New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1866-10-11
cYRlu Orleans Bully Grestent,
MORNING, OCTOBER Ii, 1856.
The Radical Mode Of Restoration.
From the chicago Republican. |

The Radical Mode OF Restoration,
From the Chicago Republican,
The New Orleans CRESCENT referring to our
statement that in case the seeded States should
reject the constitutional amendment, Congress-
would reorganze them on a broader basis as to
suffrage, makes the following inquiry:
" In what way it is proposed to reorganize the
Southern States, SO as to exclude the white non.
uaton from the local governments the Repubii
can does not inform u.s. Probably the plan is to
keep us out Of Congress until we consent TO buy
our way in by surrendering our State govern
ments into the hands Of the blacks and of the 40
called loyal whites, such men as Jack Hamilton
and Helsand. But to give so great price for
so small iayor IS more than can reasonably be.
expected, even Of defeated rebels If there is
any other way Of accomplishing the object, we
Deg the Republican to explain it to u.s. T. it by
another constitutional amendment? But how Il
the amendment to be adopted if the Southern
states refuse to ratfy it? Or is it simply by
p0ia usurpat1On OF power on the part Of Con.
gress? Will the Republican be good enough to
eEfR be cRrsoryr .r.nr...nt, u. ,.,;o., o,.,
III saying it would exclude the white population
IRON the localigovernmcnt; but as the CRESCENT is
at loss to conceive how Congress could recog-
ME the seeded State governments, we reply
The rebellion abolished all State governments at
the South. President Johnson in his prOcIama-
tons OF reconstruction, declared this fact and
based his plan Of reconstruction on it. For this
purpose he issued proCamatiOns ordering, among
other things, who should and who should n0tvote,
and ingeniously framing his proclamation so as to
exclude blacks without mentioning them in express
terms. Had Congress recognized these State
governments, formed by military proclamation
then they would have become valid State govern.
ments; but Congress having declined TO do so, the
seeded States are really territory of the United
States, over which no civil government exists.
The sO.cailed State governments are merely pro-
yisional military, and, il Congress so ordains,
temporary.
somewhat as follows:
WHEREAS, the ten States recently engaged in
the rebellion have thereby lost for the time their
original state governments, and none but military
governments exist therein; and whereas, by the
abolition Of slavery four millions Of citizens are
added to the commonwealth of the several States;
and whereas, no form Of government is republican
IN winch so large portion OF its citizens is eXclu-
ded from the body polite and is denied the ballot;
and whereas, it is the duty of the national govern
ment to guarantee to each State republican form
of government, and hence to guarantee to the
emancipated race the right to vote on the same
terms it is given to all other citizens Of the Uni
ted States; therefore, be it enacted, etc:
/. That the right to vote for all federal and
State officers, TO hold office under the State or
federal government, shall not hereafter be denied
by any state laws or officers to any adult male
citizen Of the United States, on account Of his
color. race or previous condition.
2. No person who gave aid or comfort to the
rebellion shall, either by voting or holding Office.
participate in reOrEanzing the State governments
of the seeded States.
9. Tie President shall immediately purge the
provisional State governments by removing from
office Hereunder all persons who gave aid and
comfort 10 the rebellion and appointing in their
stead men who were loyal during the war.
4. Localities in which no loyal men exist shall
not participate in the work Of reconstruction.
). As soon as the present State organizations
shall have been placed in the hands Of loyal men
only, and not exceeding three months from the
passage Of this act the people Of each State who
were loyal throughout the war and who shall
have returned afiidayts Of that fact to the COVER
nor in the mode prescribed by him, shall elect
delegates corresponding to the number Of mem
befs 10 which they were entitled in the State leg
isature by the Constitution of the State in force
in 1860 which delegates shall meet at time and
place to be designated by the governor, and shall
propose Constitution, which, when ratified by a
majority Of the loyal people Of the State and by
Congress, shall be the Constitution Of the State,
s. Immediately on the adoption and ratification
of such Constitution by the people of the State
and by Congress, the provisional governor there
of shall order an election for State officers, pur
suant to the foregoing provisions, which, if found
duly elected, shall be admitted to seats in Con
gress in like manner as members elect from
States whose governments have never been de-
stroyed.
7. When the members so elect shall have been
admitted to the Senate and House of Representa-
tiyes, the provisional government of the State
from which they come shall pass over the gov
eminent thereof to the officers elect under the
new Constitution and the said State shall then be
restored to its normal position in the Union, and
the President shall SO proclaim.
Congress has two constitutional grounds on
which to base its exercise Of the power to extend
the suffrage The first is above indicated, and
rests on the fact that the seeded States are mere
territory, without civil government, over which
Congress is bound to extend republican forms OF
government, The second arises out Of the right
vested in Congress by the Constitution, article one
section four, to make alter by law" such
''regulationsp as "shall be prescribed in each
State by the Legislature thereof as to the manner
OF electing Senators and Representatives. 1t is
well known that when Mr.. Jefferson, who was
absent from tbs country during the framing
of the Constitution, charged Mr.. Madison,
who drew the original draft which grew into
the document ultimately adopted, with hag-
ing by the above clause given Congress the power
TO pass uniform national suffrage law, and to
override the suffrage laws Of the States, Mr.. Mad
ison admitted that the clause had that effect, and
claimed that such power was necessary to pre-
vent a State from DISTINGUISHING that portion Of
her citizens whose votes might be most necessary
to preserve the Union. Mr.. Madison had more to
do with framing the Constitution than any other
statesman and his declaration that the convention
which framed the instrument designed to have it
vest in Congress the power to pass uniform suf-
frage laws for the election of all federal officers
is Overwhelming. But, the language of the Con
stituton itself is plain, and needs no common
tary.