The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1865-06-09
The Presidents Proclamation.

President johnson in his instructions t.
Provisional Gov. Holden Of North Carolin,
has announced the policy Of the administers
ton in reference TO the reconstruction OF reb.
sisiates. BY the appointment OF MIR ho''
den. the government regards the rebel state
Offices % vacated, and prescribes the manner
in which they shall be filed. A convention
ton is to DO Immediately called OF all persons
who were legal voters at the time the ordi-
nance Of secession was adopted, and no 9TH
crs. but no person is allowed to vote who has
not taken the amnesty oath. The constitu-
ron Of North Carolina must DO 60 altered Us
to acknowledge and ratify all legislation Of
Congress relative to slavery and oil procla-
nations Of the Executive during the war, be-
fore the government will acknowledge any
elective civil authority within said state.
We do not see how tho administration
could do less, but there are very many who
think il should have done more. II it has
the power to disfranchise former citizens on
accoun, Of disloyalty. which right it un-
doubtedly has, it certainly possesses the right
10 cniranchise citizens who have rendered in
valuable aid to the government and who
have been invariably loyal. But the
President exercises only half his authority,
leaving Congress to assume the responsibility
Of enfranchising the blacks Of the south.
We should have been better pleased. had the
President taken the initiative and placed the
basis Of representation upon loyalty to the
government without the base distinction oil
color. But We have no idea Of assuming an
attitude Of hostility to the administration by
opposing Its present policy on this subject ;
because We think that the President firmly
believes, as we do, that the security and sta
bili,y Of the government, justice to the loyal
states, and justice to the black defenders and
supporters Of the government, imperatively
demand the Acknowledgement of the blacks.
Thus the responsibility Of deciding the
question Of negro suffrage devolves upon Con-
sr-ss. and each house has the constitutional
right OF deciding the necessary qualifications
Of those persons who will be sent to represent
the former rebellious states. II is the duty
Of all persons to discuss this subject fully so
that the voice Of tho people shall be unmis-
takably felt by Congress.
We believe that very soon tho southern 10y
alist will DO forced to the conclusion that, il
he wishes his state to rank rs u loyal state,
and himself to occupy u position equal to
the disloyal majority, he will favor negro sui
fringe This must be the inevitable result Tor
the protection Of the loyal white population
20 save them from the domination Of those
very men who precipitated them into the
gull of treason. IL will no. be competent
for the loyal minority to act upon the fact
that slavery il dead dead in its old form
and the secession majority to act upon thu
contrary. The Emancipation proclamation
becomes farce without negrosuarage, what
ever other supports it may have. because
while the old form Of slavery is wiped out
the monster will BE- resurrected in four.iold
more horrible shape.