Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1865-11-09
8radford geporter,
Towanda, Thursday, November 9, 1865


Those who have followed the discussion
of these questions will be able to see, by
reference to the Presidents views publish
ed last week that these is a wide difference
between the policy originally announced
as his, and that now announced in this au-
thorized exposition.
The original plan to which, it was said,
the President was committed was simply
unconditional restoration, the States hav-
ing never been out of the Union: and be-
ing therefore entitled to all their original
rights in it, The plan now enunciated in
reconstruction upon such terms as the Ma
ton, in the exercise of its plenary powers,
may see fit to dictate.
For this great advance in the Presiden-
tial programme the country is indebted to
the firm stand taken by the Radical Repub-
licans against the policy of Restoration.
The President has seen that public opinion
will not tolerate the idea of the return of
the Rebel States with all their original
powers, and like a wise man he has ad-
vanced his position to correspond, in some
degree with that of the prevailing senti-
ment of the nation
The President, it is true, still maintains
that the rebel States were never out of the
Union but he adds that State Institu-
tions are prostrated-laid out on the
ground" "The power of those persons
who made the attempt (at rebellion) has
now been crushed, and now 1ce mot they)
want to reconstruct the State Governments,
and hare The p0'cer to do it," Here it will be
seen that the President, while contendng
that the Southern States were never out of
the Union, lays it down as an axiom that
they have no political power whatever
A State without political power or rights
is, practically, no State at all and, its
powerlessness conceded, it matters little
whether it is to be considered as in or out
of the Union. A State without power might
as well be out of the Union as in it.
The President, in this statement of his
views, iterates and reiterates that the pow
er to reconstruct these States is in Oul'
hands, and not in the hands of the rebels.
" J7e want to reconstruct the State govern
ments, and have the power to do it," he
says: We can check them at any stage
and obligc them to correct their errors"
and in another place he says, re have the
power to control the rebel States" This
is a concession of all that the radical Re-
publicans have claimed The rebel States
being PROSTATE, cannot be put upon their
feet again, except by us, and it is in our
power to make the platform on which they
shall stand. They can have no political
power in the future, except such as we
choose to give them. This is the radical
standpoint, and the President admits it, in
all its length and breath
The possession, by the loyal States, of
the power to dictate the terms of recon
struction being thus unquestoned, it be-
comes simply a question Of expediency, not
Of right, how far and upon what questions
their power shall be exercised. The Presi-
dent and the Radicals agree that the abo-
lition of slavery and the reputation of the
rebel debt should be exacted of them but
while the radicals think that manhood suff-
rage should also be exacted. the President
is unwilling to press it at this stage of the
work. But this, we repeat, the President
himself being judge, is simply a question
of expediency, and not of right.
1t is better" the President says, to
let them reconstruct themselves, than to
force them to it = adding for, if they go
wrong the power is in our hands, we can
check them at any stage, to the end and
oblge them to correct their errors The
We here, we take to mean the Govern
ment-Congress and the President and
with the broad declaration of the plenarv
power Of the government to compel the
Southern States to do what is right, in re-
constructing themselves there is no escape
from the conclusion that the government
can if 1t chooses to exercise the power,
compel them to concede Manhood Suffrage
and the equality Of all men before the law
But, while thus conceeding the correct
ness of the Radical ground, and the fullness
of the power Of the government to dictate
the terms Of reconstruction, the President
goes on to say: If | interfered with the
vote in the rebel States to dictate that the
negro shall vote, might do the same thing
for my own purpose in Pennsylvania 1t
does not follow Pennsylvania did not re-
bel, nor has she ever lost her rights, as the
rebel States have done. She does not lie
prostrated, as he says they do She does
not need to be reconstructed, nor has he OF
/ the government any power over her There
Is all the difference in the world between
the two. The government can dictate
terms to the rebel States, because they sac
riticed all their rights in trying to get out
of the Union, and it cannot do that to Penn
sylvania, because she has never sacrificed
any Of her rights. The premises, there
fore, being unsound, the conclusion is
equally so
We do not, however, intend to argue the