Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1866-02-15
@radford geporter,
Towanda, Thursday, FEBRUARY 10, 1866
RECONSTRUCTION.


and this does not cover more than half the
ground To be sure, the act of bringing
these States back, is purely political one
but should we not know what manner OF
person it is that we incorporate into this
body polite? When individuals offer them
selves as members of a community, certain
J restrictions are laid upon them, before they
can participate in the franchises and j I'M
munities pertaining to citizenship and il
these are not complied with citizenship is
denied This holds good of all persons who
have committed no crimes against the laws
of society. Persons however, charged with
crimes are by law forbidden citizenship, and
this because the safety of society requires
it. Here the social condition of the parties
offering themselves as members of a COM
munity is taken cognizance of, from the
very necessity Of the case and, if this So
cial element of the character, is so impor-
tant in Individual cases, why should it be
overlooked in the admission of whole COM
munities Individuals, in themselves, are,
comparatively speaking, harmless for evil
in community, yet what special pains are
taken to guard it from injury in this quar-
ter No good citizens has ever complained
of these restrictions, and no community has
offered to remove them, so that the presump-
tions are strong that all acquiesce in them.
And why should not the same principle
prevail in re-admitting the rebel States into
charged with having committed the gravest
crimes against society, and the government,
and who are still able to inflict the severest
injury (and show a disposition too, to do it)
asking to be incorporated into the body
polite, without any amendments for the
past, or security for the future. In the
light we have presented this matter, does
it not seem strange that any body should
think of granting this favor?
1t is not denied that many of the rebels
still abuse the whole North without meas
ure. Editors, preachers and women lead
off in the TRADE. If any one doubts it, let
him read Southern newspapers. He will there
find enough malicious hate, and low vitu-
peration of the North, to satisfy him. For
we think we were never more soundly bera-
ted, and vilified, than we now are by the rebel
press Of course, this does not constitute
the whole Southern population, but it does
represent the sentiments of the large ma
jority. And if these people are restored to
all their former rights while they are thus
abusing us, what will they not do after
wards? The presumption is that as they
desire restoration, they are now under some
restraint ; and how long will peace last af-
ter such a restoration We must not for
get that it was this gross misrepresentation
and abuse Of the North that prepared the
Southern people for the desperate fight we
have Just ended and can any one doubt
but that those who are now using this wea-
pom against us, purpose mischief? The
means are the same, and the end sought af
ter is the same. Is it wise to expose our.
selves to this danger? 1t looks to us like
the nelSht OF foly.
. Besides, what is the need of haste in this
, restoration? ? No harm can come of DELAY
The rebels went out of their own accord
and they made calculations to stay out, SO
they must be best fitted for this If they
are left out in the cold until their temper is
cooled, reason may resume its sway, and
the profits Of peace, amity and homogeneous
p ness may become visible To their mental
I visions and then they will become bet
ter people, and the possibility of another
i civil war between the North and South viii
be forever removed
If the social element of the seeded States
] is not radically changed, no matter wha
the political arrangements are, there cal
} be no permanent peace between the Nortl
and the South This must be palpable t.
/, every rejecting mind and if we canno
= be at peace when together, we had bette
' remain apart until in ii condition to insure
lasting tranquility.
If leading rebels were punished for thei
. crimes, so that odium and punishment woulc
II attach to traitors, as a matter Of certainty
and all political rights withheld from thos,
+ of the rank and file, who voluntarily tool
|. up arms against the government, ther
d would soon be "a change in the tone of Sou
thern arrogance, and spite and sure indica
: tions of lasting peace would come up
: Very often men must be punished betor
they will learn that crime cannot be toIera
: ted.
There is no graver error than to suppos
. that mild treatment will tame the turbulent
!, and cure the quarrelsome character. TIL
, man who asserts this, has yet to learn tn
: first lesson i'll the controment of crime.
it be SO, that forgiveness, and all entir
+ overlooking Of wrong doing, and offences
If has tendency to cure these evils, VIII,
have we courts of law to punish the thiel
J the house-burner, the robber and murderer
l. Is it not for the purpose of arresting Grim
/ that we punish for its commission? AM
is this principle Of criminal iurisprudenc