Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1863-12-17
THE PRESIDENTS PLAN.

THE PRESIDENTS PLAN
The reader will find in another part Of to-day's
paper communication, to which We give place,
because it proceeds from statesman whose long
and varied experience in public affairs, as well as
his approved loyalty, imparts recognised value to
all his political suggestions, and because the obec
tions which it brings against the plan of recon-
struction" proposed by the President are taken on
grounds so different from those to which we ad-
verified yesterday, that in proportion to their tena
bility, they must serve to set in clear light the
wholly indefensible character of the latter.
We submit our correspondents views to the
notice of our readers without comment, further
than to say that we do not understand the Presi-
dent to prescribe the oath in question as an indis-
pensabe condition precedent to the exercise of the
right of suffrage in any revived State" but that
he merely suggests it, of his own motion, as
Gratifying point" which may be accepted by the
people of such State under the assurance that, if
accepted, it will not be rejected by the General
Government so far as that Government is embodied
in the Executive The President is particular
to say that emo man is coerced to take it,"
(the oath,) and he adds that in "saying that
reconstruction will be accepted if presented
in specified way, it is not said it will never
be accepted in any other way" In word,
the whole plan under this head is proposed to the
consideration and free discussion of the people
concerned, without any injunctions binding them
to its involuntary acknowledgement, and without
any restrictions closing the door to their indepen
dent action on the subject in such other direction
| as they may judge to be more .expedient, and on
such other principles as they may judge to be
more consistent with their rights and dignity as
loyal citizens of the United States, entitled, as
SUCH to regulate their domestic concerns according
to their own will and pleasure, it being understood
that as loyal citizens" Of the United States they
can have will or pleasure incompatible with the
Constitution land laws. The President does not
submit his plan as any thing more than sug-
gestion," which he says "is made in the hope
that it may do good, without danger of harm" If
it should be rejected by the people of the States
interested, it will fall to the ground If accepted
by them, it must necessarily be very transient in
its duration-serviDg merely to bridge over the
chasm which is now fixed like great gulf be-
tween the order Of the past and the anarchy of the
present The authors of secession have proved
themselves able architects of ruin" and to bring
political symmetry and beauty out of the chaos
they have superinduced promises to tax the skill OF
our wisess statesmen, and, We may add, to try the
patience of our most hopeful and sanguine pa
| triots.
For reasons which will readily occur to our
readers, we have preferred, as far possible, to
leave the discussion of the Presidents plan in the
hands of the people to whom it is addressed, and
in whose interest it purports to be conceived and
promulgated. If they shall be inclined to adopt
it as provisional Gratifying point" for the cstab-
lshment of more regular system of State Govern
ment which shall place them on an equality of
rights and bind them to an equality of duties with
their sister States, we are not disposed % raise
technical objections against it, lest we might seem
willing to defeat its benefcent purpose. If the
people concerned shall reject it, wish it to be
that the plan failed for other than be-
cause of the opposition brought to bear upon it by
discussions arising outside of the sphere to which
| it applies. We have very definite and decioed
views as to the nature and effect of this last pro-
clamation of the President, but we are not in
haste to forestal the progress of the events which
shall Justify or confute them. If the President
had assumed to promulgc it as anything more than
tentative expedient, we might not have thought
it proper to practise this prudent reserve. But,
it is, weprefer to judge Of the plan by its fruits
|