Year: 1866




to the lately rebcllious States would be
an admission of the failure of the Ad-
ministration and of the party who had
carried through the war to prove them
selves equal to the exigency, now that the
york of destruction was over, and that Of
rebuilding had begun. Military govern
ment alone would not pacify the South.


Al the end OF long period of such
government We would be no nearer, and
probably not SO near the end, than now,
and would have the same work to do


Hence, there is real necessity Of
adopting a policy which should restore
the civil government fully just as soon
as the rebellion should be thoroughly
ended, and these conditions accepted by
the South, which were to be REGARDED as
absolutely necessary to the peace Of the
country.


One central idea had controlled him in
the whole matter and this was, that the
proper system of paciiication should be
one which tended everywhere to stimu-
late the loyalty of the people of the
South themselves, and make it the spring
of loya! conduct by proper legislation,
rather than to impose upon them laws
and conditions by direct external force
Tins, il the case of the freedmans bu-
reau he was not against the idea of the
freedmcn's bureau, IN toto, for he had
Used it, and was still usirg it. 1t might
continue for a period Of more than a
year yet.


He had contemplated that, either by
proclamation of his own or by some ac-
ton of Congress as condition Of peace,
the technical end of the rebellion would
probably be declared at some period per-
haps not very remote: and as he under
stood the present law the bureau might
continue year from that time. Mean
while he could say to the South 1T
depends upon yourselves to say whether
the bureau shall be discontinued at an
earlier day, for will put an end to it
Just as soon as you, by proper action for
the protection Of the freedmen, make it
necessary"


Thus, said he, the hope Of getting rid
of the institution stimulates them to do
shat is right, whilst they are not dis
couraged by the idea that there is 10
hope OF an end to what they regard as a
sort of military governmt. lfou the other
hand the bureau were to be Made a per
manent thing by legislation, which on is
face appears to be part OF the fixed law of'
the land, all the objections he had urged
in his message applied in full force to it,
and instead of encouraging the South to
loyalty, you tend to drive them to des-
pe,ation and make their hatred Of the
inveterate


The same principal of stimulating 10y
atty was shown in the manner in which
he held martial law over them. When
ever they should show so peaceful and
a condition of their commu-
nity that martial law was not needed, 1t
should be removed. Their own conduct
would thus determine the matter, and
the desire ana interest OF all the best peo-'
pie be increased to put down distur ban
ccs and outbreaks, to protect Union men
and obey the laws, because by so doing
they would hasten the withdrawal Of the
direct interference OF the military arm in
their aaairs.


In precisely the same way and under
the inht ce of the same idea, he had
acted IN regard TO civil affairs generally
in that section, regarding it as necessary
and proper to Impose upon the rebellious
States conditions which would guarantee
the safety of the country and regarding
the then existing affairs Of the local gov
ernments as having disqualified them
selves by their treason, for continuance in
power, he deposed them and established
provisional governments. Then be asked
himself what conditions ought to be de-
manded ct themand how their disposition
to accept them in good faith might be
stimulated.


The conditions, viz the amendment
of State constitutions excluding slavery,
the acceptance Of the same amendment
of the United States Constitution, the
reputation of the rebel debt and admis-
sion of the freedmen to various rights,
&c, everybody is familiar with. To
stimulate them to accept these conditions
being such as using his best judgment,