The Vermont transcript. [volume] (St. Albans, Vt.) 1864-1870, 1865-11-24

The Failure or Reconstruction.
1t seems that the recent attempt at
Reconstruction, has in n great meas
IRE failed, and that the cause of such I.
failure is attributed to the bad faith
II the South. 1t has been very forci-
bly, remarked by one of our contem-
poraries chat the purpose of Con
gress in passing the law which dis
qualified disloyal persons from hold /
ing Office, the purpose of the Presl- /
dent i'll the disqualifying clauses Of his
Amnesty Proclamation, was to put
he work OF reconstruction into the
hands of Union men, who had not
only disapproved Of the rebellion but
had not committed themselves to it.
1t was perfectly understood at the
South that the intention of the Unit
ed States was, that those who had
been prominent in waging war against
the nation should take back seats in
reconstruction, that those who had
devastated their section of the country
should not be its representative men in
repairing the ravages theircrimes had
caused.
But the leading politicians of the
South were determined not to abdi-
cate their power. They resolved to
control the votes of their section as
they had controlled its physical force.
I1y combination of cunning and au-
iacity they made themselves the head
and soul Of movement designed for
their political extinction; and by pro-
Tossing Union sentiments while they
plotted disaffection, they were soon
able to rail at the real Union men,
who were unstained by treason, as
towards and sneaks, who had desert
ed their State iii the time of trial, and
to get themselves returned for the
most important Offices. Reconstruc
ton was, therefore, simply Rebellion
in a new form.
Some of these tricksters, however,
were so outrageously guilty that they
had little hope even of a presidential
pardon. These forced pardon by
getting themselves elected to offices
which nnpardoned traitors could not
hold. In the choice of representa-
tives to Congress, u still holder game
was played. The disqualifying law of
Congress was plainly in the way OF
their being admitted, if they had been
compromised i'll the rebellion. Con-
9ress, therefore, was to be forced to re-
peal its law 10y the sending of repre-
sentatives who could not take the oath
which the law prescribed The Plan,
therefore ceased to be the Presidents
plan, and became the plan of the reb-
els themselves. In the place of suing
FOR pardon, they dictated terms, and
attempted to override both the Presi-
dent and Congress. In short, under
the name of reconstruction they hid
the real purpose of coup d etat.
Failing to get into Washington by
force ofarms, they counted on being
able to doit by force of intrigue and
impudence. Had they succeeded in
their plot, no man at the South would
have been hereafter qualified for local
or national Office who had not been
prominent in the rebellion, and no
man III the North would have been
qualified for national Office who had
not been a rebel.
This seems TO be plain and un-
vanished history of recent political
events, and its narrative may well
challenge surprise. 1t is idle to sup
pose that the Southern States will nj
once readily and gracefully submit to
the teriRs which have been held out
to them. IL is n question Of time
No temporary measure should be
adopted which shall in process of time
breed new and endless contentious
and result in new broils and wars.
The only plan of reconstruction which
ought to be adopted is that which can
survive the sevorest logical tests and
is based on true republican principles