The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1866-05-08
Tur REcoNsTRUCrIoN PHorosl
TIoN.

sabmfue3 4 Flan for gle restoration q g.
sss,tsfn Siast, Is ihe lni9a. Ihc rg
fou mbrsces ihFes proportions
T. 4 joim fsssiuiion pfero'iHs q
amendment e tl.e Coaai.u.'oa
y Ahl providing q be rcrefa''o
a ihs sima lately % rbtlhn e ihe
l4ll polslieai F'sbis
=. A bill declaring certain persons ~
eligible 10 oisce under lhc gsyefHnr'a G
.hr uuned siaies.
The Gra section ofthe proposed amend
mrni provides ibsl 10 siaie shall abudef
Iae .nmuuilies 81 citizens q lhe Uniies
siaie.. nor deprive any person # be nAt
ural rights without due process q ias,noi
deny 10 any person ,he equal protection @
tie laws This section . simply recap
hulatiou II lhc main features u TIC ci'i
rights bil. II Is certainly proper that an
assertion q Tie great principles Of that
measure should BE- Incorporated into Tie
Constitution, before such uulrustaorihy
citizens a. our Southern brethren have
Iro,,d themselves to be are given lhe
yowet q repeating laws and preventing
amendments No true republican can be
unwilling 10 have our Constitution gearan-
r.. n plain words 10 every citizen Of Ile
uaitsd States, tie rights o. life, liberty
anil property. II tic people 81 The South
efa States are not ready 70 come IN under
such q proposition, they can stay oal. II
they arc not willing to rlify Tie good
democratic doctrine Of that section, they
are rot III 10 take pat IN tie government
If TIE Republic 10 keep them out until
they ars ready to accept this proposition
j. nslher unjust nor in violation Of the
Constitution. They can only refuse to
ralii, lha, amendment because they sish
,orrgserye laws Of an opposite principle.
And Il they have such laws they cannot
claim Is have republican form d govern.
mont.
Tie second section provides that II IN
amy State The elective franchise shall be
derie,l o. abridged 70 any portion Of its
msle citizens moi less tllan tweniy-one
years 4 aye, except for participation 10
the rebellion o. other crime, the basis Of
tepe u,a,ion Ii such Stale Shall be re-
ducrj proporiionalely. There will GER
lainiy be no difficulty 10 securing the tali
hraion Of this moderate proposition by
three.fourths 81 The States Missouri aud
Tefne.sep, which have disfranrhised reb.
els, vii no, suffer loss Of representation
In consequence. In New York, where
there !. property qualification in the case
OF negroes, blacks owning freehold Of
two hundred and fifty dollars will be in.
eludcd in the basis q representation, while
those not having that franchise qualiiica-
ton will be excluded States which give
the ballot TO all thtir male citizens above
twenty one years Of age, win have the
benelt Of a comparatively increased re-
presentation. Thus in the case Of good
citizens Of whatever color an indocement
TO extend The right u franchise Is offered,
which i certainly right In the case Of
rebels no such inducement Is offered Is hieh
Is also quite right. This section isnoi the
less worthy 10 become part Of the Con
stilalion because il incidentally declares
that rebellion is crime.
The third section declares that until the
ith Of July, 1870, all persons who volun-
tarily adhered TO the rebellion shall be ex.
eladed from the right to vote for members
Of Congress snl forpresidenial electors.
Taken AZ The enunciation of general
principle tia, rebels can only regain their
rights a. citizens By the permission q the
government. no one can fnd fault with
shis section and even II !, is to he strict
enforced, il must Be admitted 10 be much
norc merciiul than jpsi Those TO whom,
II refru could lawfully be punished BY
personal penalties, conascaiion q property,
or perpetual disfranehisemen, Blu, ills
Acknowledgement ior The short period of
four years Is ouly partial. Il excludes
th,m tor that time from all participation
In the government Of the country, bat does
moi interfere with their right loske patl
in the government Of The Slate But u is
Ho sasy 70 see how tbs provision il 10 BE-
enforced 10 is fan extent as practical
MEASURE. Il sill Be ditFieali 10 decide who
voluntarily adhered 10 tie rebellion any
farther han bY marking oat oeran class
60 al men who were pFominen, and active
In lie inception and progress Il Is doubt.
less tie lateniloh 10 make lhis provision
law, and then to enforce Il hereafter by
legislation 70 sueh "a ea,eai as tie Inter.
ga. Of ,he oouatry may demand,
The iosFlh session prohibits the pay
Hsn, q tic rebel debt, o. compensation