Daily union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1865-1866, 1866-05-02
THE PLAN OF THE "DIREcTORY."

oil ITS delivery 10 Congress on Monday, en-
bracinS an amendment to the Constitution
and certain Congressional enactments, as
follows:
SECuoN1. No State shall mako or enforce any
law which shall abridge the privileges OF immu
mites Of citizens Of the United States: nor shall
any State deprive any person Of life liberty or
property, without due process Of law; nor deny to
any person within its jurisdiction the equal
protection Of its laws.
SIC. p Representatives shall be apportioned
among the several States which may be included
within this Union. according to their respective
numbers, counting the whole number Of persons
IN each state, excluding Indians not taxed but
whenever in any State the elective franchise shall
be denied TO any portion Of its male citizens less
than twenty-one years Of age, or in any way
abridged, except for participation in rebellion or
other crime, the basis Of representation in such
State shall be reduced in the proportion which
the number thus excluded bears to the whole
number OF male citizens not less than twenty-O
year, Of age.
SIC. 3. Until the 9Th day Of July. 1870, all per-
sons who voluntarily adhered to the late insurrec-
ton' giving It aid and comfort, shall be excluded
from the right 10 vote for members Of Congress.
and for electors for President and Vice PTcs dent
ofthe United States.
SEC 4. Neither the United States nor any State
shall assume 10 pay any debts or obligations ID
ready incurred. or which may hereafter be in
CURED, m aid OF instruction or war against the
United States. or any claim for compensation for
loss OF Involuntary service or labor
SIC. 8. Congress shall have power to enforce,
by appropriate legislation, the provisions Of this
article.
A bill to provide for the restoration Of the
States lately IN rebellion TO their full political
rights by the admission Of delegations 10 Con-
gress and second bill debarring leading rebels
from holding Office, are also reported, excluding
the following classes:
!. The President and Vice President of the
Confederate States, so-called, and the heads of
departments thereof.
2 Those who. in other countries. acted az agents
OF the Confederate States.
3. Heads Of departments Of the United States
officers Of the army and navy Of the United
States. and all persons educated in the military
academy Of the United States, and members Of
either House Of the 3Gth Congress of the United
States who gave aid or comfort 10 the late re-
bellOn.
(. Those who acted a. officers Of the Confeder-
ate States. army. above the grade Of Colonel,
or Master IN the navy, or any one who, as Cover
nor Of either Of the Confederate States gave aid
or comfort 10 the late rebellion.
8; Those who have treated officers or soldiers OF
sailors OF the army or navy Of the United
States captured during the late war, otherwise
than lawfully prisoners OF war.
IL Is understood that the vote upon them was
twelve against three. As it is known that Scna-
tor Johnson and Representatives Grder and ROg.
ers only voted IN the negative, the affirmative
must be Senators fcssenden, Grimes, Harris,
Howard and Williams, and Representatives Ste
vCns, Nashburne Of H., Morrill,, bingham, C0nk-
ling, Boutwell, and Blow.
The subject of the restoration of the Union
under the Constitution and laws was really
a very simple one. A portion of the people
Of the United States, acting through State
organizations had undertaken to separate
from the remaining States, and found a dis
tinct and independent government. War
ensued, and the separating party was
beaten; and at the end Of the contest laid
down their arms, acknowledged their
failure, and accepted the conditions Of de-
feat. In the progress of the contest it was
thought wise and polite to emancipate the
negroes from slavery, and it was done by
Executive proclamation and by Constitu-
uonal amendment; but the latter was not
effected blythe ratification of the required
number Of States at the close Of the war.
1t was, therefore, deemed necessary as a
condition precedent to restoration Of the
recusant States TO the Union to require their
assent TO this change of the fundamental
law-both because they were vitality IN
terested in the subject, and as a punishment
for rebellion. Otherwise there was no
change in the organic features of the Gov
eminent, and with this exception the Con-
stitution and Government remained the
same as from the Administration of Wash
ington to the present time Whatever in
fringements were made upon its provisions
and guarantees in the emergencies OF war,
or that may have been or not justiiable
thereby, did not change either the instru-
ment ITSELF or modify the powers Of its ad-
ministrators, Executive, Legislative or
Judicial. The Constitution remained the
same, and the government Of which it is the
basis, remained the same.
The late slave, becoming thus free man
was entitled 10 protection, by law, Of person
and property. This was promptly conceded
to him 10y the rebellious States
The debts created by the Confederate States,
though valid against that organization, died,
er ri ts,miHi, when it ceased to exist; since,
then there was nobody to whom they could
be presented, and no tribunal, either legal or
moral, in which they could be enforced.
The only remaining question for the de-
termination of Government, was as to the
kind, amount and degree of punishment
that should be inflicted on the indicidlals
who may have been engaged in armed re-
sistance 10 the authority of the United States.
For the mass of them it was decided by the
President that they should go free upon
the taking of the oath which he prescribed,
and most Of them who were specially ex-
cepted from the privilege of this amnesty,
did so.
All this took place prior to the assembling
of Congress in December last. The Consti-
tuition was reasserted throughout the Union
and all the functions of Government were
in all places where they had been
previously resisted or suspended.
Congress had really nothing to do in the
work, and nothing was required of that
body to perfectit. Under the wise, liberal
and just course pursued by the President,
he had nearly finished the work which
GRANT and SHERMAN, by their triumphs,
had thrown upon his hands The only pos
sible duty devolving upon the American
Congress in December, under the light of
republican craftsmanship was to complete
its membership, by receiving to their
vacant seats the Representatives
or the Southern States This was their only
and lawful course. This they
failed aud refused to do; but set to work to
over1um the benefcent and healing policy
Of the Exccutive-to hinder the process Of
Prolong striie-and eventu-
ally 10 change the essential principles Of the
Government by setting up onerous and de-
grading conditions upon the admission Of
States to their rights already guaranteed by
the Constitution and laws Of the land. The
above plan is the outline Of the result Of their
labors, thus far.
In some respects it is a wholesome toning
down Of the extreme views of the intenser
Radicals, and itconcedes the ground assumed
by the President Of exclusive State iurisdic-
ton over the question Of negro suffrage.
But when this is said il would seem that all