Year: 1865

examine what were the issues involved
in the late elections, and what principle
will govern the dominant party who now,
by popular will, have the entire control
of the Government. The Democratic
party everywhere, in their papers and by
their party platforms, favored the iLnme-
date and restoration of the
Southern S ates. They endorsed Presi~
dent johnson, and endeavored to show
that the Republicans were hostile to his
Administration. They charged that party
with favoring negro suffrage and negro


equality and argued that their success


would defeat the President in his plan of


restoration, continue military rule in the
South, and end in forcing on US negro suf


frage.


1t is true that many leading journals


and prominent men in the Republican


party favor universal suffrage, and desire


to see the South reconstructed on that


basis But we feel assured that the g eat


body of the party are opposed TO the


measure, and that no attempt will be


made to force it on the Southern States


On the contrary, large majority of their


papers, and the most popular of their


leaders expressly dsavow such intention,
AID appear disposed to sustain the Presi-
dent sully in his policy of reorganization.


The New York Times, one of their


organs, in a late issue, calls on the Dem
ocratic papers to unite in prompt and


vigorous support of the President. 1t
declares that the Northern peoplel ldesire


the speedest redemption of the South
from its calamities.


The Times continues:


Slavery, the cause of tn rebellion, must
be annihilated beyond all possibility Of a
future revival in any form. 1t is not
enough that the lately rebellious States
abolish the institution in their present
State conventions, inasmuch as that
action is no bar against new State consti-
tutions at some future time renewing the
serVitude OF the African race. The
Northern people do not intend to leave
this matter to the discretion of the
present or any future generation of
They will understand that
there are tens of thousands in the old
slave States who are longing for the old
order of things, and that there are hun
dreds Of thousands whose faith in the
practicability of free African labor is but
feeble and quite unequal TO any of the
serious difficulties that may occur. There
csn be no absolute assurance that, three
or five years hence, the Southern legisla-
lures, ii free from all external restraint,
would not summon new State conYen>
tions to devise and establish new rela>
tions between the races, which would
make an end of the freedom now game
by the weaker race. The Northern peo-
pie intend to impose that external re-
straint by an amendment of the Federal
Constitution prohibiting slavery forever,
and making it the duty of the national
to take care that this pro.
hibition is respected. The Northern
States have already ratified that amends
ment. Other ratifcations are required.
Until they are given, it must be assumed
that the Southern States are unwilling to
debar themselves permanently from re~
viving involuntary servitude. Therefore
there can be no restoration until this
guarantee is furnished.


So there must be some substantial ear
nest given that the race which has been
by the act of the national
government Will be protected in their
great national rights OF person and props
erty. The infamous black codes must be
swept out of existence to the last atom.
Laws must be established calculated to
raise the colored man to full manhood
l~cp ~. Il
Of brute The Southern States may
rely upon it that they will not be put in
possession of the unlimited control of the
mean to befriend and not perseeute, to
nas yet been given. We trust that the
Legislatures, which will soon assemble,
vii do all that can reasonably be re-
luired of them in this respect. But
mere can be no taking fol granted in
advance. The responsibilities of the
government, the protector of
hese helpless millions, are TOO solemn TO
oe shifted over to the lately rebellious
States without positive certainty that |
hey will be faithfully fulfilled.


These are the purposes of the Northern |
people, and of the administration to
which they have again, with such en-
'hasis, repledged their support. They |
re warranted by every consideration of
and justice. The Southern
'eople cannot too soon recognize and
onform to them,


In another article the same paper
tates Mr.. Seward had occasion, only a
lay or two since, to telegraph TO the Gov
ruor of South Carolina, on behalf of the
President, in he following terms:


He observes with regret that neither
he convention nor the State Legislature
las pronounced the debts and obligations
ontracted in the name of the State for
unconstitutional and even rebellious pur-
oses to be void. He equally regrets that
he State seems to decline the Congress
lonal amendment OF the Constitution of
be United States abolishing slavery"


And on Friday last, the President him>
elf found it necessary, in. reply to Mr..
teid, vino had come to report to him the
ction of the convention In North Caro-
ma, to-say:


The Convention OF North Carolina has
one much and we'll toward restoring that
tate 10 her proper national relations
ut something yet remains to be done to
snder that restoration Immediately prac
cable. An acceptation of the Congress
onal amendment, abolishing slavery
the United States, by the L.
stature of the State of North Carolina,
in my Judgment, practically important
} the successful restoration which is SO


lch desirad hv oil -