The Council Bluffs nonpareil. [volume] (Council Bluffs [Iowa]) 1857-1867, 1861-12-21
ELIHU BuRRIrT'S PLAN OF RECON
ATRUCTiON.

Mr.. Elihu Burritt, better known % tht
learned blacksmith, has suggested a plan for
the adjustment Ut our national troubles
suffer, n,ly novel TO attract ait ut on, though
hardly sufficiently practicable to demand
rrfusstion, or sufficiently admissible to NEE,
with any general concurrence. Mr.. Burrit,
i. too much 1t q man Of pc ace for these wal
times. For the sake Of peace he would bs
inclined TO make larger concesslop TO re-
bel,sn, and q larger sacrifice Of our nationa
unite and integrity than most OF the Amer
icaN eople would think Of yielding in AM
present or possible contingency Of the u,,
tional cause.
lie offers the following suggestion by way
of reconstruction:
l. Add one more circle to our Fedora
system, by making il Confederacy OF Ma.
tions rs we'll as States.
2. Concede to the Confederate States
their Cong, ess, and few Other conditions
Of a limited nationality. Let them, in this
Federal capacity, Constitute an equal mem.
Der Of the proposed Nations Union.
3. Invite and enable the Mexican Repub-
lie to come into this Uni N, as another
constituent party. As an inducement, and
an assisting act, let the Northern Republic
and the Confederate States guarantee to her
European prosecutors the payment Of all
claims justly due Them, and also be her
bonds for her good behavior towards for
rign powers hereafter. BY this arrangement
she would save her national sovereignty
from that humiliating subjugation now i'm
pending over her.
4. Let this Nations Union, consisting at
first Of the Northern Republic, the Confed
crate States, and the Mexican Republic hold
an annual Diet al Louisville, ST. Louis, or
some other convenient locality, at which it
shall elaborate measure for the common
good of the Coofederacy.
5. Let this Diet be composed OF two de.-
exates from each Of the States forming the
uation represented, with preserved seats
for the Canadas, and the other British North
American Provinces, whenever they and the
mother country may think the connection
will favor their interests.
6. Establish North American Zolverein,
or "Cussoms' Uaion," after the plan
of the late Senator Doug AZ, BY which
the importations from foreign countries
shall be placed on the same footing. and
pay be same duties at New York. Nsw Or.
leans, Vera Cruz, and Quebec; TO be divi'
ded rs the Federal Diet shall determine.
!. Establish general postal service, By
which single letter from Montreal TO Mex
leo shall pay IL cents 3 to Canadian oiice,
) to the Northern Republic, 3 10 the Con.
federate States, and 3 to Mexico.
8. Neither Of the national parties to the
Confederation shall make any treaty, o-
inter- into any arrangement with q foreign
Power, alternating any portion Of It's own
territory. or any prrrogative OF its sover-
eighty, or giving to that Power any -xclu.
s,se or peculiar commercial advantage; but
all treaties. compacts, or conv eutioos, affect
ing the foreign relations Of the several
parties Of the Confederation, Oh II be sub
ni,sed to the confederation and sanction VI
the Diet.
8. All tbs forti6cations on the seaboar.i.
both on the Atlantic and Pacific, shall be
regarded, held. and commanded as the com.
IN defences of the Confederation.
By this plan Mr.. Burritt thinks We should
retain the South 10 the Union. and also bring
iu Mexico and eventually the British Prov
iuces; and in the event Of collision with
Europe, or happier still, peaceful commerce
With Europe, oil the population Of North
America would present united force and
consstute one federated nation. This uould
be usgn,6ccns project. lift caald be read
lily accomplished, AMI the end 10 be obtained
we're worth the probable cost. Bot magni
6cens - such an empire might be, il vosld
not Be the Union Of our fathers. Il IL for
this. and this ONLY, that our soldiers are 10
the 6sld; and From this parpo.e no plan Of
emp,re, however ambitious or beuevoleps,
ean doost the Aoerscas people.
eTMsa il . glorious poem each life a
oans,, esch day liSe. TIE D-lsdy pis-s