The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1864-01-21
Reorganization OF the States--BIIl
OF UF. Ashley.


Of Representatives : bin relative to the
reorganization Of the governments 10 the
rebel States, which, we suppose, will be
pressed to = passage in the House, at an
early day. 1t is nOminsliy 10 carry out
the Presidents plan, as enuneiated in
bis amnesty proclamation, bat is, in real
ity, sOmethingof a widely different char
setter. The preamble is lengthy, setting
forth the facts relative to the rebellion,
and the causes which led to it, and then
adds that it is the duty Of Congress to
provide temporarily for the exercise Of
such powers IS may be necessary TO pre-
serve order during the inteFregnum, which
is very correct
The first section of the bill then Lro-
videB that the President shall take pos
session of the insurrectionary States and
Organizs military governments in them
sill such time as a certain proportion Of
the people shall signify their loyalty, and
hold elections in accordance with the
provisions of the laws and Constitution
of the United States.
The second, third and fourth sections
provide for the appointment of various
officers of government by the President.
The fifth prescribes the manner of pro-
ceeding in an election of delegates to
frame new State Constitutions
The sixth provides as follows:
Sec 6. And be il further enacted, That
the members Of the Convention thus
elected, shall meet at the time and place
designated by the Governor, and after
organizing, shall first declare its assent
on behalf Of the people of said State to
the adoption of the Constitution of the
United States, wheFeupon the said Con-
ventiOn shall be and is hereby authorized
to form : Constitution Of State govern
ment for said district, provided that the
Constitution shall be Republican, and not
Fepugnant to the Constitution of the Uni
ted States aud the Presidents pToclama-
ton Of January 1, 1863, and provided
further, that said Convention shall pro-
vide By an ordinance forever iFre7Oeable
without the consent CT Congress
1st. That no person who held Office,
civil or military, under the Usurping gov
ernment, State or Confederate, shall be
allowed to vote at any election for Gov
ernOr OF members Of the Legislature, or
hold any Office of honor or profit under
said State Government, until the Legisla-
ture thereof, By special act in each case,
shall have granted full and uncondi-
tional pardon 10 such persons.
ID. That no debt contracted by the
rebel States or Confederate Government
shall be recognized or paid by said State.
Sd. That the freedom Of all persons
heretofore held to service or labor in such
State, who shall have been declared free
by act Of Congress or proclamation Of
the President, shall be recognized and
guaranteed by the Constitution.
4th. That from and after the adoption
Of said Constitution, SlaUsTy or involuntary
seyWtade, except IN punishment Of crime
t0Eereof the party shall hare been convicted,
shall be forevsr prohibited IN said State.
If the delegates thus elected shall COM
ply with these provisions the States viii
resume their position in the Union, and
under the Sth section when such COnVen-
tion refuse to frame such Constitution the
military governments 10 continue.
This, if we understand it, is prOcla-
nation of the doctrine Of State suicide,
which, if adopted by Congress, will be
official; and il is against this that We
protest It requires the formation Of
new State Constitutions, 8 rs-adOption
Of the National Constitution, and q re
admission into the Union, thereby sc-
kuoWledging the acts of the seceBsiOnists
a. Of binding force-somsthing we are
hardly willing to concede. The act Of
secession being nullity, it did not affect
the status of any State, or annul the
Constitution Of any State and all pro-
csediDgs or acts Of a Legislature, or Of
any official, or officials, not sworn to
support the Constitution Of the United
States, ere without the slightest binding
force. The rebels must be regarded as
q collection of individuals, combining TO
thwart the execution Of the laws, and as
such must be treated.
II By the act Of rebellion, the Presi-
dent acquired rights, as commander-in-
chief Of the army, to issue q prOclama-
ton Of freedom 10 the slaves, the proyis-
ions ofeach and every Constitutions Of the
States referred to, which are contrary -
that proclamation, are null and void ;
but no other. The States exist; bnt = mob
has prevented the selection Of officers to
execute the laws Of its Legislatures.
The situation is very much like the
case Of an amendment Of the Constitution,
which has been adopted by the Legisla-
turs Of three fourths Of the States. II
anything in the organic laws Of any State
dissenting fron the amendment be con-
trary 20 it, the conflicting provision or
provisions are null and void; but no
others.
We must be careful how we admit the
doctrine Of State suicide; it is almost
a. dangerous IS secession.
FROM FORT SMITH.