Year: 1865




never suffice to restore the Union. Certain
1t Is, IN the light of events, that war has not
suthced to restore the Union; and the main
question of debate, eight months after its
close, Is, whether restoration is vet practi-
cable. Could there be a more conclusive
demonstration that war alone could not
accomplish the purpose for which the late


war was undertaken? The mere mill
tary success of the war is not-and never


was-the point in question. That has been
complete and overwhelming but to pros
trate resistance was not the ultimate object
of the war, only means. Is that object
attained? If so, why is Congress about to
organize with third of the States excluded
from their representation Why does our
army, in time of peace, number two hun
dred thousand men, scattered through the
South keeping watch and ward? WHY is
the whole country lending eagerly toward


Washington, listening for what the President
is about to say on the great topic of restora-
ton? Why is every heart among us filled
with misgiving ?-men on one side fearing
that the President will favor the restoration
of unsubdued and incorrigible enemies and
on the other, that his healing and concilia-
tory policy will be bafiled by recalcitrant
Congress?


The Union, as yet, is not restored; prac-
tically the whole country admits that the
Democratic party were right in maintaining
that war alone could never restore it. We
have paid this appalling price for goods
which, when sent to our door, we reject as if
reeking with the fumes of a pest-house.
What have We got to show for our enor-
nous expenditure? A Union restored and
confidence re-established? No! The Union
remains to be restored by craftsmanship and
moderation, which, as the Democratic party
always contended, might have prevented its
dissolution. What, then, have we got, as
get as the fruit of our mighty efforts? Count
the graves, and see! Reckon up the Grip
pies, and behold Go into the markets; ask
the prices of food, fuel, Iaiment-and learn
Consider our debt of three thousand millions
add to it twice as much more for production
arrested and property destroyed, and tell us
what this enormous sacrifice was for What
have we got to show for it?


If we are to believe the statements of the
Republicans, we have got an Ireland, Po-
land We have merely extended our do
minion over people not fit to be admitted
into our councils. We are guaranteeing re-
publican government THAT is what they call
it y by excluding States from representation.
So far from having restored the Union, the
Union party" Union party contend that
the restoration of the Union is the very worst
thing that could happen, a, yet.


Against this doctrine the Democratic
party, trusting that they have President
johnson with them, protest. They believe
there has been no moment since the out
&c Ta4O nj f.ot III,
when the restoration of the Union was not
desirable. After the firing on Sumter, war,
was indeed inevitable; but we have been
compelled to use the maximum of force be-
cause we exerted the minimum of statesman
ship. The warwas so managed as to keep the
South united and resolute so long as they
had any resources making the acquisition
as expensive, and the country when reac-
quired as worthless, as any conceivable me-
thod could have made them. That, however,
is past, and cannot be helped. But is there
any necessity for continuing the spirit of the
old method, and making the government of
the country we have reacquired as unrepub-
lican and expensive, and the restoration of
the Union as late and lOng-deferred, as by
any kind Of management is possible?


When President Johnson came into office,
he adopted for the restoration of the Union,
the kind of means which the democratic
party have always contended were indispen-
sable. He manifested great kindness of spirit
toward the South; he defended their assail-
ed rights he stood as a bulwark between the
Southern States and the tide of radical fana-
ticism and vengeance. The effect was won
derful 1t was like the tabled contest be
tween the wind and sun to get off the tray-
eller's cloak. While the storm was making
its trial, the man hugged his garment all the
closer in proportion to its violence. But
when the suns turn came, and the sun pour
ed down his meridian efiulgence on the pill
GRIM assailing him with genial warmth, he
he put off the cloak of his own accord. Thus
it was with the South, when President John
son treated them with generous magnanimi-
tv. To the astonshment of everybody they
became as ready to return to the Union as
they had been eager to quit it. The radi-
Gals growled, and revived their old policy
The storm rcassailed the traveller, and sun
and wind were struggling together for the
mastery. If the radicals prevail, he will
bethink him again of his cloak or to speak
without figure if the South is treated as the
radicals demand, the old hostility will be
revived, and pacificatiCn is as far off as ever.


If the Radicals are to be believed, the war
is not only failure in respect to the restora-
ton of the Union, but even in respect to
what they most glory in-the abolition of
The Union, they say, cannot yet
be restored, because slavery is, as vet, abol-
ished only in name, not in fact. They con-
tend that, until the freedman has the cleo
tive franchise, he is is much slave as ever
that reunion is not to be thought Of until the
negro is voter But no Radical can be
crazy enough to deny that the measure in
question tends, above any other that could
be thought of, TO dissatisfy and exasperate
the white population of the South. What
ever else may be said of it, it is not 4 mea-
sure of conciliation. To insist upon it is the
most certain means to embitter and ALLEVIATE
the white population of the South, and OBJ
struct the restoration of the Union. Among
all the eccentricities Of politics, the absurd /
est ever witnersed is a so-called Union
party" whose watchwOrd is, that the Union
shall not be restored.


cOf Opinion.


A correspondent of a Northern paper
saws:


% 1t is difficult to convey, by words, an
adequate idea of the intensity of the rage
with which the Republican party of the
Northwest regard the recent course Of Presi-
dent johnson, and the policy he has adopt
ed. During recent visit to Chicago and
had an opportunity of seeing
the manifestation Of this feeling in various
aspects, not from the press alone, but from
the pulpit and in social life. The revulsion
of feeling which has taken place in Wis
consin and Northern Illinois, during the
past four months, is perfectly wonderful.
At the time that Mr.. johnson succeeded to
the Presid@cy, ! heard grave elders, and
deacons and ministers there declare that they
could see the hand of God in the removal Of
Mr. Lincoln, because they feared he would
have been too lenient toward the South, and
that God had raised up Mr.. johnson to be
the Joshua in the place of the gentle Moses
who had departed.


Mr. Johnson's little finger was to be
thicker than Mr. Lincoln's loins, so far as
harsh measures towards the South were con-
cerned. How changed are the notes Of these
same ministers and deacons now! Two
weeks ago | heard one Of these political
teachers, in his Sunday morning speech to
his cor gregation in the temple Of God, COM
pare the President to the wicked kings Of
Israel who cause the ancient people Of God
to wander after strange gods, and to give
point to his discourse, he read that chapter
of the Old Testament which denOunces curses
upon the Israelites because they had not
rooted out and utterly destroyed the inhabi-
.ons, ,f YLa iop1 which thov had conuue rod.