, 1865-09-14

tIon forbids secession, aud therefore fact
forbidden By law could not exist.
I'd. To accept the position In which they
psnccd themselves as severed from the Union
-an independent government de .fdeto, and an
alien enemy, to be dealt with according to
the laws Of var.
now TO BEGIN RECONSTRUCTION.
What right has any ono to direct q coarcn-
tion to be held in sovereign State of this
Union, to amend Its constitution and prescribe
the qualifications Of voters? The sovereign
power Of tho nation Is lodged in Congress.
Yet where Is the warrant IN the Constitution
for such sovereign power, much less the Exc
cutlyc, to intermedd1c with the domesti: In
stitutions Of State, mould it's laws and rcgu-
late the elective franchise? It would be rank,
dangerous md dep1orable usurpation. In re-
construction. therefore, no reform eau be eE-
fec,ea in the Southern States they hare never
left thcy Union. But reformation must be ef-
fccted the foundation Of their Institutions,
political, municipal and socIa1, must be broken
up and rc1aid, or all our blood and treasure
hive been spent in win. This con only be
done by treating and holding them as
a conquered people. Then all things
Mh aaea ana ms anss Saa aesFo auSog t. gox Sn soa
quered territory Congress would have fntl
power to legislate for them for the Terrific
rfcs are not under the Constitution except so
tar'as tho express power to govern them il
given to Congress. They would 1e held in q
Territorial condition until they are tIt to form
State Constitutions, republican IN fact, not Id
Us new States. II Congress approve Of their
Constitutions, md think they hare done
works meet for repentance, they would be 3D.
mftted rs new States. II their constitutions
are not approved Of they would be sent back
until they have bceome wise enough 50 to
purge their old laws as to eradicate every
Int tff10a frJo
they shall have learned to yencratc the Decla-
ration Of Independence. I do not touch on
the question Of negro suffrage. If In the
Union, the states haye long ago regulated
that, and for the central government to inter-
iere With u would be mtsehieyons impcr-
iuc1ce. If they arc to be admitted Us
new States, they must form their own Consti.
tuition, and no enabling net could dictate its
terms. Congress could prescribe tho qunli6-
cations Of voters while Territory, or when
proceeding to call convention to form a
State government. That IL the extent Of the
power Of Congress over the elective franchise,
whether IN q Territorial Or Stato condition.
The President has not even Ills or any other
power 10 meldle In tue subject, except by
advice to ConEscss-anA they On Territories
Congress, to be sure, has some sort OF com.
pulsory power by refusing the States admis-
Sion until they shall have complied with its
wishes upon tl!fs subject. Whether those
lowed to vote, or only those Of a pa1er hue,
leave TO he discussed in the future, when Con-
Eress can Take legitimate cognizancc uf It.
There ART about i, ,UD, 600 Of freedmen In the
South. The I1llnhcr Of acres Of land Is sl5,-
000, ,Ce. OF this those who own aboya o3u
ares each number about Il, 0,00J persons, hold
ing IN the aggreeate-toSctherw with the States
about S4, ,N0, 90 acres, leaving for all tho
oilers below 200 each about II ,600, ,O0 acres.
BY thus iorititln:5 the estates OF the leading
rebels the Government would have ::9l ,009, ,0D
Of acres, beside their town property, and yet
nine-tcnths Of the people would remain un-
touched. Divide this land into convenient
farms: Give, If you please, forty acres 10
each adult male freedman. Suppose there arc
LOO, ,OD of them. That would require
II, 0O0, Goo OF acres, whl3h deducted from
c9I COO Cc0, Leaves S4 0o0, GOO Of acres for sale.
Divide II into suitable farms, ard sell II to the
highest bidders. I think II, including town:
That would produce s, ,5l0, ,ooO, GOO. Let that
be applied as follows, to wit:
l. invest sex, ,000, 600 In SIX per cent Gov
eminent bonds, and ald the interest semi
annually 10 the pensions of those who hare
become entitled BY this villainous war.
.. Appropriate 500 oo0, eco to pay the DAM
age done to loyal men North and South, by
tie rebellion.
6. Pay the residue, being 5000, ,ooo, ,ooo,
toward the payment Of tho nationa1 debt.
THE NATIONAL DEHT.
Our war debt Is estimated ut from three to
four billions Of dollars: In mr. Judgment,
when al Is funded and tho pensions capital
lied, 1t will reach moro than four billions.
The interest at Fix per cent, only, {now
much mosc}., ssta, 0oo,ooo
mcnt are. -.:.........-........... 1so,ooo, ,No
For spme Year, the extraordinary e1-
peneea Of our army and navy viii be. ITO, oa,0o0
To,a].,..., ,,,,.,,.. -. $43U, ,0oo, 600