The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1866-12-20
The Territorial scheme.

The ''policy Of congress-" like rotten
ship stranded On rock in the breakers, is
rapidly going to pieces. The recent desper-
ate efforts made by the northern radical crew
to save that policy are now seen to have been
useless. The craft was unseaworthy from
the beginning. Its builders were unsklilful !;
the result of their painful labors WAS botch.
There is not 1ing that can save it from the
fate it deserved. Peroeiving this fact, the
crew. like rats, are deserving the sinking
hulk, using its broken planks to construct
RATS on which they hope to float ashore.
The introduction of bills 10 reduce the
southsrn states TO the condition Of territories
is Of course sn abandonment of the congress
sional amendment scheme OF reconstruction.
One motive which has impells1 the introduc-
ton of this project in congress may have
bean q hope of Frightening the southern states
into ratification of the amendment. Ifthat
was the main object, it has already failed of
its aim, tor it Is seen in advance that the
southern states ''do not scare worth q cent"
Georgia has already declared that she will
submit to the territorial imposition in prefer.
encs to accepting the infamous congressional
amendments. No doubt this is the sentiment
of the southern people generally.
By reducing the southern states to territor-
les, the radical tories entertain the idea that
to ratify the constitutional amendments will
require the acquissenoe of only three-tourths
of the remaining states, and that the southern
territories" will then be compelled to ONE
i'll under the constitution as amended. But
sit takes two to make bargain" and one of
the parties TO any bargain that 1t will be pos
sible to make must be the people of the
southern states. Congress cannot force terri
tories to become states, if their people do not
choose to be forced. If the southern people
riIl or Sha crap1.
msnts as states, when they have no represen-
tation in congress, is it more likely that they
will do SO as territories, having representa-
ton through a solitary delegate
There is not much likelihood that the terri
torial scheme will succeed. 1t is of course
utterly destructive of every constitutional
compact between the states. 1t is simply
| revolution. SupposIng that bill for that
| purpose should pass the senate, THAT it will
pass the house there is no doubt still its va
| lidity will depend upon the decision of the SD
preme court before which tribunal it would
be brought upon the first attempt to carry il
into effect No REASONABLE man can entertain
] any misgivings as to what that decision
\ would be.
But suppose the territorial scheme should
be- carried into effect. The southern people
WIZ Dc pesssr of, in every material aspect
shan sney are now, while the general govern
" parties that win he .pup;s h - .ae On IN
habitants of territories, .he southern nsorIs
Will be exempt from payins direct taxes 70
the government, while the detisss in the nph.
lie revenues thus created must be made mr.
by an additional levy of taxes upon the north
The northern states will have to pay not oai,
their own proportion of the taxes, but tina
portion likewise that is now paid by tn
southern states. Moreover, the southern ter
ritories" will be entitled to be refunded al
/ apportionments of taxes hitherto levied upol
them and paid by them since "they destroy
ed their own statehood, ;" and no unpaid bal
ances of those apportionments could be col
lected. This, also, mus. DO added to the lev
les upon northern taxpayers. The te.rito4