Chapter LXXXII: The Work of Restoration

A Year later.—Hopes disappointed.—Position of the Whites of the
South.—Treatment of Southern Unionists, Black and
White.—Sections where the Hostility was most
intense.—Honorable and Noble Exceptions to this State of
Feeling.—The most Noisy Supporters of the Lost Cause.—The
Effect of President Johnson’s Course in stimulating this
Hostility.—Review of his Course so far as it relates to
Reconstruction.—Interviews with Southern Men.—Organization of
Provisional Governments.—Specimens of the Men appointed by
him as Governors.—Defiance of Congress in Advance.—Assurances
to South Carolina.—Democratic Conventions indorsing the
President’s Policy.—The Message of December, 1865.—Opposition
to Congress.—His “White-washing Message.”—Veto of the First
Freedmen’s Bureau Bill.—The 22d of February Speech.—Veto of
the Civil Rights Bill.—Its Passage over the Veto.—Provisions
of the Bill.—The Fourteenth Amendment to the
Constitution.—What it was.—Veto of the Second Freedmen’s
Bureau Bill.—Passage over the Veto.—Its Provisions.—Admission
of Tennessee.—Mr. Johnson signs the Resolution, but
protests.—The Memphis Riot.—The New Orleans Massacre.—Mr.
Johnson responsible for them.—General Sheridan’s Account of
it.—The Philadelphia Convention.—Its Tears.—It proves a
Failure.—Mr. Johnson weeps.—Mr. Johnson’s Speeches.—Reply to
the Philadelphia Committee.—“Congress hanging on the Verge of
the Government.”—“Swinging round the Circle.”—Disgraceful
Conduct of Mr. Johnson.—Billingsgate in his
Speeches.—Wearisome Platitudes.—The Effect they had on the
Elections of 1866. 591