Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1866-10-12
is their action in the case of Tennes-


posed, it has been well understood
that upon its ratification by the reb-
ell States, if loyal men were returned
to Congress, they would be admitted.
The amendment has been offered to
them in good faith, and ifadopted, ad-
mission will follow. If, however,
they delay, and keep the country in a
ferment, it is highly probable that in
obedience to the will of the people,
Congress will yet make the condition
advocated by the Independent, which
we are free to say fully accords with
our own views.of justice; and would,
we think, be the greatest possible
kindness that could be done the
South. The following is the Judges
letter
"Mr. Editor :--Soine one-I sup
pose it to be the editors of the Or
leans Standard-sent me the issue OF
that paper of September %, and the
first article that l noticed was "The
ISSUE" under the editorial head, in
which the Editor said that ''the plan
of Congress and the plan of President
Johnson were not we'll understood,
and he would then and there explain
them" From this assertion, and my
knowledge of the men, [ supposed |
should get something truthful, at least.
H e reprints the whole proposed
amendment to the Constitution, and
comments upon each article separate
ly.
"The above amendments have been proposed
by Congress, in accordance with the Constitu-
tioual right of that body, and it has been insisted
by them, that no rebel State should be again adj
mitted into full fellowship in the Uni0n until the
legislature thereof had adopted those amend
ments and that when they had done and
would send up loyal men as Representatives
that then they should be admitted to seats.
The above in substance is the plan of recon.
struction agreed upon by both Houses of Con-
gress."
Now, it is not true that Congress
has submitted this amendment to the
| States, as a plan of reconstruction
by any law or resolution; nor has
Congress held out the inducenent tC
the Southern States that when they, OF
even when three-fourths Of all the
States adopted it, they shall be admit
ted. In fact, Congress never ha;
' agreed upon, or proposed, any def
mite terms upon which the Southern
States could come in. The commit
tee of fifteen, after consultation o
8 six months, did not agree; but did b,
= vote of II to 3, report a Joint reso
\ ton recommending an amendment t.
the Constitution, which Congress re
jected. And finally, on the Sth day O
: June, 1866, Congress passed a join
c resolution proposing the presen
/ amendment, which the Standard re
!. prints. There is no promise to tn
South, in either of the proposed amenC
Z mento, that if they ratify them the
: will be accepted. Nor is there an
u law or resolution of Congress, to m
e knowledge, holding out any sue
n promise. On the contrary, bill pre-
viding for their admission, Oh cOnd
ton OF its adoption, has been rejccte
u by Congress. Hence, if every Soatl
e ern State should ratify the amend
i mcnt TO the Constitution tomorrow
{ Congress has not pledged itselvf i
n any way, to admit their Represent;
=. tives to seats in Congress. In, fac
- they never intended it as a plan of 7,
: construction.
}. The editor of the Independent,
IS his issue of September - says, ed
q tOrially:
"The mere amendment will not reconstru
1t anything; the radicals, North and South, regal
1t as no more adapted TO basis of recOnstru
y ton than would be tariff bill, fishery treaty
d And further on he saws:
: eve know, personally, the leading radicals
y the party, and we know that they have no int
d ton of making the amendment the final measu
of admission; and to say, therefore, thot on CO
G. dition of adopting the amendment as Tenness
adopted it, the door stands open for The ten 9th
70 States, is to make promise TO the ear to break
7 to the hope"
And again he says:
10 Tennessee ought not to have been admitt
70 on such a basis; her admission was ming
crime and blunder.''
ie This doctrine as plainly enOue
Swallowed forth in other radical papel
bt such as the Tribune, and many other
This being the state of the case, VIII;
" becomes of the Standmd's plan of r
ie construction, that he has taken
I'd much pains and legal research to e
le plain to his readers ? 1t is Just /
al plan at all; never was intended
- Congress as plan, or ultimatum;
not recognized or claimed as such
u the leading radical press; and if
w plan in any sense, it must be the pls
as of my friend Circuit, of the .StandGr
. And if he would not deceive his rea
w. ers, and prove false to his party lea
ers, he should retract his assertiC
L. that the new amendment is the Co
y gressional plan Demonstration.
Us There is but one plan of reconstru
rs ton before the people, and that is Il
o. Lincoln and Johnson plan. No OF
er certain or definite plan has Det
nc IN proposed, so that there is no issue
Is fore the people as to plans, and thel
Id can be no issue with but one pla
%. True it is that radical Congre
81 finds fault with Johnson's plan; b.
- they proposed nothing else, and ne
~ er will, so long as they can contri,
IN ways to disagree about a plan. I'll
u truth is, if their acts are to be taxi
IN as deciding the question, they do n
= desire the restoration Of the Southel
:, States at present, and consequently q
q the radical pretentions of their beir
H. admitted at an "early day" is me.
Id hypocrisy" T. j. G.
Re, Some one writes that JEFF. Dav