The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1866-09-20

disarm the adversary and set an ex-
ample that other States win follow"
~, then, there be any controversy as
to the righL of the loyal States TO exact
conditions and require guarantees of
those which plunged madly into seces-
sion and rebellion; the supporters re
| spect1vely of Andrew johnson and of
Congress cannot be antagonist parties
to that contest, since their record places
them on the same side. il-5
It being thus agreed that the eondi-
lions of restoration and guarantees
| agntnst future rebellion may be exact
ed of the States lately in revolt, the
right of Congress TO a voice in prescrib-
ing those conditions and in shaping
those guarantees, is plainly incontesti-
bic. Whether it take the shape of, law
or a constitutional amendment, the ,ic-
ton of Congress is vital, eVeneif they
were to be settled by treaty. The rati7
heation of the Senate by two.thirds
vote would be Indispensable. There is
nothing in the Federal Constitution,
nor in the nature of the case, that coun-
tenances the Executive monopoly of
this power. I; g.. ~,
What, them is the ground of COM
PLANT against Congress-? Is it charged
that the action of the two Houses was
tardy and hesitating Consider how
momentous were the questions involv-
ed, the issues depending, Consider
how novel and extraordinary was the
situation. Consider how utterly silent
and blank is the Federal Constitution
touching the treatment of insurgent
States, whether during their dagrant
hostility to the Union or after their dis
comhture. Consider with how many
nbarrassments and difficulties the
problem is beset, and you will not
wonder that months were req uired TO
devise, perfect and pass, by a two
thirds vote in either House, a just and
sale plan of reconstruction.
Yet that plan has been matured. 1t
has passed the Senate by 80 to IL, and the
House by 1888 to SO. 1t is now fairly be-
fore the country having already been
ratified by the Legislatures of several
States and rejected byno Under it
the State of Tennessee has been formal
ly restored to all the privileges she for
feited by rebellion, including represent
tation in either House of Congress, and
the door thus passed through still
stands invitingly open to all who still
linger without. Are the conditions
thus prescribed intolerable,, or even hu-
miliating2 They are in substance
these: t
BiI'st. AL persons born or natural.
lied in this country are henceforth citl-
zens of the United States, and shall en-
Joy all the rights of citizens evermore,
and no State shall have power to con-
travene this most righteous and neces-
sary provision.
Second While the States claim and
exercise the power of denying the cleo
tive franchise to part Of their people,
the weight of each State in the Union
shall be measured by, and be based
upon, its enfranchised population. III
any State shall choose, for no crime, to
deny political rights to any race or
caste, 1t must no longer count that race
or caste as basis of political power in
the Union.
Thiyd.-He who has once held office
on the strength of his solemn oath to
support the Federal Constitution, and
has, nevertheless, forsworn himself and
reasonably plotted to subvert that Con-
stitution, shall henceforth hold no po-
litical office till Congress, by a two
thirds vote, shall remove or modify the
disability. ~ phsE
B'oW7t6-The national debt shall be in
nowise repudiated nor invalidated, and
| no debt incurred in support of the re
| bellion shall ever be assumed or paid
| by any State, nor shall payment be
made for Lhe loss or emancipation of
| any slave.
p FIFTH Congress shall have power to
enforce these guarantees by appropriate
legislation.
Such, fellow citizens, are the conCli-
tions of reconstruction proposed by
| Congress and already accepted by the
loyal Legislature of Tennessee. Are
they harsh or degrading2 Do you dis
/
on the prostrate or push an advantage
| to the uttermost2 Do they embody
aught of vengeance or any confiscation
but that of slavery2 We solicit your
candid and impartial judgment. What
/ is intended by the third section is i'm
ply to giveloYalty fair start in the re-
constructed States. Under the johnson
policy the rebels monopolize power and
place. Even in communities where
they are decidedly outnumbered their
Generals are Governors and members
| of Congress; their Colonels and Majors
fill the Legislatures, and of1ciate as
Sheriffs. Not only are the adfastly
/ loyal proscribed but, even stay at home
rebels have little chance in competing
with those who fought to subvert the
Union, When this rebel monopoly of
office shall have been broken up and
loyalty to the Union shall have become
general and hearty, Congress may re-
move the disability, and will doubtless
make haste to do so.
We do not perceive that Justice or fit
ness of the fourth section, prescribing
that the Union public debt shall be
promptly met, but that of the rebel
Confederacy never, is seriously con-
tested. There remains, then, but the
| second section, which prescribes in
substance that political power in the
Union shall henceforth be based only
/ on that portion of the people of each
State who are deemed by its cOnstitu-
ton as depositaries of such power. In
other words, n State which chooses to
hold part of its population in igno-
rance and vassalage, powerless, unedu-
Gated, unfranchised, shall not count
that portion to balance the educated,
intelligent. franciised, citizens of other
States, q
We do not propose to argue the JUS
tice of this provision. We might as
we'll argue the shape of a cube, or the
correctness of the multiplication table
Il He who does not feel that this is sim
ply and mildly just would not be per-
suaded, "theugh one rose from the
deadn TO convince him. That there are
those among us who would not have
ratified, sadly demonstrates that the
i good work OF emancipation is not yet
complete. But say some. this section
is designed TO coerce the South into ac-
eOTding suffrage to her blaclSs. Not so,
we repl " but only 70 notify her ruling
4 caste that we will no longer bFibe them
TO keep their blacks in freedom. Man
Kind, in history rarely surrenders its
privileges, no matter how oppressive,
from abstract devotion to Justice aud
right, ,it must have cogent, palpabie
reasons for so doing. We say there
fore, TO South Carolina, III you persist
emily restrict all power to your three
sista that these no longer balance in
Congress, and the choice of President
seven hundred thousand Nofthefh
white fteemen, but only three huhdred
thonsand. II you keep your blacks