The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-12-17
Reconstruction of the South De NOvO
The Last and Final Plan.

The Last and Final Plan.
From the Herald
The important bill for the reconstruction of
North Carolina from the very foun dation, which
Mr. Stevens introduced in the House of Repre-
sentatves on last Thursday, is the last, most
thorough, and we think final plan of settling the
whole question Of Southern restoration. 1t is
comprehensive and both liberal and conserva-
tive at the same time. 1t leaves no room for
quibbling about pretended rights based upon a
state of things anterior to the Rebellion and
subugation of the South. 1t deals frankly and
directly with the actual condition and status of
That section of country. 1t is, we are persuaded,
the surest and readiest way to restore the South
within the shortest time practicable.
This bill, 1T is true, only provides for IRE.
establishing civil government in North Carolina
to enable it to resume its former relations as
one of the constituent States of the American
Union;" but it is undoubtedly the plan in SUBJ
stance which is to be applied to all the other
Rebel States. And although it was introduced in
aquiet, unostentatious manner, "at the request"
as Mr.. Stevens said, "of several gentlemen
from North Carolina" 1T was evidently carefully
prepared, and endorsed by the dominant party
in Congress as platform ana basis of general
action. In introducing this measure, framed
by the mind OF statesman, Mr.. Stevens has
abandoned the role he sometimes takes of an
extreme radical partisan, and is made the
leader OF great party for carrying out grand
and comprehensive policy. The bill was referred
to the Committee on Territories, but we suppose
it will not lie there long. In all probability it
will soon be brought before Congress again,
when the whole question of restoration will be
discussed and disposed OF for all the other Rebel
States as well as for North Carolina.
The preamble of the bill declares that the
citizens of North Carolina did rebel and vo
lently 'set eside and destroy the organized con-
stitutiOnal Government Of the said Staten This
is directly in conflict with the theory OF the
President, upon which the whole of his pro.
gramme OF reconstruction was 70 Inded. He
held that the functions Of the Rebel States were
only suspended and not destroyed But this
theory, whether sound or unsound, has no prac.
ticai value now. The Congress of the United
States, which alone has the power to define the
status of these States and to refuse or admit
them to be restored, thinks proper to declare
that, after having put down the Rebellion, il
'hnds no government organized or officers
qualified, according TO the requirements of the
Constitution of the United States ~ in the Rebel
States. 1t is then assumed that the action of
the PRESIDENT throughout in the Southern States
was under the war power and martial law for
the purpose OF preserving peace and order and
of relieving his subordinate military officers
from executing details of civil regulations - and
that now "it is the duty of Congress by law to
cause to be organized a Government, repuul-
can In form, based on the civil and IaW.makinp
power of the nation"
This Is the whole argument on the part of
Congress upon which that body proposes to act
1t is not even said thatt President exceeded
illegal. In fact, the bill legalzes so far every
thing he has done. But it is claimed that b /,
was not competent TO complete the work of
making power of the nation-the Congress of
the United States-has to finish it. In doing
this that body, by the terms of Mr.. Stevens bill
deems 1T proper TO begin de nopo-at the foun.
aauon OF all government in this country-that
Is, Dy regular constituent convention chosen
by the body OF the people. This convention is
TO name a constitution, republican in form,
under which, when approved by Congress, the
state VIII be entitled to claim admission, and
the people "all the privileges and immunities
appertalning to the citizens of the other States
of the Union"
We are struck with the broad and liberal nro-
visions of this bill with regard to the suffrage.
In the election OF delegates to the SOVEREIGN
Convention to form State Government. il is
provided ''that all male resident citizens of the
age of twenty-one years, without distinction OF
race or color, who can read or write, or who
NAV own IN fee real estate of the assessed value
of one hundred dollars or more,n shall be
allowed TO vote. This is more liberal than the
suffrage law OF New York for the negro. Yet we
know that few, comparatively, will be both
liberal and conservative. Bat with regard to