The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-09-19

Congress. ana bne uOOT Jnus passed through
stands inviting openly to all who still linger
Are the conditions thus prescribed intolerable.
or even humiliatng9 They ale in substance
these:-
/. All persons born or naturalized in this
country are henceforth citizens of the United
States, and shall enjoy all the rights of citizens
evermOre; and no State shall have power to
contravene this most righteous and necessary
provision.
IL. While the States claim and exercise the
power of denying the elective franchise TO a
part of their people, the weight of each State
In the Union shall be measured by and based
upon its enfranchised population. II any State
shall choose, for no crime, to deny political
rights TO any race or caste, it must no longer
count that race OF caste as q basis of political
power in the Union.
III. He who has once held office on the
strength of his solemn oath to support the Fede-
raj Constitution, and mas nevertheless torsworn
himself and reasonably plotted to subvert that
Constitution, shall henceiorth hold no political
office till Congress, by two-thIrds vote, shall
remove or modify the disability.
~. The national debt shah be nowise repu.
dated nor invalidated; and no debt incurred in
support of the Rebellion shall ever be assumed
or paid by any State; nor shall payment be
maze Tor the loss or emancipation of any slave.
V. Congress shall have power to enforce these
guarantees by appropriate legislation.
Such, fellow-cltizens, are the conditions of re-
construction proposed by Congress aud already
accepted by the loyal Legislature OF Tennessee.
therein disposition TO trample on the PROSTATE
or push an advantage to the uttermost? Do
they embody aught of vengeance, or any con-
fscation but that of slavery? We solicit your
candid, impartial judgment.
What Is intended by the third section is sim
ply 20 give loyalty u fair start in the recon
structed States. Under the Johnson policy, the
Rebels monopolize power and place even in
communities where they are decidedly outnum-
bered. Their generals are Governors and Men,
bers elect OF Congress; their colonels and majors
fill the legislatures, and otliciate as sherltfs.
Not only are the steadtasuy loyal prescribed,
but even stay-at-home Rebels have little chance
in competition with those who fought to sub
vert the Union. When this Rebel monopoly OF
office shall have been broken up, aud loyalty to
the Union Shall have become general and
hearty, Congress may remove the disability,
and will doubtless make haste to do so.
We do not perceive that the justice or fitness
OF the fourth hsectlon-prescribng that the Union
public debt shall be promptly met, but that of
the Rebel Coniederacy never-is seriously con-
tested.
There remains, then, but the second section.
which prescTibes IN substance that political
power in the Union shall henceforth be base
only on that portion of the people OF each State
who are deemed by its Constitution fit deposi-
torres OF such power. In other words-A State
which chooses to hold part of its population in
ignorance and vassalaee-powerless,u ,uneducated,
pnfranchised-shall not count that portion to
Balance the educated, intelligent eniranchised
citizens of other States.
We do not purpose to argue the Justice of this
provision, As well argue the shape OF q cube
or the correctness Cf the multiplication table.
He who does not feel that this is simply and
mildly just, would not be persuaded though one
rose from the dead to convince him. That there
are those among us who would not have it rati-
tied, sadly demonstrates that the good work Of
Emancipation is not yet complete.
Bun, - say some, this section is designed to
coeTce the South Into according suffrage to her
blacks.n Not so, we reply; but only TO notify
her ruling caste that we will no longer bribe
them to keep their blacks in serfdom. An
atistocracy rarely surrenders Its privileges, no
matter how oppressive, from abstract devotion
70 justice and right. 1t must have cogent, pal
pable reasons for so doing. We say, therefore,
to South Carolina, ''If you persistenty restrict
all power to your 100000 whites, we must insist
that these no longer balance, in Congress and
the choice of President 10000 Northern white
freemen, but only 10000 If you keep your
blacks evermore in sertdom, it must not be
because we tempted you so to do and rewarded
you for so doing"
FelloW-citiZens Of every State, but especially
OF those soon TO mold elections +! we entreat
your earnest, constant heed to the grave ques-
| tions now at issue. II those who so wantonly
| plunged the Union into civil war shall be
| allowed by you to dictate terms of reconstruc
| tion, you will have heedlessly sown the bittei
| seeds OF future rebellion and bloody strife
| Already you are threatened with recognition
| by the President of sham Congress, made W
OF the factions which recently coalesced a.
! Philadelphia on platform of Johnsonism =
a Congress constituted by nullifying and over
riding a PLAIN law of the land-a Congress
| wholly inspired from the White House, and
| appealing to the sword alone for support. So
| glaring an attempt at usurpaton would be even
more criminal than absurd. Happily the peo
| pie, by electing an overwhelming majority o
thoroughly loyal Representatives, are render
ing ITS imitation impossible.
We cannot close without a most deserved
| tribute to the general fidelity wherewith il
view of the Presidents detection the grea
| body of the people, and even of the Fedora
| offce.holders, stand fast by their conviction
and their principles. The boundIess patronag
| OF the Executive, though most unscrupulousl.
| welded against those to whose votes he owes il
has corrupted very few, either OF those whit
shared or OF those who would gladly share in it
cr ioyment Not one of the twenty-five State
which voted TO re-elect Abraham Lincoln ha
given in its adhesion to the Presidents policy
while New Jersey-the only free State tha
voted against him-has added herself to Chei
number.
Our great war has taught impressiyelv th
peril of injustice; and the lesson has sunk dee
into millions of hearts. The American people
| chastened by suffering, are wiser and noble
than they were, with quicker and more opel
ear for every generous suggestion. The fearfu
lessons of Memphis and New Orleans have nc
been lost on them, as ls proved by the result {
the recent elections in Vermont and Maine. w
cherish no shadow OF doubt that Pennsylyania
Ohio, Indiana, and Iowa first, then New Yorb
New Jersey, Illinois, Michigan, Wisconsin
| Kansas. and Minnesota will do likewise An
that true restoration, genuine abiding peac
win thus be secured TO our country-a peac
that will endure, because based on the eyel
lasting foundations of humanity, Justice an
freedom.
MARCUS L. WARD New JERSEY Chairman.
JOIN ID. DRFREEs, Indiana, Secretary.
HORACE GREELEY. ....,, New York,
IS. A. PURyIANoE. ........ Pennsylvania,
| WILLIAM CLAFLIN. ,,,,.. Massachusetts,,
| N. b.