The Potter journal. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1857-1872, 1866-05-22


quarter from which it came, multitude
nous in omen. A bill has also been in.
, troduced by gentleman, sometimes called
the Democratic leader in this House, to
repudiasc in part the public debt under
pretense of taxing it, in violation of the
laws BY which it was created. These
cannot be regarded as the oddities of one
or two men, but rather as impulsIvc con,
I fessions of inprudent scouts, too far in
advance of the following army. The
purpose will not be generally disclosed
until the forces are arranged for its exc.
cution.
am speaking now only of the dangers
that will beses the Republic by the al
lowancc of representation unfrIendly to
it's prosperity aud even its existence in
such disproporiiouate numbers. But we
should not forget that this act is also a
recognition as republican 10 form of con-
sttutions, We have never seen Except
that of Tennessee) and all, except those
of Lincoln origin, under rebel supremacy.
The white Unionists who have been look
ing through FIVE years of persecution,
lyrching, and con6scation TO this as their
hour of deliverance, will 6ud themselves
betrayed into the hands of their old un.
humbled, uurelenting, tormentors. 1t
also consigns the freedmen to the tyranny
Of old masters, not now as heretofore
bribed to humanity by monied interest
in the preseI walton Of their chattel estates.
twenty-five per cent, says an honorable
gentleman who presents his back often.
siveIy to the North as he makes bis low
oheisance South, twenty-five per cent
have already perishcd. The wish no doubt
was father TO the thought with the mas
ters in whose interest the declaration was
made. --.
These, then, are my premises. I will
repeat thcm:
| There are only about FIVE million
disloyal population in the country.
2. This population when fully restored
to the Union, the Constitution and laws
remaining unamended. will hold more
than one third of its representative power
aud the supreme coutrol of at least thir-
teen States.
8. They will be interested to use that
power for the division of the Union and,
failing in that, for the reputation of its
military and financial obligations.
Now, what is to be done? If these
States are denied representation, it vio-
latss the fundamental principle of repub-
Ican government II allowed double
and hostile representation, the Unicn
itself must be destroyed or preserved at
the expense of another war.
Three remedies are proposed:
l. Disfranchise some portion of the
rebels.
2. Allow all the rebels to vote, but
neutralize their disupion sentiments BY
enfranchising the blacks in these States
3. Equalize representation by taking
as its basis either the number of voters or
the population, minus the disfrauchised
classes SO that these States shall have
90 more representation in proportion to
their represented people than the old free
States have.
Either proposition would require an
amendment 10 the Constitution, to be ac-
cepted by the rebel States as condition
precedent to their restoration. 1t is also
proposed to couple with either proposition
second amendment, prohibiting the as
sumption of rebel debts and claims either
by States or the United States.
The thlrd proposition has commended
itself to much the largest number OF
Union mempers, and the amendments to
that effect have already passed this House
! by more than q two thirds vote. This,
then, so far as this House is concerned, is
the congressional plan Of reconstruction.
All we ask Of the rebel leaders who are
wrongly charging US with having no pol
icy at all, but designing to exclude them
for au indefinite period, is little tlme to
pu. in form of fundamental law these
pledges of future peace. For FIVE years
they have been out upon plague-infected
seas. Can they not tarry at quarantine
for single session?
Stripped of all dieguises, herein lies the
main disagreement. Shall these States
be recognized at once iu their present
temper, without guarantees of any kind
aud with twofold representation p? 1t
is not whether they shall be represented
at all ; to that we all agree. There may
be little question Uf time; difference
of few weeks or few months, and that
, is all. Shallthey be represented twice over,
once in their own names and once 10 the
name of the negroes? Shall they come
in upon representative basis that clothes
, a white man of the South with almost as
} much again political power as a northern
man controls? That gives two white
voters in South Carolina as much voice
? in the selection of President and iu the
legislation of this House as fSe voters 10