Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1866-12-03
PUBLIC LEDGER.
Z HAS POWERED.

What will they do with us is ques
ton Of great interest to the Southern
people, and one not easily answered
Politicians and newspapers in the NORTH
have given us to understand that our fatt
will be no pleasant one; that the yictol
has the right to dictate terms to the van
pushed, al d that they must be accepted
because they can be enforced. That mucl
is pretty clear But what may these terms
be? There is, by general consent of the
Northern people, something still unad
justed between the late belligerents
Terms imply an arrangement and an
option. 1t is only free agents who have
an option. If the North makes a propo-
sition instead of demand, the South is
at liberty to refuse it Liberty to refuse,
negatives the idea of penalty. The
North has proposed, for the acceptance
of the South, Constitutional amend.
ment. 1t has been or will be rejected.
But the complication remains. The
North thinks she is entitled to some
thing, and the present session of Con-
gress will enforce twill, without fur
Their consulting the South, arrange the
conditions upon which its people will be
permitted to remain upon the territory
of the United States. These conditions
have lowered out from the preliminary
proceedings of a Radical caucus at
Washington. A night dispatch is as
follows:
WASHINGTON, December 2,-The com.
mittee appointed by the Radical caucus
to prepare programme have thar doc
ument ready for presentation. 1t con-
templates the entire abolition Of State
gorernment in the South, and provides
for the appointment of Commissioners
for each State, who shall have power to
appoint all civil and military officers to
preserve peace The Commissioners are
TO call convention to adopt the constr
tutional amendment with view of their
admission into the Union. The Radicals
differ on the franchise question; some
are only for loyalists, including negroes
Some say that Congress should desig.
nate who should vote, while others wish
all 10 vote who now vote under State
laws. New constitutions are 10 be
submitted, but only those 10 vote who
are enfranchised by it, as in Maryland.
II constitutions be adopted by those yc-
tiers. then the States are 10 be admitted;
If not, then to be placed under territorial
governments. Commissioners are to be
authorized to organize militia, including
negroes, to enforce the provisions Of the
bill, and If called out, are to be quar-
tered on those rendering the call neces-
sary. Such are the leading points in the
new programme as urged BY The Radicals
and Southern lovalistA The committee
consists Of Messrs. Stevens, Wsshbnrne,
Sehenek, Hart, Garfield, McRuer, Pike,
Orh. Allison and Paine.
That this is fair copy Of the text Of
an already prepared programme, is
hardly to be doubted Its meaning is
clear from a casual reading The great
point Of it is, a recognition of
the fact Of dissolution Of the
Union. The war 10 prevent the
secession of States, resulted in the
establishment Of power in Congress
to expel States from the Union and to
govern them as conquered provinces
An act is to be passed abrogating the
State Governments of the South. Com
missioners are to be appointed for each
State, who shall have the sole power 10
appoint all civil and military officers.
These Commissioners viii call Conyen-
tions 10 form new Constitutions, which,
if adopted by loyal voters-negroes,
Radicals, Yankees and Southern rene
gades--will entitle the new States to ad-
mission into the Union. The details Of
this grand scheme do not appear to be
definitely arranged. At all events, the
new States must be Radical, and there
must be standing army Of negroes, who
shall be supported by the people Of the
South. This is the point we have reached
in the political cruise of the past six
years. This is the bursting bud Of
baleful flower, destined, we fear, to over
shadow the once fair and beautiful South.