The weekly north Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1857-1867, 1866-11-14

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From tho Springfield (slass) Republican.
The address to the people Of the United
States by the delegation OF southern loyal.
lists, who have Just completed their tour
through the country, calls Ter the destruc.
ton Of the existing state governments in
the south and new reconstruction, in
which no man shall vote or hold Office who
has ever been the side ofrcbcllion. This pro
position, wild and impractibabic a. It. seems
to be the rcadiest means for giving the sun
rage to the colored men of the south. But
those who advocate it seems to be utterly
blind to the consequences, as well rs to
the facts that have already become history.
The state governments can only be dc.
stroyed on the ground that they arc illcg-
itimate and their acts void. This would
sweep the board clean Of all that they have
done as states since the war. The amend.
inent to the constitution abolishing slavery,
which has already been Incorporated into
that instrument, would be again stSuck out
and placed on the list Of pending and an
settled questions, and the anti slavery
amendments to the state constitutions, the
acts of the state legislatures securing the
fights of freedmen, rcpudiating the rebel
debt-in fact-all the important legislation
Of the last two years would be swept
away, and the civil and judicial affairs Of
the states be thrown into inextricable con
fusion. Tennessee, whose governor is the
champion 81 this sweeping programme,
would fare. no better than the rest, and
would 60 back to quasi territorial condi
ton. It is needless however to argue
against scheme which is SO manifcstly i'm
practicable. Congress has in various ways
admitted the validity of the existing state
governments Of the south. Certainly an
amendment t0tSe constitution ofihe United
States would not have been formally pre-
scented for adoption to state legislatures
that have no legal existence and whose
Acts have no more force than the resolutions
"a purity caucus. Il has for 4 long time,
been evident that the reconstruction &C
complished would stand in spite Of oil IT.
Irregularities IN the process, and that whatev.
er additional securities arc to be required
will De sought on the basis Of existing facts.
II thc-Acomplishod reconstruction is to
stand, It is great wrong to agitate for
another radical revolution in the south. as
Br0wniow and his associates are doing The
southern people look upon it as bad faith
to them, and are irritated by It and so
indisposcd to consider, calmy and rcasona
bly,. the important questions that are
pressed upon them for settlement. The
present state Of feeling in Tennessee shows
the bad influence Of the crude schemes and
violent temper Of such men as Drownlow.
There Is no one Of the states excluded
from representation in congress in which
so large proportion Of the people are dis.
affected toward the government rs Tenn.
cssee. And affairs there grow worse and
worse, as, each new exhibition Of passion
and despotic power, the rights and feelings
of the majority are outraged TO establish
a similar rule throughout the south is to
inaugurate despotism and Inisrdle under
the forms Of republicanisin. II Is great
mistake to suppose that the union can be
restored by iepriviag the people Of the
south Of the right Of self government, and
who by placing the power in the hands Of
n few. who by accident or good fortune Is
capped actual participation in the rebellion
The plan Of the southern loyalists will not
do, and the agitation Of it can tend only to
deter the rc.establishment Of peace and
unity.