The Shasta courier., 1866-06-09
Reconstruction in the Senate.

The Senate having struck out the third
Section disfranchising Rebels from voting
for President, etc., till 1870 by substituting
an amendment, we cannot see, if the ex-
treme Radicals of the House do not object.
WHY there cannot be compromise between
the President and Congress. We think.
probably, harmony will follow the adoption
Of the report as amended by the Senate
Caucus. unless the President and his Pc
culiar friends adopt the principle I" that the
nearer we approach the further they will re-
cede.n We did not favor the Third Section.
II looked too much like an eiectioneerug
trick. and as if we were using power for
political instead of patriotic ends. If Rebels
are to be made g odious.' we want that
odium to follow as punishment, not as a
gain to party. We desire to see the lead
ers of the Rebellion punished. not the rank
and file, who have already suffered poverty
and death. The Rebellion was inaugurated
and forced to open conflict by few promi-
nent men-not over thousand. perhaps. in
all. These men should be punished until
their pride or necks are broken. Howard S
amendment strikes these traitors, who can
not be made odious enough.
l. ne amendments UucttQ W tuc uTsb Sec
ton declares "all persons born in the
United States and subject to the jurisdiction
therein are citizens of the United States and
subject to the jurisdiction Of the State where.
in they reside" 1t appears to be a bone
thrown to the States Rights heresy, and
which we do not like. 1t also seems incon-
sistent. 1t recognizes a double allegiance,
and leaves question of sovereignty. Per
haps Mr. Howard understands it, we don't
Perhaps the amendment will have the effect
to induce the Rebel States to adopt the
amendments. Mr. Howard also proposes to
amend the second Section so as TO apportion
Representatives according to voters. This
is simply change in the language of the
amendment. and amounts in effect to one and
the same. No one but the captious can OBJ
ject to the amendment.
When the amendments, as reported from the
Reconstruction Committee, were under dis.
cussion before the house. it will be recollect-
ed that Mr.. Raymond, the leader of the Con-
sereatives. endorsed the entire report ex.
cepting the Th I'd Section. He then said in
his speech 4f
With one exception, the propositions were
such as he approved. The first reasserted
the principles of the Civil Rights bill, which
he had favored thoroughly and heartily
The second proposition had also been before
the House for its action, but in a form in
which he could not then support it-a form
recognizing by implication the right Of each
State to dsfranchise portion Of its citizens
on account of race or color. In the present
form, however. he could and would support
it. The third section was of an entirely
different character. The amendment recog-
nized the eleven lately Rebel States as States
within the Union. 1t did not confer upon
them any right of representation, but simply
recognized it, limiting the right of suffrage,
and excluding portion of the people from
the exercise of that right. This entirely dis
carded the doctrine of territory" the doc
trine of alien enemies" So far it had his
most hearty appreciation but it proposed to
exclude the great body of the people of the
eleven States from the right of suffrage, and
to that he was opposed. The gentleman
from Maine (Blaine) had made the point
yesterday that thus disfranchising the large
body of The Southern people would run
counter to the terms of the amnesty proca-
nation, which restored all below certain
class to the exercise of their civil rights
He thought there was great force in the OBJ
lection. But there was still greater force in
the objection that it would be ro-active,
and would detract from the plain understand.
ing had during the whole course of the war.
By resolutions of Congress and by proclama-
tions of the President the people of the
Southern States had been given to under
stand that when they laid down their arms
they would be restored to their rights. 1t
was not pleasant spectacle to see a great
nation shrinking from the performance of its
pledges. He knew, too, that the charge
would be made that the third section was
intended to influence the Presidential elec
tion, and he did not want to be placed in a
position wherein he would be compelled to
concede the charges.
He hoped the House would see the wisdom
of striking out the third section of the amend
ment and allow the other four to 90 to a
vote. They would receive his hearty sup
port.
The amendments az coming from the Sen
ate Caucus must suit Mr.. Raymond, and we
should not be surprised if harmony grew out
of the change. A compromise must follow
if there is desire for reconciliation. Now
is the time or never. We believe the House
must concede to these amendments, and then
they will go to the States for ratification
To us, the +" situation" looks qnite propitious.
-Appeal.