Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1866-05-09
the RAFTsMAn's JOURNAL.

one, will not see abundance of reason for
keeping out Southern representatives, upon
the pretence of not having fulfilled to the
letter provisions which have no doubt been
cautiously worded for that express purpose?
From the Philadelphia Gazette.l
The more these propositions are examined
the better they appear to be tor practical
working. They vindIcate the wisdom Of
Congress, and ought to meet with prompt
acceptance in both houses OF course there
can be no doubt as to their passage. though
opposition from Mr.. Sumner and his few fol-
lowers. We hope not. But we are not
without an anticipation that the President
may see proper to lend his aid to this, great
measure OF adjustment, as it is consistent
with his views and plans and will be atten-
ded with no unnecessary delay in its practi-
cal working. The unanimity of the Repub
lican members OF the Committee in favor of
| the plan ought to commendit to the support
of all who adhere to the great National
| Union party.
From the Chicago Tribune]
The report of the Reconstruction Com
not so thorough as We had hoped for, is
perhaps the best thing attainable under the
| circumstances.
From the n. Y. Comme re ial Advertiser
| 1t is in reality scheme to postpone the
restoration Of the late rebel States to 1870,
or in other words to point or time subse-
quent to the next Presidential election. 1t
/ holds these States as Territories, by die
tating terms to them. 1t holds them as
| States By calling them SO, and by giving
| them vote upon a constitutional amend
ment. 1t mikes things up in the most alb
surd manner, and all for the sake, not of
peace and harmony, but of controlling the
! Presidential canvass of 1868. -. Now we
| have this NEW plan, which is lame at
tempt TO ratiiy what Is good that the Presl-
| dent has done; to ameliOrate that which Is
speedily evil to thwart the President
plan for the future, and to substitute for
it a scheme fathered by no particular per
son, but "a good enough Morgan till after
election.
From the Cleveland Leader ]
We confess ourselves seriously disappoint-
ed III the action of the Committee We
had hoped TO see it adopt the simple. states
manlike and complete plan which Robert
! Dale Owen matured and submitted to it
providing by constitutional amendment tor
universal suffrage after the fourth of July,
| 1876, and for the restoration of each of the
rebellious States on their ratification of the
plan. This policy would have been just TO
| the Ireeumen- generous TO the SOuIn, anu
safe for the Union. 1t would have given
Us all the necessary guarantees tor the future
and would have spared us the necessity of
unrepublcan and dangerous disfranchise
ments and exclusions But the Committee
had not that courage which in times like
these is the truest craftsmanship, and in
stead of appealing at once to the universal
sense of justice in favor of the simple and
grand proposal of Mr.. Owen, they have
schemed to indirectly accom- plish the same
end by prohibitions and by penalties. The
plan adopted is, we fear, so lukewarm that
it will please neither North or South. 1t
will certainly be as distasteful to the rebels,
to the copperheads, and to President John
son, as Mr.. Owens, and it will not be near
ly as acceptable to the earnest Union men of
the country as that would have been.
We are in favor of the article reported by
the Committee, and hope to see it made
part of the Constitution, but we do not
think it contains sufficient guarantees to
make it the sole condition of readmitting
the rebel States We think that it will yet
be found that the only safe foundation for
reconstruction is universal suffrage.
/