Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1866-05-31
But it is objected, that by the plan of


by one of th' roposed constitutional am
-endments. those" who voluntarily adhered
to the late nsurrection, giving it aid .and
comfort" shall be excluded from the right
to vote for members of Congress and Pres
idential Electors, until that date which it
is alleged will effect nearly the whole
population of the South, thereby protract
ng,-in place of of-removing, the present
troables. We cannot think So 1t is the
very way to arrest agitation. In the first
place, to allow unpunished rebels to return
to their civil rights, will vex into severe
censures, if not provoking agitation, two
thirds Of the nation and, in the next
place, the restored rebels will be 50 inso-
lent and overbearing in assumptions and
demands, that the country will be driven
into new commotion The present conduct
of the rebels places this beyond doubt
While on t e'other and, the denial Of po-
litical rights for a few years, will tend to
bring sober reflections to the turbulent
spirits OF the South, and it will be in con-
folmity with the wishes of the loyal people
of the entire country. Then whose fault is
It, if by this disfranchisement, M my of the
southern districts can send no Congress-
men? Their people committed the most
fragrant crimes, and is it wrong to punish
them for this And is the punishment, in
all conscience, not mild enough Again,
is the Examiner not greatly mistaken in
the supposition that this denial of franchises
for four years, will exasperate and tend to
aleniate the rebels from the Union? Surely,
no people can display more bitter and
deep seated hostility to an enemy than the
southern people have exhibited towards us
and the Union, ever since the close Of the
rebellion and that which is of more ac-
count in this argument, is the fact, that
this feelin., has been intensified since the
Presidents policy Of forgiving ALL and
bringing all back with honors, has been
developed. This is inferentialy admitted
by the Examiner, when it asserts "that the
feeling of the South proves that unconditon-
al restoration would be attended with too
many risks"
The report of the Committee on Recon
struction would have suited us better if
provision had been inserted amending the
constitution again 1t the pretended right of
of secession but we could not agree to
substitute it for the four years probation
provision. The only argument favoring
such change that has force, is that the
Hresident would agree to this, and this
would terminate the existing disagreement
between him and Congress. 1t might do
this, but Judging from the temper of the
Executive, if this change was made to suit
him, h. would seek some other pretext to
continue the controversy Besides, the Ex-
aminer admits that the Presidents policy
has not been strengthened by the evidence
taken before the Committee on Recon
struction as to the temper and conduct of
the Southern people, and that his speeches
and vetoes had rather done his cause harm
than good. This is true to the letter, and
shall the Committee, and Congress, in ma
turing so important a me sure, adjust it to
suit the policy of the President when this
is proven to be unwise and unsafe? There
would be no wisdom in this, if it was not
down right folly. ...... ...
Again. Suppose, that by the immediate
| restoration of the rebels to all civil fran
chises, and their political union with the
democrats of the North (and this is just as
certain to happen, if now admitted, as the
the coming of election day., President
and Congress, according in sentiment
with such a condition, should be elected
| for the next term, and such contingency
may happen, as all must admit what
would be the hope of the country? Would
we not be overwhelmed, either with the
rebel debt, or reputation of our own, and
the restoration Of slavery, with a host of
concomitants Surely these would be the
measures that would be struggling into ex-
istence, if such party obtained power
| Now, is it wise, is it right, in view of the
interests of the nation, in the Republicans,
to allow such contingency to happen !?
Do they not owe it to the nation, to them
selves, to posterity, to prevent so sad a
calamity to the nation Is it not duty,
an ovcr-ruhng duty to all that is right and
noble in man, to prevent it? And what is
so likely to prevent it, so far as human
agency is concerned, as to hinder the reb-
els from voting at the next Presidential
election. They have committed grave
crimes against the government and the
people, (and they are threatening to com
nit more so soon as they get the power, J
and should be punished. This is right be-
fore God and man and, if in their punish
ment, especially as it is so light, we can
relieve the nation from further evil, what
so popular and just as to disfranchise the
rebels until tie dangers of the nation are
past? In view Of these considerations,
does not the assertion of the Examiner,
that wholesale dsfranchisement of this
sort is sure to be regarded as a measure