New-York daily tribune., 1866-01-11
GOV, ANDREW ON RRORGANIZA.
TUON.


himself and the State. The only loyal Governor
to anticipate and provide for the armed outbreak
Of the Rebellion, he shares with the troops whom
his foresight enabled to march on the instant.
the early distinction of having saved the Capital
BY his subsequent wise and energetic admins
tration he has steadily augmented his fame and
contributed very greatly to that preGminence in
its military relations with the National Govern
I ment which Massachusetts has continually
maintained. She sent l59, l65 troopsto the war,
spent $27 ,7O5. IO9 paid interest OH all her bonds
promptly in gold, has her treasury amply pro.
yided for, and her credit unsurpassed, ifcqualcd,
by that Of any State or of the Nation. Gov.
Andrew may well congratulate himself on the
fortunate circumstances of his retirement.
His valedictory address attracts deserved at
tention. 1t is q paper Of high merit and Of novel
impression. for after all that has been said and
written on reconstruction, hero is an argument
that gives us fresh view, and that viii contribute
much to the understanding of a just policy, and
its adoption by the Government. He sets aside,
to begin with, the State suicide theory, but
deduces all the important results Of that theory
| from tho defeat of States which. having rcbcled
and been conquered, became subject to the con-
sequences of rebellion and conquest. Their
position is fixed by the Constitution and by the
laws of war-not by one, but by BOTH Having
lost their loyal organization as States. they have
no power of their own, under the Constitution,
to regain it. Their case is solely provided for by
that clause Of the Federal Constitution which
guarantees q republican form of government to
every State. 1t is, therefore, the National Gov
ernment that must accomplish their reorganza-
| ton.
Its first step in that direction is TO recover
its own power Were ours dcspotic Govern
ment, that might be deemed to have been ac-
compshed by the enforcement of an armed
sway over the conquered States. But, ours
being a republican government, its proper
power cannot be restored "untii peaceful,
loyal and faithful state of mind gains sufficient
ascendency in the Rebel and belligerent States,
to enable the Union and loyal citizens every
where to repose alike on the purpose and the
ability Of their people, in point Of numbers and
capacity, TO assert, maintain, and conduct State
governments, republican in form, loyal in senti-
mcnt and character, with safety TO themselves
and to he national whole" The Union Govern
ment, therefore, must prescribe some reasonable
test of loyalty, and until that is settled by it,
and accepted by the Rebel States, must con-
tnue TO exercise authority over them. Be-
tween the Government and the States there is
no arbiter but the people, and the Government,
which represents the people, is left to act solely
according to its own just discretion. It, para
mount obligation is to make sure of a lasting
peace, of its own safety and of the rights Of all
its subjects. To which end it is bound to re-
>quire the Rebel States TO reform their consttu-
tons by
l. Guaranteeing to the people OF color the wards
Of the Nation their civil tights and women.
an equality with the White population by amendments.
2. Regulating the elective franchise according to cer
tain a.s of universal application. and not by rules
merely arbitrary capiicioes and personal
| 4. Dlsaiirmng the Rebel Debt. and
To ra,ify the antsllyery amendment Of the United
States Constitution by their Legislatures.
And with the exception OF the last, for which
the Constitution itself directs otherwise, all
these provisions should be ratified by the peo.
pie. majority Of all the people must ratify,
for there can be no safe reorganization unless
based on the cooperation of the people under
guidance Of their natural leaders. Distranchise-
ment of disloyal voters will not answer The
true question is now, not past disloyalty. but
/ Ipf Io,. al
through great popular revolution. The peo-
pie Of the South, as apeoplc, were on the side of
the Rebellion. The great mass Of these disloyal
people are admitted by the Presidents amnesty
to share in the reorganization OF their States,
and since the principle of excluding disloyalty
is thus abandoned, it is "impoltic and unphi-
Iosophical to make any distinction of rank or
class among them. Sooner or later, these leading
minds will regain control, and will be swift to
question the validity of great public acts effect
ed during their own Acknowledgement. With
ont their help, reorganization is delusiye and full
of danger. Why not try themi
We are proposing to restore to the conquered
Rebels not only their local government but a
share in the general government over the con-
qucring loyalists. When such privileges are
ebout to be bestowed there il 10 safeguard
which wise stateSmanship may not require.
"lf I'VE have no right TO demsnd guarantees for the
future; II We have right TO insist upon significant
acts Of loyal submission from the Rebel leaders them
seyef; IL we have Tiplt TO demand the positive
popular vote IN favor of the guarantees need; II we
nay 70 stpuatc 10. the recognition OF tie Just rights
Of tue slaves, whom In the act Of suppressing the Re-
belloa. we converted from sayes ntJ freemen then
Necltle tnlt Ind rirhi ihe aa,nu