The Weekly Perrysburg journal. [volume] (Perrysburg, O. [Ohio]) 1861-1???, 1865-12-15
gulitital.
ReCOnstructlOn.

From tho recent message of Governor
MoRGAN, we extract the following on Re
construction:
The work OF reorganizing the govern
men.s Of tho rebel States, aud bringing
them again into practical relations with the
Government and people of the United States,
is now upon tho country, aud demands for
its successful performance the greatest wis
dom, patience, and forbearance,
But while it is important that tho work
OF reorganization shall not bo unnecessarily
delayed, it is more important that II shall
proceed upon sound principles, which will
| furnish guarantees for the future integrity
and peace of the Republic. The principal
discussions which arise on this subject per
tain to tho future status of the negro in the
Southern Sta'os. by some il is urged that
comforting suffrage upon him shall lie made
condition of reorganization, or in other
words that the States lately in rebellion
shall not be permitted to resume their prac-
tical relations with the Government, except
upon tho terms of first comforting the rights
Of suffrage upon their freedmen. AS to the
manner in which this measure shall bo &C.
complished, the friends of it differ. Some
are IN favor Of persistently excluding the
members OF Congress from the SoutherR
|
| porated into their several State Constitu-
lions. Others assume thatth States lately
in rebellion are no longer members of the
Union, but have forfeited and lost their
character as States, and are in fact held as
conquered provinces, and, like unorganized
territories which may have been acquired
| by the Government, are under the complete
control aud jurisdiction of Congress, which
may confer suffrage upon whomsOever It
pleases.
| The subject of suffrage is, by the Nation
al Constitution, expressly referred to the dc.
termination OF the several States, and 1t can
not be taken from them without a violation
Of the letter and spirit of that instrument.
But without stopping TO discuss theories
or questions of Constitutional law, and
leaving them out of view, il would, III my
opinion, be unwise to make the work of re-
construction depend upon condition of
such doubtful utility as negro suffrage
II in a fact so manifest, that it should not
be callet in question by any, that people
who are just emerging from tho barbarism
| of slavery are not qualified to become a part
of our political system, aud take part, not
only in The government of themselves and
their neighbors, but Of the whole United
States. So far from believing that negro
suffrage is remedy for all of Onr national
ills, doubt whether il is a remedy for any
and rather believe that it's enforcement by
Congress would be more likely to subject
the negro to a merciess persecution, than
to confer upon him any substantial benefit.
By some it is thought that suffrage is al.
ready cheap enough in thin country; and
the immediate transfer Of more tnan half
million of men from the bonds of slavery,
with all the ignorance and degradation up
on them which the slavery of generations
upon Southern fields has produced, would
be declaration to tho world that the ex-
ercse of American suffrage involves no
intelle ctual or moral qualifications, aud that
there is no difference between an American
freeman and an American slave, which may
not be removed 10y mere acl of Congress,
| What is far more important to the freedmen
than suffrage, is that their several States
shall give them the right to testify in courts
| of justice, afford TO them the ordinary Judi
| cial machinery for the protection OF their
civil rights, provide for their education, and
thus enable them to qualify themselves Tor
the higher political duties Of the citizen. 1t
is not less vital to their interests, that the
Constitutional Amendment be adopted,
which not only forever prohibits slavery
| throughout the nation, but Golfers upon
protection of their liberty and their civil
rights; and these things, among others, the
President Of the United States has imposed
as precedent conditions in this work of re-
| organization, and has declared his purpose
| to hold and govern these States by military
authority as in a state of war, until they
| have been complied with. Time, and the
| Influence of the new conditions by which
| they are surrounded, will elevate the condi-
ton of one race, and soften the prejudices
and asperities Of the other, and will accom-
plish what legislation and violent political
chan res can not The inevitable presence
| of both races upon the same soil, the de-
mands aud necessities of capital aud labor,
and the unavoidable community of interest,
will, in process of time, | cannot doubt,
force areciprocity of rights and privileges
Tue institution pt slavery was so closely in-
tertwined about the foundation of society
in the Southern States, that when it was de.
stroyed, society was uprooted and broken
TO pieces. The process of its reconstrue-
fion is but beginning, but il is very certain
that the new structure will differ, in most
essential particulars, from the old. Free la
Dor, free speech and free schools will come
into it as now, and powelfGi elements Of
change and progress, and large emigration
from the Northern States and Europe, bring,
ing commerce., manufactures and improved
agriculture, will exert modifying and BEN
ehcial influence, the effect OF which can
hardly be overestiniatcd.
Another amendment not only conducive
to the interests Of the freedmen, but de
manded by the rights and interests of the
white people Of the North should be made,
changing the basis of representation IN
Congress aud the apportionment of political
power, among the several States. The
present provision in the Constitution of the
United States concerning This, reads as fol.
lows Representatives and direct taxes
shall be .appOrtioned among the several
States, which may be included within this
Union, by adding 10 the number OF free
persons, including those that may be bound
to service for a term Of years, and excluding
Indians not taxed, tLreeJfths OF all other
persons" The phrase. three-Hfths Of all |
other persons" was q periphrastiC descrip- !
lpD Of tho slave population. and gave rep, !
rescntAtion for three.hIills Of their number.
BY the abolition Of slavery this population
is added TO the . nnmber Of iree psrsoiis,
and thus increases the basis of representa- |
iion hy the addition Of two-hiihS.
The inequality produced between the |
several States by this form of representa-
ton, is too palpable to require argument.