The Chapter on Reconstruction From the Life of Thadeus Stevens (Classic Reprint) - Softcover

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Excerpt from The Chapter on Reconstruction From the Life of Thadeus Stevens

The South may well blame herself and no one else, for the severe measures of reconstruction, as they choose to call them; for, but for their own stubbornness and contempt in rejecting them, in their milder forms in 1866, and their impositions upon, and cruel treatment of the colored race, in their legislative measures, Congress would hardly have turned the vise so tightly. The first measure offered was comparatively mild, and there was no negro suffrage included in it, except conditionally; but the leniency of Mr. Johnson toward them had spoiled them, and they presumed them selves to beinacondltion then to be a little particular, and possiblya little impudent. They had too much Johnson, and they hurt their own interests: i. E. Their own interests as they themselves regarded them; — but really, their remote and permanent interests were promoted by their rejection of the measures, and by the afterward compulsory measures required by Congress, as time, we sincerely believe, will make abundantly manifest; but not, perhaps for some years. It is not always best to be too choice, or too touchy. For the parties with whom we are dealing, may be just as choice, or touchy, as ourselves. Congress was not disposed to be ugly, or exacting toward the South; and there is reason to believe that it would have been too lenient for tln good of the whole country, if the action of the States had not opened its eyes and caused it to re?ect. Congress men said to each other and to themselves; Here! We had better go a little more carefully and watch where we step. The South is becoming quite demanding, and quite choice of remedies. When the war came to an end, the subject of reconstruction was not new to Mr. Stevens, for he had considered it for a number of years, and was well acquainted with its ins and outs, its pros and cons, and all its possibilities and probabilities. He had his mind fully made up, when the time came to act, as to what could be and what could not be, and as to what should be and what should not be done.

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