The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1866-03-07
The Reconstruction Committees Plan
for Admit ting Tennessee.

The following is the joint resolution proposed
on Monday in the House of Representatives:
"Whereas the people of Tennessee have made
known TO the Congress of the United States
their desire that the constitutional relations
heretofore existing between them ana the
United States may be fully established, and
did, on the 22d day of FEBRUARY, 1863 adopt
and ratify constitution and government re-
publican in form and not inconsistent with the
Constitution and laws of the United States,
and q State government has been organized
under the provisions thereof, which said pro-
visions and laws passed i'll pursuance Thereon
proclaim and denote loyalty 10 the Union and
whereas the people OF tennessee are found 10
be in a condition to exercise the functions OF a
State within the Union, and can only exercise
the same by permission OF the iaw-making
power; therefore
:" Resolred. That the State of Tennessee be
declared one of the United States of America,
on an equal footing with the other States, on
the express condition that they will MAINTAIN
and enforce, in good faith, their existing con-
stitution and laws, excluding those who nave
been engaged in rebellion from the exercise OF
the elective franchise for the respective period
of time provided for, and shall exclude the
same persons for the like period OF time from
eligibility to office; and the State OF Iennes'
see shall never assume or pay any debt or
obligation contracted or incurred TO aid In
any rebellion or shall ever, in any manner,
claim or make any law to compensate Tor
slaves emancipated or liberated In any way
whatever which conditions shall be ratified
by the Legislature of Tennessee or the people
of said State, as the Legislature may direct,
before this act shall take effect"
1t will be seen that the committees plan Of
reconstruction is Numerically opposed to the
Presidents. While the President holds that
Tennessee is now in the Union, having never
even for one moment been out of 1t, and is
therefore entitled TO representation whenever
her representatives, legally elected, constitu-
tfonally qualified, and capable of taking the
oaths of Office, present themselves at the door
of Congress, the Radicals, in this resolution,
declare that Tennessee, being out of the
Union, may come into ii upon complying with
certain conditions precedent. How absurd
such conditions are will be perceived by
tracing them up to their logical sequences.
For instance, Tennessee is admitted upon the
"express condition" that she shall permit
negroes to vote. Very well: Tennessee en-
franchises the negroes, and her members Of
Congress take their seats. Ten years after.
wards she changes her constitution and ex-
cludes negroes from the polls. What then?
Why, II the " condition precedent" was con-
stitutionally exacted, then Congress must
expel Tennessee from the Union Can Con-
gress do such an act !? Clearly not. How,
then, does IL propose to vindicate it's violated
conditions precedent!
We are compelled to concede that this reso-
luton was concocted by cunning politician.
The greatest advantage which the President
has hitherto had over the Radicals consisted
ia the fact that he proposed clea easily
understood method Of restoring tn Union,
while they merely opposed his plan, but
offered none themselves. OF this advantage
they have now deprived him. And they have
required no conditions which they do not
think the northern people are prepared to
exact. Let 1t be conceded that there are TO be
any terms OF admission, and these will appear
20 the northern masses TO be very reasonable
ones. And inasmuch as even the leading men
Of that section have always magnifed the
powers OF the General Government, and held
that the several States are in every respect TO
subordinate their will TO that Of the United
States, we should not be surprised II the Radi-
Gals succeed In keeping themselves In office on
this very question. The President plants HIM
self upon high, abstract principle, as south.
ern Statesmen are wont to do, and demands
the judgment OF the people upon q question Of
right. The Radicals assume their principle
ior granted-namely, that !" the peopleo Ten
pessee' can only exercise " the functions OF
State within the Union b. zsrmisstoa ef TIE
IaW'mhakfn0 zcaoer'--and, naming their terms,
appeal 70 the voters 70 gay whether-the