The Hancock Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Ohio) 1857-1870, 1866-09-28

Wills power.
What, then, is the ground of com.
plant against Congress
1t is charged that the action of the !
two Houses was tardy and hesitating2
| Consider how momentous were the
questions involved, the issues de.
pending. 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 fragrant hostili
~ to the Union or after their discom-
future. Consider with how many EN-
barrassments and difficulties the
problem is beset, and you will not
wonder that months were required to
devise, perfect and pass, by two
thirds vote in either House, Just
and safe plan of reconstruction.
Yet that plan has been matured. -
1t has passed the Senate by 33 to IL,
and the House by 1873 to 80. 1t is
now fairly before the country, having
already been ratified by the Legisla
lures of several States, and rejected
10y none. Under it, the State Of
Tennessee has been formally restored
to all the privileges she forfeited by
rebellion, including representation i'll
either House of Congress. And the
door thus passed through stands in
vitingly open to all who still lingcr
without.
Are the conditions thus prescribed
intolerable, or even humlliating?-
They ale in substance these:
|. All persons born or natnralized
in this country are hencelorth citi-
- zens oi the United States, and shall
enjoy all the rights Of ci,izens ever
more; and no State shall have pow
cr to contravene this most ighteeus
and necessary provision.
D .. While the States claim and cX-
n crcise the power OF denying the elec.
, Tive franchise to n part OF their pco
j. pie, the weight Of each State in the
: Union shall be measured by, and
j. based upon, its enfranchised popula-
c ton. Ii any State shall choose, lol
i no crime, to deny political rights t.
!, any race or caste it must no longer
+ count that race or caste rs Il basis ol
}, political power in the Union.
y 3. He who has once held office on
= the strength of his solemn oath tc
c support the Federal Constitution
II shall heuceforth hold no political Of
e flee till Congress, by a two-thirds
i vote, shall remove or modify the Gis
ability.
: 4. The national debt shall be no
: wise repudiated nor invalidatcd; ant
1t no deLt incurred in support of th'
rebellion shall ever be assumed o
" paid by any State; nor shall paymen
d be made for the loss or emancipation
II Of any slave.
1t 5. Congress shall have power tC
n enforce these guarantees BY appro
= pirate Legislation.
u Such, fellow citizens, are the con
" , ditions of re- construction proposed
! by Congress, and already acccptc,
, by the loyal legislature OF Tennessee
. Are they harsh and degradingI Dc
~ you discern therein disposition u
>" tranple on the prostrat6 or push al
e advantage to the uttermest? ID,
u they cmbody aught OF vengeance, o
. any conliscation but that Of slavery
y, We solicit your candid, imparLio
II judgment.
al What is intended by the third SEE
Sc tion is simply to give loyalty u iaj
ii start in the reconstructed SLates.-
81 Under the Johnson policy, the rebe
,er monopolize power aud place even
70. communities where they are decide,
90 ly outnumbered. Their Generals III
at Governors and members. elect I
n Congress; their Colonels and Major
o1Gll the legislatures, and olliclate t
ho sheriffs. Not only are the steadias
In. ly loyal prescribed, but even stay-a
-, home rebels have little chance
Al. competition with those who iougI
80 to subyert the Union. When til
re. rebel monopoly of Office shall ha'
Inc been broken up, and loyalty TO Il
nv Union shall have become general ~
el. hearty, Congress may remove ii
IN disability, and will doubtless ina
Iad haste to do so.
to We do not perceive that the just
ob. or fitness Of the fourth sectiOn-pl
the scribing that the Union Public DE
ted shall be promptly met, but tnaL
,st the Rebel Contederacy never
re- seriously contested.
Of There remains, then, but the sc
Ial- ond section, which prescribes in 81
rho stance that political power in I
ley Union shall henceforth be based on
on that portion of the people Of en-
i've State who are deemed by its cons
Tho tuition fit repositories Of such powC
nj In other words: A State viii
eir chooses to hold part Of its populati
lor IN ignorance and salgac--pow'
not ess, uneducated, unlranchised-sh
re not count that portion to balance t
the educated, intelligent, entranchis
hat citizens of other States.
We do not purpose TO argue
rsy justice OF this provision. AS W
, to argue the shape Of cube, or the CO
an rectness of the multiplication tab
dly lie who does not feel chat this is 81
up ply and mildly just would not be p
I'm. suaded though one arose from
an. dead to convince him, That the
nee are those among us who would :
.me have 1t ratified, sadly demonstrat
that the good work of Emaucipatl
adj not vet complete.