Cleveland daily leader. [volume] ([Cleveland, Ohio]) 1865-1873, 1866-05-01
The Reconstruction Committees Re-


The telegraph has laid before US the
provisions of a new Constitutional
Amendment agreed upon by the Recon
gtruction Committee, at its session OF Sat
urdav, by alstrict party vote, the Republi-
cans voting in favor of it and the Demo
erats against it. The amendment is in
five sections, and is proposed TO provide
that when it is adopted by any state Lately
in rebellion and the laws of that stare
changed SO as to conform to it, that sta e
shall be readmitted 10 full privileges in
the Union. The provisions Of this article
have been given to our readers in FIJI.
The first section Incorporates in the Con-
siitution the provisions Of the Civil
Rights Bill the second Furnishes the ex-
elusion Of adult male citizens from Il Q
ballot by reducing representation in pro-
portion to tho number excluded the
third ~disfranchises all rebels until after
1870; the fourth forbid5 the assumption
either Of the state or national govern
ment OF the rebel debt or any part of it;
and the fifth gives Congress the power to
enforce the preceding sections by appTo-
pirate legislation. We learn that tie
Committee voted down Robert Dale
Ovens proposition, providing for univer-
sal suffrage at the expiration Of ten year,.
They agreed however upon a bin pro-
nibiting from holding Office under the
United States all who have held certain
positions under the rebel government
This last, by the by, should also have
been made q Constitutional amendment
In its present shape, should it be passed
it can be repealed by the first Congress il
which the South and her Northern allies
have q majority, and no one can doubt
that as soon as the Southern States are re-
admitted to Congress their first efforl
would be to secur the repeal of this act.
We confess ourselves seriously disap
pointed in the action Of the committee.
We had hoped to see it adopt the simple
statesmanlike and complete plan which
Robert Dale Owen matured and submit
ted to it-providing by constitutions
amendment for universal suffrage after
the fourth Of July, 1876, and for the res
toration of each of the rebellious state,
on their ratification of the plan. Thi
policy wo1ld havs been Just to the freed
men, generous TO the South, and safe 70
the Union. Il would have given us al
the necessary guarantees for the future
and would have spared US the necessity 0
un~republieau and dangerous d~isfranehisc
ments and exclusions. But the CommiLtc
had not that courage which in times liz,
these is the truest craftsmanship, and in
stead of appealing at once to the universal
sense Of justice in favor ofthe simple and
grand proposal Of Mr.. Owen, they have
schened 20 indirectly accomplish thu
same end by prohibitions and by penalties
The plan adopted is, we fear, SO luke
warm that it viii please neither North o.
South. It VIII certainly be as dis
hsteful to the rebels, to the Copperheads
and to President johnson, as Mr.. Owen's
and it will not be nearly as acceptable e
the earnest Union men of the country a.
that would have been.
We are in favor of the article reported
BY the Committee, and hope to see it mad,
a part of tho Constitution, but We do no
think it contains sufficient guarantees t,
make it the solo condition Of readmitti2g |
the rebel states. We think that 1t vii
yet be found that the only safe foundation
for reconstruction is u'lirersal suffrage.