, 1865-05-02
FROM ALABAMA.
A Soldiers Hints on Reconstruction

BRIDGEPORT. Ala, April p, 1905.
Editors Chicago Tribune:
Many Of cur politicians seem to enjoy the
exercise Of a feather, tickling process to grow
an importance out Of 3 techntcality. They
appear 10 feel themselves called upon TO en-.
ploy their acquired Congressional strategy,
and with the profundity Of their ponde ration
attack the question Of reconstruction as deep
n. the rear Of its basis as to involve lengthy
and Irritating contest, In which Anglo -saxon
and gin cock tails would be largely but
smoothly dealt In. They etapt hne speeches
which arc gems IN rhetoric and literature,
tshlsh toned, - Is broaa-nvunainE'" speeches,
beautffed pye many graceful dSures-made
fragrant by the dews Of talent and
cleaning with "glittering generaltues. -
and thus they labor for fame, more than for
country, and sadly. fail il both respects, IS
they richly deserve, making pro1snge&efforts
-cxhausting the subject BY their ability, and
themselves BY the. e1ertion-ahowing the
pros: and cons. upon q question which Is
purely the creature Of their vivid, bnt per-
Teited Imagination, yhicb, so much like mhuY
other questions OF similar origin, has, not
the virtue Of any possible practicable good at
taehed to it. While On the other hand Its
discussion and accession, even were It dis
cussed ever SO wisely, would hare the evil of
practical injury attached to It. But all this
Seems to BE- in perfect sale keeping with the
many drawbacks of our legislative bodies tn
their snail like course Of legislation. But
faJs one "lalge bodies {great men) mopc
AoW." We will pass In advance Of the posi-
lion reached by politicians, and Simply aay
that We ali know that the rebel States have
rot sustained their proper relation to the
general government for the past four years,
EFuRthar n hoV VA in Tar 3na1
sense been out of the Union. The object of
the war Was to compel them to sustain and
renew their proper relation. Now that vic
tory ID perchmg upon our banners and pe8ce
about to spread her soft bright wings once
more over our beloved Land, the most impor-
ton.
The Louisiana policy, favored by our deceas-
ed President seems BY It's virtues to have the
preference. It fully encourages and protects
loyal citizens In the re-estab!iahmento of State
authority IN harmony with the general gov
proper Ielarionship. What better policy can
: be expected in the face Of facts and the ma
tute Of things!
; But in this connection the question very
naturally arises, who are to be considered
the elective franchise? Every. Individual who
voluntarily took The oath Of rebel soldier
at once made himself an alien Ito say nothAg'
'of an enemy to the government as far as bY
his own fee act and oath he was capable Of
doing 1t, while within our boundaries Why
not take him at bis oath and actions and con-
slider him an alien, only subject to the same
laws Of naturalization like all othcr aliens:
Of course exceptions to this rule would be
numerous, in cases Of forced conscripttou,
upon the parties procuring sufficient evidence
of tht1t loyalty, &C., on the one hand, and In
cascs where the subsequent conduct of per
sons should prove them to be unworthFth the
AL rebel officers, both military aud civil,
hare Voluntarily staked their reputation and
honor on the rebellion. It WHa their free
choice. They were not directly compelled
to accept Office. They preferred their chances
with rebels rather than with us. They staked |
tault they have exhausted themselves and
their country to their utmost. Why not com
Pei them to take1h consequences Of the game
they have forced Us to play then7 They
bave rendered themselves ineligible to any
Office Of t,ust or profit in the Government. |
VIC have no use for their sentiments. There
ale plenty Of able and purely loyal men In
The South to I'LL all OF our national Offices
Having tho States to regulate their guber-
national eligibility as they sec best. There. |
fore, Why not consider all rebel officers, both
civil and military, ineligible to any Office In |
the general Government?
Heretofore we have been annoyed by negro
representation under the ..three-tifths Of all |
other persons'' clause of the United States
Constitution. Hereafter we may not be sur
rised at negro suftage in Dixie. We may
not wish it 10 extend over the North, but lei |
the privileges of the South be an inducement
tsr the inevitable negro to 60 back to the |
rice and cotton fields Of the South, where he
Is admirably calculated to excel, aud. at the
same time can fully enjoy bis fteedo4A3d tho
benefits Of free notwithstanding first
In the list for him. Whether suf ages
be extended to him or not. as In
Louisiana, the South viii. yefy: naturally
attract the negro to herself i the North vii.
but simply encourage 1t: 1t Is the natural
field for bis labor and endurance, and under
q free labor system he can earn more here
than elsewhere, either for himself or bis en-
ployef. THIS Is the most practical light in
Kh{ch VIC can view the perplexing questions
Of reconstrr rrctson and the g inevitable nigger."
; SEVERANCE.