The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1866-03-09
Reconstruction.

Congress will adopt. The moral coercion
Of popular feeling will force speedy action
IN hi matter. and we need expect no
question Of importance to engage the at
tcntion OF Congress till it Is finally deter
mlnrd. If unwilling that the Presidents
policy should prevail, Congress must set
tie upon one OF it.. own: one which shall
more commend Itself to the people,
There is always Il tacit recognition OF this
principle. that a man has no right to de-
no,Incc a scheme for reform. who cannot
propose Il better That project or policy
which would superscde another, must be
not only abtraclIy better, but at the same
time practicable.
What We call absolute II CHIT seldom
comments Itself t, practical minds. In
deed. it Is often, i'll lie application to hui
man affairs. wrong. Though wrong is
never ieI,t, the application OF an abstract
principle Of RIGHT frequently WORKS mis-
chicf, hence is wrong in its relations
Nor Is it strange that in such a world as
thi~, where nothing is perfect, that right
is sometimes impracticable and unatIaina-
BE Neither Congress nor the people
nee, expect TO carry that scheme which
best comments Itself to the enlightened
con>cirncc. The question is less what
0pqH to be done than what om be done
Congressional sentiment seems to have
ranged Itself about three positions, each
Of which Is rcierable to the different opin-
ions entertained hy its advocates with ref
trcncc to the present status of the rebel
states.
Mr. Sumner and his followers maintain
that bv the rebellion the state became dis
organized and thereby lapsed into its orig
inal territorial condition. This position,
il tenablr, presents IN easy solution to the
problem of reconstruction Congress
having the power to determine when and
under what conditions new states shall be
admitted to the Union But at the same
iim1 it presents certain serious objections.
1t recogn! - a prilIpIc which the free
states have >tontiy denied for the last
thirty-iivc years. and i'll maintenance Of
which We have wagcd a Vi gorous war
during the last five years-that Il state
rlnnot Withdraw from the Union. Is it
Wis. after having sacrificed so much to
maintain the integrity of the Union, now
BY Il singh act OF Congress to Il Ssolve it
Another class maintains that the states
are not actually ont OF the Union, but by
rebellion have forfeited certain rights and
removed themselves from ''practical work
inc relations" as Nr. Lincoln happily cx-
pressed it. with other states: and that
Congress has the power to make certain
conditions precedent 10 their complete
Restoration. This We believe Is the posi-
tion held hv Mr. FcS>endcn
The position of the President and Iii
iricna, We understand to he that Congress,
ha> no power to exclude loyal mcn. elect
el by loyal suiiragcS: yet conceding to
that body the right to determine the ques-
ton of LOYALTY in each individual case.
The friends Of these different policies
seek the same common enl-the complete
and harmonious restoration of the Union.
There is every induc,mcnt for harmony
every reason why the great Union party
should be KEEP; intact and maintain friend
" relations with the executive. The
President cannot spare Congress, nor Con-
grcS> the President: Is ii possible, then.
So to modify these schemes that the friends
OF each can meet on common ground
This has the SAVIOR OF compromise in the
delicate noItIil of some advocate of alb
strart right. YES. compromise it is, but
compromi>" Of policy not OF principle
compromise Of policy to secure principle.
The position OF the second Of the above
mentioned parties especially commeAds it.
self to Us. We do noI doubt the power of
Congress in this matter Did not the Pres
ldent atfix certain conditions Has Con-
gre>s less power! And when was it ever
thought before that rebels and traitors,
brought again under subsection. could fix
the conditions on which they should be
received back Are they to be inquired
Of with finical nicely if they will consent
to this or that measure, which is deemed
by true and loyal men essential to the Sc
cuniy and permanency of the govern
ment Now Is the time to secure such
guarantees as are possible and essential.