Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1865-05-04
The Plan of aReeonstruetion."

Inc run W
tits said that just before his assassl-
nation, President Lincoln and his cao-
met had agreed upon a plan for restor-
ing loyal governments IN the southern
states--a plan which Is at the least com
mendable for Its simplicity, practicable
~ and thoroughness. 1t had also the
approval of Gen. Grant, and 1t is doubt
less substantially the plan which will be
adopted aud carried out by President
johnson. 1t was in brief rs follows
United States officers were at once to be
appointed and federal courts established
in the recovered states for the proper en-
forcement therein of the United States
laws, These officers, including the
Judges and other officers Of the federal
courts, were to be appointed from those
citizens who had taken both the allegi-
ance and the amnesty oath. support OF
the emancipation proclamation, includ-
ed In the terms of the latter oath, would
thus be secured. To aid in and super
intend the reorganization Of the state
governments, commissioners were to be
appointed, and state elections were to be
held under the laws existing in the
states before the rebellion, with such
additional regulations as the commits
sioners should deem necessary. At
these elections only loyal men were to
be permitted to vote. The power and
influence of the leaders in the rebellion
were to be broken down by the strict
enforcement of confiscation. Their fur
Their punishment, If they remained in
the country, was to be left with the
courts.
This is an outline Of the gener-
al plan. In Virginia however, Gov. Pier
pont having b9en recognized as the loyal
governor of the state was to establish
himself at once at Richmond and order
a new election for the whole state.
By this plan, it will be seen, all vex-
ing theories and distractions are avoid
ed; the rebel state officials are not
recognized at all safeguards are pro-
vided against their regaining power
In the new administrations the death
of slavery is secured by the re-
uuirement that all officers shall support
the emancipation proclamation and the
adoption, thus virtually made sure, Of
the constitutional amendment; and the
plan in short, is, not to re-admit the
states into Union they never had pow
err to leave, but to start again the ma
chinery Of their governments, Temporal
rily obstructed by the power of pro-
slavery traitors, and to remove forever
the Cause of the obstruction. This plan
would be satisfactory to all loyal men,
except those who insist upon an imme-
date guaranty of the elective franchise
to negroes. The qualifications of voters
should be the same for all loyal eitiaons
less come in good time; yet it is difficult
to see how the general government can
Immediately force this rule upon the
LOYAL people of the southern states, if
they oppose it, any more than it can
upon the people Of those northern states
where negroes are still denied the right
of voting. But now that slavery is de-
stroyed and with its destruction the
reason for keeping alive the prejudice
against the blacks is entirely removed,
the elective franchise will come as sure
ly as they may show themselves fitted
for its exercise.