and the
State authorities, instead of expending their power in resisting the
decree of the Nation, would have upheld the same franchise with all
the earnestness which the combined power of necessity and self-interest
could inspire. It is difficult to compute the loss and the suffering
endured by the South from the folly of rejecting a Constitutional
Amendment, which they could have had with all its benefits, and which
they were compelled afterwards to accept with all its burdens. This
unhappy result to the South was the fruit of their unwise adherence
to Andrew Johnson in a political battle which he was predestined to lose.

It was not unnatural that the unwise action on the part of the South
should lead to unwise action of the part of the North; but it must
be remembered that if mistakes were made in the system of
reconstruction they were for a day only, while the objects sought
were for all time. The misfortune was, that the mistakes blinded
the eyes of many candid and patriotic men to the real merit of the
struggle. It is not the first time in history where a great and noble
purpose has been weakened and thwarted by prejudices aroused against
the means used to effect it. The design was broad, patriotic,
generous, and statesmanlike: the means to attain it aroused prejudices
which created obstacles at every step and led to almost fatal
embarrassment. The elevation of a race, the stamping out of the last
vestige of caste, the obliteration of cruel wrongs, were the objects
aimed at by the Republicans. If they remain unaccomplished, or only
partially accomplished, no discredit can attach to the great political
organization which entertained lofty conceptions of human rights, and
projected complete measures for their realization. That prejudice
should stand in the way of principle, that subsidiary issues should
embarrass the attainment of great ends, that personal and partisan
interests should for a time override the nobler instincts of
philanthropy, must be regarded with regret, but not with discouragement.

[(1) The New Jersey Legislature of 1871 reversed the action of the
previous year, and ratified the Amendment after it had been proclaimed
by the Secretary of State as adopted. Ohio at first rejected the
Amendment, but reversed her action in time to have her vote recorded
among the States ratifying the Amendment. New York ratified the
Amendment in 1869; the next year, under a Democratic majority, the
Legis