Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1865-10-13
9olnieal.
THE RECONSTRUCTION CUES
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TION.
What are the conditions of raconstruc-
ton? What the essential prerequisites 60
the restoration of the late rebel states 10 the
full fellowship of the Union? These are
questions which the people of this country
have now to consider, and that cosnidera-
ton ought to be thorough and candid. Let
it be thorough, in order that the reorgani-
zation of civil polity throughout the south
eIn states may be made to conform to those
radical ideas of justice on which our whole
political fabric is based Let our investiga-
tion be candid, so that we may leave no
ground for bitterness and recrimination in
the future. That is TO say, In starting anew,
let the southern states start right, and let
all who speak on the subject of Ieorganiza-
ton speak freely and without reservation.
We need not vex ourselves in this discus
sion with the various theories, some of them
metaphysical in the highest degree, which
have been put forward, bearing upon recon
struction. Ii is enough for us 10 know, as a
matter of face, that the southern states have
not now any representation in the councils
OF the nation; that they have at present no
voice In the control Of the government.
Their representatives, known and ac-
knowledged as such, and as such entitled to
NI SAieAAG ntbh bAlC dblfGS VI
of all the other states In the federal legisla-
turo, openly withdrew from The government
after the election of President Lincoln.
They did not, save in the two honorable in
stances of Messrs. Hill of Georgia, and
Bou6gney of Louisiana, resign their places
IN Congress-leaving vacancies 20 be possibly
hlled thereafter. To do this would have be-
he'd the principle in virtue of which they
claimed to act. They did not mean that
their places, once vacated, should ever be
refilled. In those cases where they did not
act IN obedience to positive instructions from
the several state legislatures, their Cocoon
spirators who misled public opinion through
out the South easily managed TO have their
action in Withdrawing duly ratified During
the next four years it accordingly happened
that no successors to these voluntary absent
ees came to Washington. The southern
representatives had, at last, seeded, and
the question as 10 how far such secession
might proceed had been submitted to the
ordeal of battle 1t has been definitely as
ecnained since then what may be the limit
of secession; and the question now is, upon
what terms may those states which adopted
the principle of secession resume their rela-
tions with the Union2
The question is eminently practical one.
The common sense view of President Lin
coin suits best the temper of our people,
and accords mosl 6tly with the spirit of our
institutions Discarding the fne-spun the
ories, which can never be made 10 suit ev-
erybody, what the great mass Of the people
want is that the late rebel states be re-estab-
hshed, as soon as practicable, in their prop
er and normal relations 10 the United
States
Ii is evident from the outline above given,
of the course adopted by the seeding states,
that they are themselves preeluded from
debating, as some would seem desirous to
have them do, the terms of readmissioD
They are, 10 legal phrase estopped from de
nying the virtue of secession. Repudiatiug
the dociline now is very good, as far as it
goes; and it is certainly a healthful symp-
tom. But the historical fact is that the
principle OF secession received its finishing
blow at the hands, not of southern legisla-
lures, but of the loyal people throughout
the country who opposed It's arrogant pre-
tensions by force and arms, and in the COM
bat slew 1t. BY virtue of the title thus ac-
qulred, which is, in effect (call it what we
Will the right of conquest, that is. the title
OF the superior power, those same loyal peo-
pie now assume to declare what shall be the
terms OF readmission into the Union of
those who voluntarily and without cause left
it. They are far from any desire of ven
geance, they do not wish to use harsh meas
ures because they are harsh, but they would
be worse than foolish to ask less than such
measures as seem to them to afford perfect
for the future The question of re-
will be determined by this rule,
quite irrespective of any theories, whether
- - IL
In seeking, therefore, to define these
have only to guide themselves by the same
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