The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-08-31

I these IepentDg Rebels can be trusted, let them
bring forth the fruits of rel enhance He who helped
10 make all these wide Cws ana orphans, who draped
the streets Of kashVil IN mourning, should suffer
| Tor his great crime Treason must be made
odious, and traitors must be punished and I'M.
poverished."
Such was the platform on which Andrew John
son deliberately planted himself, when q candi-
date for Vice-President. They are not words OF
haste and passion, evoked by President Lin
coins cruel murder, but were his deliberate,
matured convictions. Over and again was their
substance reiterated by Mr.. johnson IN conver-
sation, in letters, and in speeches And, in his
conversation (revised by himself before 1t was
plinted) with George l.. Stearns, October 3,
1861 he sad:-
"The power Of those persons who made the at.
tempt at rebellion has been crushed, and now
want to recOnsttuc the State Governments, and
have the power to do it. The state institutions are
be AIKEN up and adapted to the progress OF events;
this cannot be done IN a moment. We are maHIng
very rapid progress so rapid that sometimes can.
not realize it, 1t appears like dream.
1--WE must not be in too much ofa hurry. 1t is bet.
ter TO let them reconstruct themselves than force
them TO it, for, II they 90 wrong, the power is III
our hands, and we can check them in any stage to
the end, and oDlige them to correct their errors
With regard to negro suffrage he told Mr..
Stearns that he thought it should be introduced
gradually, and through the action OF the States,
saylng:-
"If were in Tennessee l should try to introduce
negro suffrage gradual'r: first, those WAC had
served in the army, those who cOu read and write,
and and PERHAPS properly qualification Tor others say
500 or $3.50"
As to the representation of non-franchsed
classes, he sad:-
"Many years AGO moved, in the Legislature OF
Tennessee the airport onment OF rep esentauves
in Congress should be by qualified voters.
"The apportIonment is now fixed unit 1872; be-
fore that time we might change the basis Of ropre-
sentatOn nom popu alton to quahhed voters, North
as well as south, and, IN due cour of time, the
Stares wifi out regard 10 color, might extend the
elective franchise to all who possessed certain men
tai moral. or such other qualifications as might be
data rrntn Il nv lieTht n1 nuh
Such are the bases of restoration indicated by
Andrew johnson. He never intmated, nor
dreamed, that those who had attempted TO over
throw the Government should have an equal
voice IN settling the terms of reconstruction
with those who struggled and suffered to up
hold and preserve it, but the contrary, most
emphatically. And the Congress that he con-
stantly referred to as entitled TO review and
revise his action in the premises was a Congress
representating loyal states and loyal men.
In full and clear accordance with Mr.. John
sons earlier and better suggestions, Congress-
at its late session. TO this subject the careful
consideration demanded by its importance and
at last, by an overwhelming majority, proposed
the following amendment to the Federal Con-
stitution as the basis whereon the States lately
in revolt should be restored to the Union:-
"Resotved, By the Senate and Iouse OF Reoresen.
tatyes OF the United states of America, two thirds
of both Houses concurrng, That the following arti
States as an amendment to the Constitution OF the
United States, which, when ratified by three feurths
Constitution VIZ
iAiucle IA, Section l. All persons born or natural
iZCd III the United State, and subject to the jur's
dlcon thereof ale citizens ottne United States and
OF the State wherein they reside No State sha
make or enforce any laws which shall abridge the
privileges immrnltIcs of citizens OF the United
States nor shall any State Geprive aAv person OF
lite, liberty, or property, without due process OF
law nor deny 70 any person within It's jurisdiction
the equal protection OF the laws
"SectOn Representatives shall be apportioned
among the several States according to their re-
persons in each State, excluding Indians not taxed;
but whenever the right TO vote at any election Tor
Electors OF President or Vice President aud for the
United States Representatives in Congr ss, eXecu-
tive and judicial officers or the members OF
LegislatuI thereof denied TO male lnhaOit-
ant OF such State beng twenty one Years of age,
and citizens Of the United states, or any way
abridged. except for partcipaton IN rebellion, OF
other crime the basis OF representation therein
snail be reduced in the proportion which the num-
Der OF male ciiZeRs shall boar to the whole number
OF male citizens twenty one years of age, in such
state.
seSfsTe SSeB In sGT o oe Be Sn Of Fose or
Vlce-President, or hold anv office civil military
under the United States, or under any state, who
having previously taken oath as a member oi
Congress- or officer of the Unted States or as
a member of any State LEGISLATURE, as an eXCcn-
tive or civil officer OF anY state to support the Con-
stilution of the United States, snail have engaged
IN insurrection or rebellion against the same OF
given and er comfort to the enemies thereof; but
Congress may, by vote OF tWothirds in each
House, remove such disability.
"SectiOn 4. The vahdty OF the public debt of the
UniteO ates authorized by law, inc udtng that in
CURED in payment of bolntles and pensions Gor
services in suppressinP insurrection or rebellion,
shall not be questioned; and neither the United
! States, any, state, shall assume or pay auy
debt obligation incurred in aid of instruction
rebellion against the United States, any claim for
| loss or emancipation OF any slave; but all such
debts, Obigauons and claims shall Ue held illegal
and void"
| The Legislature of Tennessee having ratified
| this amendment, her representatives elect were
| forthwith admitted to seats in either Hou e. they
taking the required oath that they have never
| voluntarily aided the Rebellion. And every
other eX-Rebel State may come in on the same
| terms.
What means, then, this concerted clamor
| that Congress denies the right of representation
and refuses to admit loyal men to seats? What
| can it mean but fraud and deception? Mr..
| Johnson eXacted terms of every State lately in
revolt before relieving it of military rule, ard
| allowing it to be governed by men of its own
| choice Congress does exactly the same. The
conditions dlter, but the principle involved is
| Identical. The President applies one test OF
| loyalty, Congress another; and surely the right
of Congress to exact conditions is at least equal
| to that of the President. The CoppCrheads,
who never admitted the right to exact condi-
| tions at all, are consistent in repudlating them
now; but they who sustained the President in
| his requirements are pTecluded from obiecting
| to those of the Legislative power. Having
, resolved to betray and desert the Republican
J Union party, they must devise pIeteXts for so
( doing; but these nowIse excuse their treachery,
and will not deceive the people.