The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1866-02-14
The Reconstruction Oo41nittee

whose particular provinceittis to enquire
into the condition Of the Southern States,
and to devise themeans Of hampering them
lin their efforts to regain theirlo rights
The leading members Of these committees
are fanatical Radicals Of the most approved
pattern, and ofcourse whatever feeble voice
should happen to be raised at their sittings
in defense Of the oppressed people Of the
Southern States, is Immediately stiaed by
the clamors of the ruling numerical MAORI
ty. These committees, so far as regards
the matters which come within their pur-
view, are virtually the two Houses Of Con-
gress themselves; for, whatever measure
should happen to be decided before them,
is Immediately passed by the immense Rad
ical majority in each House, without any
questions being asked on the subject.
Now the " Reconstruction Committee
has recently set itself to work to amend the
Constitution of the United States. The
Radicals fear that that venerable instrument,
(which is SO silent on the niger question
that the word does rot even occur in any
OF its provisions, might accidentally inti-
mate to remote Posterity that white men
have some rights whichfa negro is bound to-
respect. Hence, in order to remove all
doubt on the subject, they propose so to
amend it, that the people Of all future
ages may know that the Federal Govern
mert asa government got upsforithe special
benefit Of the African race, and that if
white men, particularly those from the
South, are permitted to enjoy any rights
at all, it is only such as the niggers and
their worshippers choose to confer upon
them. issi 'r a3ss ,a1t. H28
The last specimen Of Constitutional
|tinkering which emanated from this ]" Re-
construction workshop, is the following
amendment proposed for the Constitution !:
Representation shall be apportioaed
among the several States which nay be;
Included within this U4aen according ITO
their respective numbers, consisting Of the
whole number Of persons in each State,
excluding Indians not taxed /; provided, /
that whenever the elective franchise shall
be, denied or abridged in any State on ac-
count Of race or color, all persons therein
Of suchrace or color shall be excluded from.
the basis Of, Representation 4
This amendment passed the House by
|ahc large vote ofl26 to 40, nearly every
Republican voting for it, and as it received
theiaecessary two-thirds majority, it is to
be proposed to'the Legislatures Of the diff
ferent States for their adoption. !, It will
require three fourths of the States to pass
it; but the required number will be obtain
ed, either by dragooning the States into its
support, or else BY keeping the Southern
States out, for the,pspose Of passing it by
1.-THE votes of the Northern Statessalone.
1T viii be remembered that the Constitu-
ton, as it came from the hands Of its foun-
ders, provided that three ffths ofsthe ne
groes should be counted in the basis of
representation. This was done in order
that the slaves, who were both persons and
property, should enter into the representa-
ton Of the South, to strengthen the weaker
section and assert ia protecting it against
encroachnent- on the part Of the North
Now, il the negroes were represented while
slaves, excluded as they were from citizen
ship, can any one tell us why they should
be excluded now that they have ceased to
fbeI'reperty, and have come to be endowed
with civil rights to certain extent? The
l
obvious reason is, that the influence Of the
South should belessenedto such an extent.
that the Radical party may always have the
majority over the South and the Northern
Conservatives combined, and thus retain
control Of the government for on indefinite
period. 2 =
The letter-wsiters from Washington give
lit out that as soon as this amendment shall
thave been disposed of, the Reconstruction
fCommittee will produce other amendments.
| !. To make National and State laws apply
to ell men without regard to color o. To
prohibit the payment Of the rebel debt; 3.
To provide territorial governments for the
South 4 To ratiy the Presidents acts if
the Southern States will abolish all distinc-
tons ofrace and color;s s. TO force the
States to give the right Of suffrage to oil
negroes who have been in the army, Sc.
j&c. 3fsa
Now thisis a'pretty broad negro plat
form, and is capable of upholding all the
advocates Of negro equality and amalgama-
ton. We have not the slightest doubt
that all the measures spoken Of will pass
the Reconstruction Committee and be rati-
fed BY the requisite majority Of both