The Tiffin weekly tribune. (Tiffin, Ohio) 1859-1868, 1866-05-17
Reconstruction.

The famous committee charged with
the weighty aud ouerous task OF pro.
senting for adoption a plan Of recon.
structicu, have at length made their
report TO both llonses Of Congress.
-Four months have been occupied in the
deliberate aud impartial investigation
of testimony, and in the discussion Of
perplexing questions hich constantly
arose for settlement. The men who
have had the matter under their con.
troll are loyal aud earnest; and the re
suit of their labors is embodied in the
report
They have drafted such measure
as, in their judgement would agree
with the sentiments of the loyal and
patriotic men, and by its justice com.
mend itself to the confidence of the
whole country. 1t is gratifying to
know that the plan is almost unani.
mously favored by the Union men of
both Houses.
We append resume of the meas
ure, taken from letter by " Occas
ional' - to the Philadelphia Press,
The 6xt section cmbodics the guar
antees of the civil rights law into the
national compact, thus setting at rest
all doubts ON that point, and securing
that protection to the American citi.
zen until now omitted in our lunda
mental law, aud even in the laws
themselves.
Thesecond section confines the basis
of representation in all the States to
voters. Hence, until the $, nth Gu
franchises her ucgros she will be rep
rescuted in Congress and the electoral
college only according to her white
voting population. The provision
reaches the Northas well az the South
but the effect on the late slave States
will be TO leave them with greatly
abbreviated power until they give suf-
irage to all their people. Many
reasons will hasten them to seize upon
the real alternative. But tho rapid
enlightenment Of the colorcd people,
who are now working with far more
industry, rs the last statistics clearly
establish, than the Southern whites,
aud the scIucnt progress ofliberdl
ideas, will be the most successful
agencies. Self interest will operate
with tremendous force, aud political
ambition will accelerate the purposes
aud complete the work Of destiny. 1t
is estimated that no colorcd will be
permitted to vote for at least 4 years
Bat it is dopbtci whether the SrIth
IL willing to wait so long before sen
ding afull delegation TO Congress, not
wilhstanding that hose who compose
it will not have won their laurcs by
lighting against the Union HIg.
The third section doprives the rob
els aud their uidcrs aud abotturs of the
right to vote for President aud Con.
gress till the year 1870 As similar
prohibitions exist In such adhering
States az Maryland, Missouri, Ten.
nes ccc, and West Virginia, it would
seem to bca worry light punishment
to extend them to the bad men of the
States thet were swept into the rebel,
lion, Besides, it is only fair bar
gnin that, MS the freedmen will prob
ably be four Years in getting ready
for suffrage, the chiyalry should wal
at least that length Of time before
they re-entcr upon the blessings they
SO uneraiefully lramplod under foot.
The fourth section grappIcs with
what has lately assumed fearful pro-
portions, under the hope excited by
Andrew Johnson's calamituus policy
among those who have looked to be
finally compensated for their slaves,
and to obtaining guarantees to liqui-
date what is called " the Confederate to
States debt" Their late defiance,
malignity and exactions would have
soon taken shape in favor Of rcpudia-
ting the national debt, pih tie aid Of
hat dangerous CjpPrrheadiiea of tar-
ing The national securities, or of de-
manding a share Of the public reve-
me for their use, or Of being relieved
from paying anything into the gene
treasury. " No taxation without re-
presentation" ia the mouths of these
men meant just this, If nothing more.
The fourth section removes these dan
gerous hopes, and cuts of all appeals
to mcrcepary motives among northern
politicians by Incorporating into tho
Constitution the protection against
an evil that would have corrupted
and finally have rushed our whole
financial system, including all who
are interested ia the national debt, in