The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1865-05-18
RECONSTRUCTION.
THE STATUS oFTHE REBEL STATES

ry ReHouRccd.- Jnconuerted Rebels t,
he Erctuded from Foting-The term
Of Citizenship to be Unconditional Log
ahy.-Negro Suffrage Adcocatecl a
tie So"th-Condition Of Freedmen t.
be ImProced.-Opiaioas Of an 4rlan
sas Larger.
The following letter from +. w. CAN'T
who figured prominently in the early
days of the Rebellion as leader in Arkan
sas, aud afterwards abandoned the Rebe
cause, will be read with interest -
Washington, d. c., May 6, 1866.
Hon. VIM. d. KelIey-My Dear Sir
i have just finished reading your ad
mirable speech upon the state of the
country, delivered january 18th, and
while dissenting from some of its details
desire to thank you for it as bold open
and statesman like move in the right di.
rcction. The status of the Rebel States
and the statue of the black man are be
coming absorbing questions.
/ The sooner the States are restored prop
erig, the better for them and the country.
They had better nercr be restored aS
States than restored tmpropcrly. [ mean
by being restored properly, that they
should be restored upon the basis Of nd-
fioHality and .treedom. | say this for
many reasons, and among them, because
there never were issues more distinctly
submitted for settlement than these an
tagcniSms of recession and slavery upon
one side, and nationality and freedom,
upon the other; issues submitted to the
sword because diplomacy and statesman
ship could not settle them.
Nationality struggled at first alone. 1t
fouted freedom and protected slavery
But it was driven at length, after many
defcatssund disasters, in sore distress to
tear itself from slavery and ally itself
with freedom. Then the issue was fair
ly made up, and, after many victories,
fairly won. The verdict being in favor
Of the Government, the remaining cues
tion is, shall it have judgment and exc
cution That it should, is clear The
most practical way to enforce it is the
thing desired. And herein arise mul-
titude Of opinions. But it is conceded
by all loyal persons that it must arise
somehow out of the reinauguration Of
State Governments about to take place.
While the armies contended | urged the
formation of State Governments based
upon the nationality of freedom, out Of
any material at hand, that they might
come in as supplementary to the action of
the army, and assist in overthrowing the
Rebel State Governments But with the
downfall of their military, their whole
civil power, both Confederate and State,
collapsed, and new phase is thus prcsen-
ted.
Passing over Tennessee, arkansas and
Louisiana. | come directly to those States
which have taken no steps towards reor-
ganization. propose to show how. in
their reorganization, the nation can Sc
cure the fruits Of its trials and triumphs;
or, so to speak, have Judgment and exc
cution upon the verdict.
La each of these States military Gov
ernors should be appointed. Small de-
tachments Of troops should be stationed
at different points as a police force mere
ly. When the people by public meetings
and loyal resolutions, and other unmista-
kable evidences, show sings Of loyalty,
and desire for government, an enroll
mcnt should be ordered.
In doing this it should be borne in
mind Il ii me Rebellion sprung from and
rested upon the ideas of Secession and
.Starery. That consequently all who en-
tertained and adhered to these ideas werC
rebels, whether they held Office Or ageu
cies or not, or lchcreeer they resided
As right to be earoited and Participat
in tie election, the applicant should b'
required to take an oath to support th
Constitution, and make i ,rritten, sotemI
and public remuneration of secession dnt
slauerq. The enrolment completed, al
election should be ordered for a Conyen
ton of the people. This Conventio
would change the organic law of the Stat
in the particulars indicated above, an
order an election for permanent Stat
Government, such election to be partic
patcd in only by the parties enrolled :
above. | should desire the enrollmcr
for two reasons.
) First to keep out the disconted an
unconyerted Rebel of the South; Secon'
the more dangerous (n the future) Rel
cl of the North. Before the work OF r
organization takes place, many Aorther
men who have adUocatcd openly the san
ideas that Jefferson Davis fought TO
who have attempted to pinion, the aru
of the Government from behind, WIN
c armed Rebels stuck it in front, will {
c South, and be prima .tacic entitled
IS vote. The triumph has been ooer tie
too then give the nation Judgment
them too Are they fit to engage IN
t orgination until they gioe Up the ide
q tbGt made thene Rebels ? 1t may be ;
l. gued that they have changed. Then
$ oath will not hurt them, but an open &C
fession do them good.
General Buffers plan, admirable
l. many respects, is Objectionable in tn
0, that he proposes to exclude adsof"tety a
n lInnpr