New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1866-10-11
gHE RApICAL pRoRRA 1rME.

Some time since, in commenting on the dis
position manifested by the radicals to repu
aiate the congressional programme, or rather
70 dlsclaim the existence of specific CON
gressional programme, involving the ad1nis-
sion Of Southern representatives, we asked the
Chicago Republican to explain how it was pro-
posed to 6 reorganize the Southern States,
under subsequent congressional dictation.
The Republican has very frankly and very
explicitly answered this question by giving a
plan Of reorganization under which radical
theories are to be put in force. The article
containing this explanation will be found in
another column. We ask our readers to ex-
anime it carefully, as it doubtless embodies
the plan of policy which the radicals have
resolved to pursue towards the South, in case
they have the power to oonsummate their de-
signs The first thing that viii strike the
reader is the eonsonance of this plan with the
programme suggested by Governor Wells in his
recent letter From this eonsonance we infer
that Governor Wells has been intrusted with
radical views on this subject, and that the Re-
publcans plan is to be viewed rather as an
expression, or illustration, of party tenden-
eles and party designs than as the crude opin
ion Of q single newspaper.
The Republican accuses the CRESCENT of
disappearing the radical policy in saw
ing that 1t would exclude the white popula-
ton from the loo al governments but an ex-
animation of the plan entirely sustains the
CRrscENr's construction. That plan does ex-
pressly exclude all except "loyal" men-and
the term tloyal" is restricted to those who
were 'aoyal" during the war-from any parti-
cipationin reorganizating the State govern
rnents, and article five provides for placing
the State governments in the hands Of t.loyal''
men exclusively. Now the effect Of a reor
ganization by the so-called sloyal' men would
be the Acknowledgement of the great mass
Of the white people, justas it has happened
IN Tennessee, and Maryland, and Missouri.
That such Acknowledgement is contemplated,
isproYed by the fact that the constitutional
amendment recognizes and anticipates it by
as case in which the rule Of
reduced or restricted representation shall not
operate
In this connection it is suggestive to note
ne S9huatuctlon thus presented between
radical doctrine and radical practice, The
fundamental radical notion is that uniform |
rule OF suffrage should prevail throughout
the country, and that any deviation from
this uniform equality on the part Of one Of the
States, involves an injustice towards the
others which may, and ought to be, corrected
by constitutional amendment, or congress
sional interference. Restricted suffrage. is. |
according to this doctrine, incompatible with
republican institutions Yet, for many years
after the adoption Of the Constitution, almost
all Of the States required property qualifica-
ton for the exercise of this right; and, at the
present moment, mostof them discriminate
against the black race. Hence there have
never been any States in the Union possess
ing republican governments, except those
which have enfanchised the negroes. On the
other hand the radicals see no violation of the
Republican principle in the forcible dishan-
chisement Of the white people Of the South on
account of their former political opinions.
70 commit the State governments to negro
hands, and to small faction of white aloyal-
sts, excluding almost the whole Of the actual