Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1865-10-27

/
war, and slanderer of the soldiers, condemns
it. While every copperhead paper, conyen-
| ton, and politician shouts the praises of the
| first named scheme with unanimity unpar-
| alleled in political contests. But these
schemes you are to decide.
/ Our leading journals seem bewidered. 4
took up one lately that says reorganization
is easy. The fundamental principle ii lays
| down is that the Rebellion must be consid-
cred as having destroyed no State, nor any
State Government; they were only in obey
ancc, and he says the President acts upon
| that principle Let us see where that would
| lead us to.
| have said, elsewhere, that our national
| liabilities, when all shall be ascertained, win
reach four billions of dollars Certain tenn
porizing Republicans say that the amount is
exaggerated Let us see.
By the last report of the Secretary of the
Treasury, the ascertained amount, exclud-
ing cash on hand, was over $2,S50, 600, 000
The amount due the Army and Navy would
no doubt swell it to at least three billions of
dollars. / think that the unsettled claims
against the Government Tor damages, goods
furnished, and services rendered, will reach
at least five hundred millions of dollars.
The pension list will soon require $30,000,-
600 annually, whose capital is $500, 100000
Here we have already four billions. But
there are other various liabilities -annuities
to Indian tribes; bonds to the Pacific Rail
Road not less than 800, 000, 900, ct ceterG
This, to be sure, win not all be on interest
for two or three years to come. Our legal
tenders cannot be funded before that time
But, in the mean time, that which is on in
terest bears much more than SIX per cent
IL
The gold bearing is between eight and nine
per cent, reduced TO legal tenders To
pay the interest and ordinary expenses of
the Army and Navy viii require $500, 000,-
600 annually. Our present revenue will be,
in common years, about $500, ,000, 600, leav-
ing $20O, 600 600 to be raised by additional
taxation. This whole debt was forced on
us By the rich Rebels of the South They
organized regular government; defed the
United States to battle; compelled them to
raise and maintain million of men; and a
navy of seven hundred vessels. Those who
created this debt have been conquered. The
law of nations says; the law of justice, and
of the God of Armies says, that they shall
pay the expenses and damages of this wick
ed war. The Rebels, the Copperheads, and
few bewildered staggering Republicans
say, ''let them back with ali their privileges,
without fine OF forfeiture To consolidate
the Union we must leave the honicidal
traitors in its bosom, and treat them kindly
lovingly, and mercifully. Touch not a dollar
of their property; but allow loyal men to
groan under the burdens they have heaped
upon them" This is not the Pennsylvania
platform 1t says ''con6scate the property
of the rich Rebels, and apply it to pay the
debt, and to indemnify the loyal men who
have ruined them; and add something to
our wounded soldiers comfort. And yet
/ perceive certain Republicans, who sit on
velvet cushions, I'LL high places, and grow
fat on federal patronage, join the whole
throng of Copperheads and traitors, and
beg that mercy and loving kindness shall be
bestowed on the vanquished wretches: and
especially on those who sue for pardon, be-
cause they are worth more than $50, 600
each and that none of their vast estates
shall be taken from them, while our loyal
poor, made houseless by their incendiary
torch, must wander in poverty and labor by
the day, to feed and shelter their suffering
familiesl
The shabby Republicans to whom / have
referred, take that course because they pre-
tend it is the President plan, All admit
and applaud the patriotism and honesty Of
the President 1t is true that the applause
of the Copperheads, and their unanimous
approval Of what they call his views, have
| made the loyal pause. But they need not
be alarmed: nor need the rebels exult at
what they deem the Pre- i-nt's plan of re-
| organization. / do not find that he has any
| definitely chosen mode. He tells US he is try
| ing experiments, as it is his duty to do, to
| see which works best. He cannot for mo-
nnTuI pIrIasnu, do understand him IN
pretend that the Executive has anything to
do with reconstructing the nation His du-
ty, as Commander-in-C Chief, is to do what he
is doing, hold the conquered beiligerent un-
der military rule until the meeting of Con.
gress. Not one of the Confederate States
is yet released from military supervision
The President cannot make laws to govern
them, nor can their own Legislatures for
| they are subject to the conqueror. Congress,
and Congress alone, can re-instate or read
init them. But the President has an inn
portant duty to perform. He should be
prepared to recommend some scheme to
Congress. To know what is Wisest to ad-
wise, he is trying the experiment of allowing
the captives TO fabricate forms of State Gov
ernments, and pass municipal laws. If he
finds that they are Weaned from their slav-
decree of equal rights, he will recommend
Congress to admit them to the communion
of Freedom. If, as seems likely, from the
specimens we have had, their old prejudices
prevail; and they will not bow to the decree
OF Heaven, and honestly embrace the Dec
laratlon of Independence, he win no doubt
advise Congress to keep them still in state
of pupilage. The theory on which he is
allowing the South to patch up State gov
ernments, show that he cannot expect them
TO be permanent. He directs his Military
Governors to allow the people to take the
old Contributions as the substratum of a new
organization, and so amend them as to meet
the expectations of the North, by abolish
ing slavery. The Governors direct who
shall vote and when the Conventions shall
be held Now those Constitutions which
arc TO be reformed, point out the modes of
amendment.
The Constitution of Tennessee provided
that whenever twothirds of the General
Assembly shall think it necessary TO change
or amend this Constitution they shall recon-
mend to the electors to vote for or against a
convention, et cetelu.
The Constitution of South Carolina now
being furnished BY Provisional Governor
Perry says: 'tNo Convention of the people
shall be called unless by the concurrence of
two thirds of both branches of the whole
representation The Constitution of Mis-
sissippi requires a two thirds vote to amend;
SO of Louisiana, Virginia, and all the other
States None of the present cobbled Gov
ernments have gone through this process.
| think aholit A dozen townshins and fifteen