Year: 1866

ho ShcSe lhut uuTlnS TIC progress OI tue
revolt the exercise of the Federal authori-
ty was merely suspended, and that there
never was moment when the allegiance
OF the people Of the insurrcctionary States
was not due to the Government and when
the Government was not bound to maintain
It's authority over them and extend authori
ty to those who required it. When the
rebellion was overcome, tho so-called Con-
fcdernte Government and all State Govern
ments which had been formed in opposition
to the Federal Government ceased to have
even nominal existence, and the people
who had been subjected to them were left,
for the time being, without any government
whatever. The term Of the Federal Off
GERS had expired, or the offices had become
vacant by the treason Of those who held
them. There were no Federal revenue Of
ficers, no competent Federal judges, and 10
organized Federal Courts. Nor were t e
people any better off so far as State au-
thority was regarded. When the Confed-
eracy collapsed, all the rebel State Govern
ments collapsed with it, SO that, with few
exceptions, there were no persons holding
civil Office at the South by the authority Of
auy icSitiihatc government.


"Now, as government is at all times n
necessity among men, and as it was espc-
cially so at the South, where violence and
lawlessness had full sway, the question to
be decided by the President was this ::
Shall the people Of the recently rebellious
States be he'd under military rule until
Congress shall act upon the question, or
shall immediate measures be taken by the
Executive TO restore to them civil govern
ment?


"Aiter mature consideration. the Presi-
dent concluded it to be his duty to adopt
the latter course, and am satisfied that in
doing SO he has acted wisely"


The plan of reconstruction thus attribu.
ted to the President has been confirmed by
the present Administration. The Prcsi-
dent has never sought to interfere with the
Legitimate authority of Congress In veto
Ing the Frcedmen's Bureau Bill, he simply
did what he believed to be his duty. Ills
motives have been, by few, arraigned, but
no one has shown that the President there
in violated his oath. If he had so trans
crossed, the Constitution prcscribes mode
Tor intlcting the due penalty. lie can be
impeached by the House of Representatives
and tried by the Senate-the Chief Justice
presi ling in the trial


"ln the work of restoration" SAYS Mr..
McCulloch, "the President has aimed to do
only that which was necessary to be done.
exercising only that power which could be
properly exercised under the Constitution.
which guarantees to every State Rcpub
llcan form Of Government Regarding
slavery as having perished in the rebellious
States, either ty the proclamation Of his
predecessor or by the result Of war, and
determining that no rebel who had purged
himself OF his treason should have any part
in the restoration of the civil governments
which he is aiding to establish, he has not
considered it within the scope OF his au.
thority to 20 further, and cntranchise the
negro. For this he is censurcd by many
true men at the North and few extreme
men at the South, but / have no doubt
that he will be sustained by the people,
and that the result will vindic4tc the wis.
dom of his course"


The opinion thus expressed by Mr.. Nc
Culloch in October last, was a prediction.
The President has been sustained by the
people, and the wisdom Of his course has
been vindicatcd. No one desires less than
he to sec deliberate traitors or leaders in
the late rebellion admitted to seats in Con.
gress; but is there any good reason why
men, always loyal and able to take the "test
OATH" should be repelled merely because
they have been elected by citizens of a
State lately in rebellion? Ought not the
election of such Representative to be con.
sidered evidence of repentance and of a
bona fde intention to obey the Constitution
and the laws of the Union?


1t is alleged by those opposing their ad
mission that the successors 10 these disloy.
al men will be disloyal and that the next
Congress will be filled with representatives
from the seeding States, who will coalcscc
with the Coppcrheads, and again embarrass,
if pot overthrow the Government. But
sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.
Let us do justice now, and restore the
Union as soon as possible. The people of
this country need not b.: afraid to do right.
There is Providence who thwarts the
plottings of bad men. Let the loyal rep
rescntatives from the late seeding States
be duly qualified and take their seats in
Congress.


lfJ;sloyol mon bo sont cro,,, 49, C.-.