St. Mary's gazette., 1866-06-14
The Reconstruction Programme.

We rive below the results tlt ii''C
been reached in the way Of reconstruction
BIZ the radical Congressional COMMITTEE
nftcr .iv months Incubation. The b,il
passed the SENATE by Z vote Of - ayes 70
II nays. 5 Senators bong absent or not
voting. The name Of IL. TeS7weh of
this State, i luni rccpTd'd w'th ne ar's,
that If NJ johnson wi''. 5ae noes. ne
scbema !, y.;, he seen va a.;;'np1vt p .
,uo-.h;rd vote in the Slua,e ana i i GER
tain that It MI pass tha House "y "Te" :
larger majority Sian tAs.
SIC. | 81! person. 4pen - A. tnra .'7"i
II. the uui.2d ; a,c-. al +l5', s % 'hh
jurisdiction thereof, arc ciF,zons Of the
United States anJ The State where, L ,hey
reside. No STATE shall make or enforce
any law which shall abri'isc the privileges
or ';n,nunities Of citizens of the United
States; nor shall any State deprive any per
son Of life, liberty, or property without
duo process of law nor deny to any person
within It's jurisdiction the equal protection
of the Jaws.
SEC. 3 Representatives shall be appor-
toned among the several States according
10 their respective numbers, counting the
whole number of persons, eXcluln9 m
dams not taxed. But Whenever the right
to vote at ary election for the choice OF
electors for President and Vice President,
representatives in Congress, executive and
judicial officers, or members OF the Legs
lature thereof, is denied to any OF the male
inhabitants of such State, being twcny-one
Years of age, and citizens Of the United
States or in any way abridged, except for
narticipation in rebellion or other crime,
the basis of representation therein shall be
reduced in the proportion which the mum
Der of such male citizens shall bear to the
whole number of male citizens twcnty-onc
years of age in such State.
SEC. g. That no person shall be Sen
ator or Representative in Congress, or
e.cctor of President and Vice Prcsidents Or
hold any office, civil or military, under the
United States, or under any State, who,
having previously taken an oath as mem
bcr Of Conercss, or IS an officer of the unl-
ted States, or as a member OF any State
Lerislaturc, or aa an executive or judicial
officer of any State. to support the ConSu-
tution of the United States, shall have engag-
ed in instruction or rebellion against the
same or given aid and comfort to the en-
cmics thereof. But Congress may, by
vote of two-thirls Of each House remove
such disabilities.
SEC. 4. The validity Of the public debt
of the United States authorized by law, m
cluding debts incurred for paymout OF pen
sions and bounties for service IN suppress
ING iusurrection or rebellion, shall not be
questioned But neither the United States
nor any State shall assume orpay any debt
or obligation incurred in and OF otmSurreeilnn
or rebellion aGninat the United States, OF
any claim for the loss or emancipation OF
any slave: but al such debts, obligation,
and claims shall oe held ijc&a. and VOID.
Sec. 5. The Congress shall have power
70 enforce by appropriate legislation the
provisions of this article
The palpable drift Of this schem" - to.
force the South and the border States
whore slavery once existed, Maryland, Of
course, included TO adopt ncgro suffrage
or submit to a curtailmcnt Of their repre-
sentative power in Congress Thus Ma
ryland, under this scheme, VIII DO forced
either to take negro suffrage or 'o loose
two of her five representatives N Congress.
In the South, the reduction VII n stAi
heavier. In South Carolina and A.as.sslP-
pi for instance, il is either negro suffrage
or a loss Of more tnau ha,f d ,he repre-
sentative power these States are entitlcd to
undet existing laws. The game Of the
radicals is to force negro suffrage upon the
country or to consolidate their power by
making comparative ciphcrs Of fifteen
States in our representative system. Nor IS
this from any special regard for the negro
On the contrary, the scheme;unlcr notice ex
pressly proclaims, that unless the negro
can sccuSe the right to vote he shall be
deprived Of the right of representation and
moblixoi with Indians not taxed
But how is it now with our Maryland
radicals They have published time and
sgain, that, though favorable to the Con
grcssional plan Of reconstruction, as they
understood it, they were bitterly opposed
to negro suffrage. Can they oppose negro
outrage per sc and favor 4 scheme which
either forces its adoption upon the State or
deprivcs her of two-hfths of her represen-
ta.ive power in the lower House Of Con
gress This is Mr., Creswelt's poSition--ls
it theirs ? Besides, are they prepared to
modify their darling registry law 50 as TO
make it harmonixc with the scheme under
notice BY the present Congressional
plan, penalties are visited only upon par
ties who, having taken an oath to support
the Constitution Of the United States. sub
ssquently engaged in host;litcs against
the Governments All others are allowed