The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1866-05-17
Iohn MINOR Botts on Reconstruction.

John Minor Bolts ON Reconstruction. |
John Minor Bolts directs to the Sem
ate and House of Representatives a com
munication wherein he objects to the
plan Of Reconstruction now under con-
siderations First, he complains that it
makes no provision for the relief and
protection Of the Union whites Of the
South but s.leaye them and the State
Government In the hands ofthe uncon-
strueted rebels for the next four years, :,
who, he adds:
VIII Improve the opportunity to ed
ucate the people, without restraint, to
more embittered spirit of disaffection
and disloyalty to the Government fthe
United States, and in four years we
the South; representation viii drive
them into the ranks of the other party,
and the Southern States will constitute
an element OF weakness rather than of
strength TO the Government. TsEs a
BE further complains that the dis
franchisement proposed is made to de-
pend upon the grade of office held In
stead of the grade of offence commit
ted; that it leaves out guerilIas, many
private soldiers who were guilty of the
greatest atrocities, and also those who
voted in convention for ordinances Of
secession, which was declaration of
war against the United States. Hef1r-
Their asserts that the scheme Is imprac-
ticable, fnasmueh as it VIII not meet
!; with the approval of the President or
the requisite number of State Legisla-
lures. After stating these objections,
) Mr.. Bolts suggests that they may be
remedied by the substitution for the re-
!, port of the Committee of the following
enactment:
That no person hereafter shall be
capable of holding any office, slegisla-
! tive, executive or Judicial, in the Fed
eral or State Governments, for ten years
from the passage of the act, who was
4 over the age ottwenty-hve at the break
Il ing out of the rebellion, without taking
J the following oath, in addition to that
; now required ofall such officers by the
/. Constitution of the United States.
! sFI, A. b, do solemnly swear that i
have not, since the 10th day of Decem-
Der, 1850, 1.-THE date Of the Ordinance OF
] Secession of South Carolinal, volunta-
Z rialy taken up arms against the United
: States, nor have i advised or encour-
q aged others to do SO; that I have not
sought or held office under the Confed-
crate State Government, or OF that Of
any koLlkLG IN EE3GAklOuN WAL u Wow III
n any manner to aid the rebellioni that
have not said, written or done anything
! designed, or OF nature calculated to
ALLEVIATE the affections or allegiance
; from the Government Of the United
States, nor hayeI Otherwise given AID
l and comfort TO the rebellion"
Let this enactment be accompanied
with an absolute remission, in all cases,
! of the forfeiture of life, liberty and
property, for the crimes committed by
, and under the authority of those In re-
hellion: and let 1t also be declared that |
! IL IL shall be ascertained that any per- |
I son has sworn falsely TO obtain or hold
II any Office hereby prohibited, such office
4 shall be absolutely vacated, and the
4 party held liable to prosecution for /
PERJURY.
II this plan should be adopted, every
/ loyal citizen would be subjected to the
test prescribed before he could hold |
Il Legislative, executive or judicial once,
Il while those of thirty and under, who
would be relieved Of such obligations.
/ It would be manifestly proper, there
fore that an oath should be provided |
for them which would have only pros
j pecdye operation.
i He then suggests an oath ogniZfng
4 the Constitution and Laws of the United
States, and acknowledging allegiance
| to the United States as paramount to
that ofalI allegiance toa State. Twelve
months ago, /" he says, ''eyery rebel in
the South would have rejoiced at the
profer OF such terms.p Their adoption
now, he believes, will satisfactorily
solve the reconstruction problem.
Mr.. Bots thinks that, owing to his
past and present attitude on national
questions, his views and sentiments arel
worthy of consideration.