The national Republican., 1862-03-22
CIVIL aOvERNMEaT FOR THE sECE-
DED STATES.

CIVIL GOVERNMENT FOR THE sECk-
DED STATES.
The bill reported in the House, from the
Committee on Territories, by General ASHLEY,
providing for civil government aud the ad-
ministration Of Justice in the seeded region,
was framed only to meet temper ary emer-
gency. The bill itself expressly declares that
II Is 10 be operative only until the loyal peo-
pie Of the seeded region shall be able to or
ganize themselves into States as formerly, aud
with the old institutions Of State Governments,
and until such reconstructed States shall be
again admitted into the Union.
1t will be seen that this bill, notwl lihstanding
all the clamor made about IL, proposes nothing
like permanent exclusion from the Union, Of
what have been and may be again the nine
Southern members of 1t. I. only proposes
something for the preservation Of social order,
to take the place temporarily Of the State
governments, admitted on all hands 10 have
been destroyed, and to endure until new State
nothing, in fact, but what is manifestly neces-
sary TO be done. The Administration has re-
cognized this necessity, in designating military
governor for Tennessee. an act unanimously
approved by loyal people, not merely in re-
spect to the fitn Of the appointee, but in re
spect to the propriety Of such an appointment.
The millions Of people in the seeded region
cannot be left, for however small a period,
without some provisions for the preservation of
general order, and especially for the protection
Of those we'll affected to the Government. And
the only question really lie: how this protection
shall be afforded, whether under merely exec
utive regulations and by military officers, or
through a veil guarded law, receiving its sane
tion from the authority of Congress, and ma
tured by legislative counsel and discussion.
Gen. AsHLxY's bill, however, does undoubt,
edly contain something more, and something
too which Is very important, in the provision
that the proposed territorial arrangements
shall continue, until the States expected to b.
reconstructed at the South, shall be again ad-
mitted into the Union. Such re admission will
depend, Of course, upon the pleasure of Con.
gress, and this part of the bill, therefore, is
very obaoxous to those who maintain that
States have the incomprehensible prero gative
of coming back into the Union at their own
pleasure. after, not merely leaving 1t, but wag-
ing war upon it.
Gen. AsHLEY's bill conflicts unpleasantly
with some old notions as to State rights, and
still more unpleasautly with some late illusions
In which the country has INDUCED as to the
condition Of popular sentiment 10 the sec ,ded
region. So long as we hoped that we had
only TO march into the South and expel the
armies of treason, and that forthwith the op.
pressed masses would rise and welcome us as
liberators, the necessity Of an intermediate ter.
ritorial stage before State governments could
be reconstructed, was not apparent. The
country is naturally reluctant to admit q ne
cessity like that, which gives to the military
operations going on against the South an as
pect Of subjUgation. Certainly that is disa-
greeable, and men will incline to avoid II as
long as they can. But in the end, the wisdom
Of this part of Gen. AsHLEY's bill will become
cause we shall voluntarily close our eyes
against what we do not wish 10 see.
There are differences Of condition in the sew
eral seeded States, but as to some of there Is
too much reason to fear that the body Of the
population is so deeply affected with the pas
sions which have brought about the present
rebellion, that to entrust them at once with the
prsrogatives Of State sovereignty, will neither
be safe as respects the general interests of the
Union, or just to the minorities Of we'll affected
citizens which they contain. Gen. AsHLEY's
bill meets these cases, by distinct enunciation
d the principle, that the re.admission of seeded
States Is to be governed by the wise discretion
OF Congress. Ii thar is not now accepted as q
principle, 1t must be 10 the end as q fact.