the con stitution Neither General
Grant nor Rosecran. :, nor Banks, nor any other
general. has any right to prevent the holding of
elections for members Of Congress in the States
which they occupy by thcl. armies. In those
parts of q State which are pach. 90 ana no longer
In resistance 70 the federal auth ority the mill
tary power cannot set aside or usut. 70 the place
of the civil law. II is only over sol diers or
within the lines Of the army that the IN. 'litary
law rightfuly exists. Outside Of these lines,
and where armed resistance has ceased, ne
civil laws resume their paramount authority,
and every Southern State takes its proper place
again In Congress and in the federal renublio
without ceremony and without conditions, just
as II no rebellion had ever existed. The very
object Of calling out the militia and volunteers
was declared to be, by the President, "to exc
cute the laws Of the Union" There Is no power
given in the constitution to wage war against
Hfaie as siich or To cnerne II In ans, p.an.a.