The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1866-10-04

| shape OF law or OF constitutional
amendment, the action of Congress is
vital. Even if they were to be settled
by treaty, the ratification of the Senate,
by twe-t thirds vote, would be indispen-
sable. There is nothing in the Federal
Constitution, nor in the nature OF the
case, that countenances an Executive
monopoly Of this power
What, then, is the ground OF complaint
against Congress?
1t is charged that the action of the
two Houses was tardy and hesitating?
Consider how momentous We're the ques-
tons involved, the issues depending
Consider how novel and extraordinary
was the situation. Consider how utterly
silent and blank is the Federal Constitu-
ton touching the treatment of insurgent
States whether during their fragrant hos
tility to the Union or after their discom-
future. Consider with how many embar-
rassments and difficulties the problem is
beset, and you viii! not wonder that
months we're required to devise. perfect,
and pass, by a two-thirds vote in either
house, just and safe plan of reconstruc-
ton.
! Yet that plan has been matured 1t
has passed the Senate by 33 to IL, and
the House by 13S to Sc. Its now fairly
before the country, having already been
ratified by the Legislatures of several
States and rejected by none: Under it,
the State of Tennessee has been formally
restored to all the privileges she forfeited
by rebellion, including representation in
either house OF Congress. And the door
thus passed through stands invitingly
open to all who still linger without.
Are the conditions thus prescribed in
tolerabie, or even humiliating2H They
are in substance these: ut ir
| l. All persons born or naturalized in
this country are henceforth citizens Of
| the United States, and shall enjoy all the
! rights of citizens evermore; and no
State shall have power to contravene this
most righteous and necessary provision.
II. While the States claim and exer-
else the power of denying the elective
a. W. PsaAo VI ChCiA pCOpIc, Cuc
weight of each State in the Union shall
be measured by and based upon its en-
franchised population. If any State
shall choose, for no crime, to deny polit-
ical rights to any race or caste, it must
no longer count that race or caste basis
of political power in the Union.
III. He who has once held office on
port the Federal Constitution, and has
nevertheless forsworn himself and trca-
sonably plotted to subvert that Constitu-
ton, shall henceforth hold no political
office till Congress, by two thirds vote,
shall remove or modify the disability.
~ The national debt shall in no wise
be erepudiated nor invalidated and no debt
incurred in support of the rebellion shall
ever be assumed or paid by any State;
nor shall payment be made for the loss
or emancipation of any slave.
V. Congress shall have power to en-
force these guarantees by appropriate
legislation.
| Such, fellow citizens, are the cendi-
tions of reconstruction proposed by Con
gress and already accepted by the loyal
Legislature of Tennessee Are they
harsh or degrading? Do you discern
therein a disposition to trample on the
PROSTATE or push an advantage to the ut
termost? !? Do they embody aught of Ven
geance, or any confscation hut that of
slavery9 We solicit your candid, i'm
partial judgment a4a
What is intended by the third section
is simply to give loyaHy@a fair start in
the reconstructed States. Under the
Johnson policy, the rebels nonopolize
power and place, even in communities
where they are decidedly ou,numbered.
Their Generals are Gover-ors and mem
bers elect of Congress. their Colene nels
, and Majors fill the Legislatures, and Off
! ciate as Sher;ffs. Not only are the stead
! fastly loyal prescribed, but even stay at
home rebels have little chance in compe-
+ tition with those who fought to subvert
| the Union. When this rebel monepoly
of office shall have been broken up, and
4 loyalty to the Union shah have become
4 general and hearty, Congress may re-
| move the disability. and will doubtless
. make haste to do so. $3.50 e Ct
!. II We do not perceive that the Justice or
Y fitness of the fourth section-prescribing
! that the Union pubic debt shall be
promptly met, but thai of the rebel Con.
: federaey never-is seriously contested.
= There remains, then, but lie second
f section, which presenbes il substance
n that political power in the Inion shall
y henceforth be based only on hat portion
3 of the people of eash Stale, who are
It deemed by the Constitution It tdepositor-
m les of such power. In her words !.
A Stale which chooses to- I'D part of its
# population in ignorance al vassalaoe-
pOwerlasS uneducafAd nfrancb;-.l