"That the radical majority in the so-called Congress have proved themselves to be in favor of negro suffrage, by forcing it upon the people of the District of Columbia against their wish, solemnly expressed at the polls; by forcing it upon the people of all the Territories, and by their various devices to coerce the people of the South to adopt it; that we are opposed to negro suffrage, believing it would be productive of evil to both whites and blacks, and tend to produce a disastrous conflict of races.

That for their efforts to uphold the Constitution, we tender to the President and to the majority of the judges of the Supreme Court of the United States our hearty thanks.

That we are in favor of a Democratic convention of delegates from all the States, to be held at such time and place as may be agreed upon, and that the State central committee be authorized to concur with other proper committees in fixing time and place, and that we prefer Louisville, Kentucky, as the place.

"That the Demcratic newspapers of Ohio deserve our earnest and liberal support, and that an early and thorough organization of the party is indispensable."

The " Republicans" of Alabama thus spoke in the "Grand Council of the Union League:"

"That if the pacification now proposed by Congress be not accepted in good faith by those who staked and forfeited their lives, their fortunes, and their sacred honor' in rebellion, it will be the duty of Congress to enforce that forfeiture by the confiscation of the lands, at least, of such a stiff-necked and rebellious people.

"That the assertion that there are not enough intelligent loyal men in Alabama to administer the government is false in fact, and mainly promulgated by those who aim to keep treason respectable, by retaining power in the hands of its friends and votaries."

And Arkansas said:

"That we denounce the guilty authors of the late Rebellion who refuse to acquiesce in the necessary, legitimate, and just

results of their own folly and crime, and who are now counseling the people to renewed opposition and resistance to the legitimate and lawful authority of the National Government, as enemies of the Union, and all the dearest and best interests of the State and her people, and they deserve and should receive the scorn of every honest citizen who desires to see law and order and peace, security, and prosperity secured to the State.

"That the most dangerous enemies of the Nation and State are the disloyal newspapers and political demagogues, who, while they denounce the late action of Congress as illegal, unconstitutional, and despotic, nevertheless declare it to be their purpose to control, if they can, all action thereunder, with the declared purpose, as soon as representation in Congress is secured, of immediately repudiating their compact with the National Government, and, by a change of the constitution of the State, disfranchise the recently enfranchised citizens of the State, prohibit the education of their children, and adopt other reactionary and revolutionary measures.

"That the Congress of the Nation is solemnly pledged not to recognize any State government made by and in the hands of open and declared enemies of the great principles of liberty and justice embraced in the measures of reconstruction; and more especially will Congress refuse to recognize a government in the hands of men who avow it to be their purpose to overthrow these great principles the moment they obtain Congressional recognition of their dishonest and hypocritical action; and we warn every good citizen of the State who favors reconstruction, and wishes to enjoy the blessings and benefits to be derived from our early restoration to the Union, against the criminal folly of intrusting the work to such hands."

A convention of North Carolinians said in one of its resolutions:

"The American Congress is eminently entitled to the profound thanks of the whole country for its persevering, persistent, and heroic devotion to the great principles of human rights as enunciated in the Declaration of Independence."

Chief Justice Chase had "taken sides" against Congress, as, indeed, did, after a time, the majority of the members of the Supreme Court, and some of its important decisions as bearing on reconstruction supported the President's policy. Mississippi very foolishly applied to this court for an injunction to restrain Andrew Johnson as President, or simply as a citizen of Tennessee, from carrying out the military reconstruction policy of Congress. But the court wisely decided that there was no power in it to interfere with the President, although a process might issue as to the general commanding the district.

This reference to public opinion is not meant here to prove one thing or another, but simply to indicate the sources from which sprang the supporters of the President on one side, and of Congress on the other. The whole matter had already drifted into the hands of the two great parties, the disorganized Democracy now putting forth every exertion to recover its former condition and elements of success. One of the worst features in the President's position, on most points, was in the fact that the rebels of the South and the entire race of their Northern sympathizers came at once to its support, and were, after a time, the main or only force on that side. These men suddenly became champions of the theory of the absolute indissolubility of the Union, and fell to abusing the majority in Congress and the Republican party for a policy which they held was based on their own former exploded doctrine of secession. But party and other passions now ruled the hour to a great

extent. The patriot was going down, and the mere politician was again coming to the lead. And great care would be required in deciding upon the truth or justice of a principle or a plan from the number or character of the men supporting it.

While suspicion would evidently rest upon those who had fought for the wrong, and those who had been aiders and abettors, if no more than morally. the policy of Congress was by no means proven to be right and the best possible, by the name and character of its supporters. Conquerors, in many a good cause, have tarnished their history by subsequent excesses. While the evidence, from a moral aspect, as well as from some other points of view, is certainly on the side of Congress and in favor of its policy, we must seek in other directions more unerring means of judgment.

CHAPTER XVI.

THE FENIANS-THIRD ANNUAL MESSAGE – JEFFERSON DAVIS-HORACE GREELEY-GENERAL AMNESTY.

N the summer of 1866 the "Fenians" of this

IN

country made a foolish warlike demonstration on the Canadian border, which gave the Administration some anxiety. On the 6th of June the President issued a proclamation warning these "evil-disposed' persons to make no military or other unfriendly movements from the United States against the peaceable dominions of Great Britain; and General George G. Meade, commanding the Atlantic Military Division, was authorized to "arrest all prominent, leading, or conspicuous persons called Fenians," whom he believed to be guilty of violating the neutrality laws of this Nation. Poor, miserable, ignorant, downtrodden, but liberty-loving Ireland! it could never be politic in America to lend her a helping hand in the struggle for freedom.

The beaten, rebeliious South was now divided into military districts, according to the Congressional plan of reconstruction, and under the general direction of the President the work of reorganization went slowly and unsatisfactorily forward. Riot and bloodshed were uppermost, and the military arm became the only safeguard of the oppressed.