They held that the States which had rushed into a rebellion so wicked, so causeless, and so destructive, should not be allowed to resume their places of authority in the Union except under such conditions as would guard, so far as human foresight could avail, against the outbreak of another insurrection.
Blaine emphasizes that states involved in rebellion should face conditions before rejoining the Union.
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The Northern people shrank from the responsibility of transferring the government of States to the control of men who had already shown themselves capable of desperate deeds.
Their success as civil magistrates, as legislators, as executives was not less marked and meritorious than their illustrious service in war.
Crises often arise in the conduct of National affairs when cherished opinions must be sacrificed and new departures taken.
Of course the Rebellion will never be suppressed in Louisiana if the professed Union men there will neither help to do it nor permit the Government to do it without their help. . . .
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