Daily Davenport Democrat. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1864-1874, 1866-10-01

TIE OpaeleAl 0ecsoeeroeSsSo
pen ~ CoD9goso-aaoee ss
010e09y.
An important iaet II the hisassy Of ~
constsucsion seems - have been Wholly
forgotten BY the opponents Of the PFsst
dent Both Houses Of Congress passcd .
bill, July ID, 1864, prescribing definite
plan under which the executive Was to oct.
iris bill passed both Houses Of Congscss,
and il Is interesting 20 examine what Was
the will a hat Congrese q that tine:
In the FIRST place. Congress commanded
the President 70 appoint Provisio ,al Gov
errors for the Siatcs which bad been declar
cd in rebellion, who we're to be charged
with the civil administration ofthc state un.
til State Government could he organized.
Also, the Presiden Was TO appoint such
other civil oolcsrs - ere necessary for the
civl adm, nis,ration Of the State"
Secondly Congress commanded THAT "ae
aeon a n i'itary resistance TO the United
S.stes had been suppressed, and the people
had sufficiently returned TO their obedisnce
the Governor should make an enrolment Of
the wh,te male eifizens, specifying which OF
them had taken the oath to support the Con-
sfifufion Of the Unifed .Ssdtss, and II those
who had taken il were majority Of the
persons enrolled, he should order an cleo
ton Of the delegates TO Constitutional Con-
vcntion, to be 81, cted by the loyal ,chife male
citizens Of the United States, aged twenty
one years, and resident In the district for
witch they voted or abs mt in the army Of
the United States and who had taken the
oath Of allegiance p escribed by the act oi
Con, rcss Of July I'd, 1852"
| II " iuld seesn from this that Congress res
gardcd oil who should take the oath % 10y.
a, and that IL desired only white men TO
take part in the local work Of reeonstruc-
ton. We do not here discuss the right or
wrong Of this policy; ws only state mst>
ter Of fact.
Third-Congress in this bill commanded
that THE constitutional convention elected
| in obedience 10 the rule prescribed By Con-
ercse. should declare, on behalf Of the peo-
v,s OF the state, their submission 10 the
Constitution and laws Of the United States.
and adopt the following provisions, pre-
scribed by Congress in the execution Of ito
Constitutional duty to guaranty TO every
State . Republican form Of Government"
These conditions were:
fmst-No person who has held or excv-
cissd any office, civil Of military. except Of
fees merely ministerial and military Offices
below the grade Of Colonel, State or Confed.
cro,c. under the ususping poser, shall vote
or he n member OF the Legislature or Gov>
crnor.
Second-Involuntarys ervitude 10 forever
prohibited, and the freedom Of al persons
is forever guaranteed in the state.
| seA NJ. 49, G.s1x -
created BY or under the sanction Of the
us"'plng power. shall be recognized by TIE
State.
n Constitution containing these provisions
should have been FRAMED by the Convention
aud adopted by the popular vote, the Cows
esnor should certify that fact 70 the Presi
dent. Who. after obtaining the assent Of
Congress, should recognize this Government
80 established "a tn, Government Of the
State, and from that Senators md Repre-
sen'a,ives and electors for President and
Nice President should be- elected in the
State. Further provision was made 'for the
ssolution Of the Converts in case i,
should refuse to frame Constitution con-
tanning the above provisions, and the calling
OF sno'her Convention bv order Of the Pres
idcnt whenever he should have reason 10 BE-
licve that the majority wee~ willing to adop,
them; and also for the civil administration
OF the State in the IN -antims, and the abo
lition Of slavery and the Acknowledgement Of
rebel officers.
President Lincoln declined to sign this
bill. for the reasons, among others. that il
vas presented To him only an hour before
the sine die adjournment Of Congress and
that he was "unprepared to declare that the
free State constitutions and governments al
ready adopted aud installed in Arkansas
and Louisiana shall be sst aside and held Tor
nought, thereby repel;ng and discouraging
the loyal citizens who have set up the same
as 10 further effort Iut in the proclama,
ton wherein he declared these things, he
added that he regarded tho proposed plan
a. "onc very proper for the loyal people o I
every State choo sing To adopt it." and pro
fss.el hms,lfrcaly TO Cooperate with them
in fo.'"ins it. It appears, from oil this,
tina. in appointing Provisional Governors,
and also in calling ) 'atc constitutional con-
veDtions. President johnson acted strictly
in accordance with the wishes Of Congress.
ns made known by this bill. In allowing
only white male, to vote for constitutional
conventions. and in saying nothing about
universal suffrage, he acted in strict accord
with the desires or commands IT Con
gresa