The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1866-12-03
DAILY PRESS.
Monlay Morning, December 8, 1866.
The True Base. of Recou.,ruc.iSh.
PORTLAND.

The IFuC VI ANCCOustFucthon'
Under this title and over his own initials,
the editor OF the New York Tribune, being
about, as he says, to start on tour OF some
weeks duration through the West, makes an
elaborate an extended statement of his views
on the main question of policy now before the
country. 1t is hardly necessary to say that
the true bases of reconstruction, in Mr.. Gree
ley's opinion, are Universal Amnesty and
Universal Suffrage. He commends them not
as reciprocal concessions but as common ben
efits, and declares in favor ola general amnes-
ty-so far as immunity from punishment or
contiscation Is concened-even though inn
partial suffrage should be for the present
resisted and defeated. A trial of Jeftrson
Davis, he believes, would now do more harm
than good. Impartial suffrage he hopes to see
established by the action of the States and
confirmed by an amendment to the constltu-
ton. Not Directing to the payment OF mod
crate poll tax as a condition precedent 10 vot-
ing, he nevertheless diskes the suggestion of
an intelligence test, and for two reasons: l.
Because it would be unjust to communities
winch nave Deeu duu dAC WAtuOub liCC oCuO0lS.
because it would be morally impossible to
enforce such tect fairly and uniformly at
the South. Upon manhood suffrage, however
the North is bound to insist, not in the South
only, but in every State and Territory, by rea-
son of the service required OF and rendered by
the blacks during the rebellion. This obliga-
ton, he says, IL hold far before and above the
letter Of the constitution" Finally, he says,
"if the South shall insist upon her abstract
right to hold the blacks as subject race, the
North will doubtless insist on the indefinite
disfranchisement of all the prominent rebels, /"
ana in that event Mr.. Greeley declares his in
tention TO stand with his own people and
await the calmer and wiser views which he
believes will ultimately prevail.
There are probably very few men who have
acted consistently and uniformly with the Re-
publican party, who are prepared to adopt Mr..
Greeley's scheme as thus set forth. The great
majority is fully determined that the men
who, having sworn to support the constitu-
ton, voluntarily engaged in the attempt to ov-
erthrow it, shall not resume the places they
forfeited and renew the oath they broke. The
North is willing to relieve them from the fear of
punishment and confiscation. But the North
cru people also desire to learn whether such
crime as treason is known to our laws If
Jefferson Davis cannot be convicted OF that
crime, the fact should be known, and the laws
amended. He must be tried. His perur-
ed associates must not again occupy positions
responsibility. Forgive them9 Yes, but
let them have the decency to be content with
their forfe.t lives and property and forego
their impudent claim to make laws for us.
Mr.. Greeley's opinions respecting impartial
suffrage will be equally unsatisfactory to most
of his friends. 1t is impossible to doubt that
the intelligence test, which he dislilzes, COM
mends itself to the good judgment OF nine
teuths Of the Republican party. 1t is as east
ly applied as any test. In the communities
o! which he speaks it would powerfully stimu-
late the work of education. Not only would
its effect be thus advantageous; it is right in
ITSELF A man who cannot be reached by ar
gument, who cannot inform himself of the
questions upon which he is to act, who can
not read the very ballot he casts, has no more
right to vote than an idiot. See what work
the ignorant voters of New York have made
at the last election! Does not Mr.. Greeley
suppose an intelligence test would have mate
rally reduced John Morrissey's majority? 1t
is not proposed to disfranchise any man who
has heretofore been admitted to the polls;
but it is just and wise to require for the fu-
ture the assurance that every new voter can
read the constitution OF tie United States
and write his own ballot.
1t is to be regretted that Mr.. Greeley's in
luence shonld be found in opposition to the
general sentiment of his party. Of his entire
sincerity there can of course be no Doubt
Mr. Beecher was also sincere, two or three
months ago. Mr.. Beecher however failed to
take even his own church with him, and we
doubt whether Mr.. Greeley's following will
include even the editorial staff of the Trib-
une. The Republican party is founded upon
convictions too firm to be shaken by the wa
vering OF any leader.