Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1865-06-29
PRESIDENT JOHNsoN's RECONSTRUCTION
POLICY.

PRESIDENT JoHNsoN's Reconstruction
POLICY.
And furthermore, it is held that if we ad-
nit the secession States to have been out
of the Union during the rebellion, we ad-
nit the legitimacy of the Davis govern
ment, and therefore, cannot try them for
treason. In saying that the rebels sue
cessfully resisted the Government, we do
not say that they were ont of the Union.
We state simple fact Nor is it neces-
sary to fix their civil status when they
were fighting u.s. or make any admissions
concerning them. Is criminal outside of
| the law because it is admitted that for a
time he has been successful in resisting, or
evading the authorities We know the
rebel States were parts of this Union, in all
| of which the general government exercised
the functions Of authority to certain ex-
tent, and we know all these were suspen-
ded by means Of the hostile action of the
rebels And what does this fact establish?
! Nothing more nor nothing less, than that
those so acting are offenders against, and
amenable to the laws, and subject to such
punishment and restriction as the laws and
the authorities prescribe. Therefore, if the
government says to the offenders after the
crime is established you shall not vote and
hold office, you shall not exercise the func-
| tions of State, but shall resume your po-
81 ton as territory, or an embryo State,
! which shall be under the control of loyal
men until you shall have loyal citizens
enough to reinstall you as full member Of
the Union, she is doing that which she
has right to do that which she is expec-
ted to, and that which is right and reason
able. This is furnishing offenders for their
wrong-doing, and allowing them their places
as citizens when they have expiated their
| crimes.
1t is now claimed however that if, in con-
sequence of restoring to the rebels the
right of voting, the Constitutional COnven-
tions which have been authorised in North
Carolina and Mississippi, and which will
probably be authorized in the rest of the
secession States, should frame constitutions
inimical to the general Government, the
loyal citizens, the blacks, or do any thing
else contrary to the expressed OF implied
wishes and designs of the PROCLAIM alton, the
President has the same right to annul such
hostile action, as he had to authorize the
new organization Of said States. Now,
whilst we are willing to admit that under
the Constitutional provision which re-
quires the United States Government to
guarantee to each State republican form
of government" is broad, and much i'm
piled power is given in it, yet it seems to
us hardly possible that such latitude as
interfering with, or controlling the munich
pal regulations of existing States (for it is
upon the presumption that such States
have not been out Of the Union that this
action is justified) is given in this provis-
ion. Conceding such power to the Presi-
dent, every State in the Union is at his mercy
He may from caprice, or motive, declare
the Constitution of any State, anti Republic
can and whilst such thing is not prob,
able, can it be that the trainers of the Fed,
eral Constitution, who were so remarkably
, wise and sagacious in matters pertaining
to civil polity, and some of whom were sc
extremely Jealous of the reserved rights Of
) the States. should allow it to be possible
Suppose, for example, the Constitutional
Convention of North Carolina should adopt
the old Constitution of that State. Under
that Constitution the State becomes mem
Der of the Union, and as such was recog
f nized as Republican form Of government
for all the years we have existed as ma
tion. Can the President, under the clause
l that the United States shall guarantee g
4 Republican form of government to eacl
State" now reject this Constitution on the
t ground that it is not Republican form o
# government? Is this not very question
do not believe the President has any sucl
+ power Besides, the Federal Constitution
u says "new States shall be admitted by tht
Congress-" and Congress shall have pow
er to dispose of, and make all needful rules
and regulations respecting the territories.
Is it not plain here, that Congress is th'
branch of the Government which shal
guarantee to each State Republican form
,, of government, and not the executive? In
f asmuch then, as Congress has the whole
direct on of the organization of new States
1 is it not natural to suppose that the whole
0 subject of the regulation of the States, is il
its hands 1t does, to a certainty, seen
so to us.
; In ad dition, it is said that if the disoya
voters of the rebel States send to Congress
disloyal representatives, that body neet
not admit them, as it is the sole Judge Of
its members This will be partial check
f to be sure but an unsafe one. The oatl
which the House prescribes to its present
members, no disloyal man who has borne
, arms against the Government, can take
but suppose the opposition should secure a