Note MR. JOHNSON'S POLICY OF RECONSTRUCTION — Chapter I

Page 559. "Mr. Johnson's Policy of Reconstruction." The "policy" consisted of two papers, one a proclamation of amnesty granting a pardon for treason to all, with some exceptions, who should take an oath to support the Constitution and the Union and to obey all laws and proclamations which had been made with reference to the emancipation of the slaves; the second an executive order intrusting the state governments to the people who had taken this oath. That the plan did not succeed was due in no small part to the folly of the newly constituted legislatures in immediately proceeding to pass various restrictive laws aimed at the negro, the effect of which would be to deprive him, in large part, of his newly acquired freedom.