The tri-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1866-1868, 1866-12-20
MIR. STEVENS PROJECT.

4
The bill which Mr. Stevens has introduced
into the House of Representatives in relation
to the reorganization of the Government of
North Carolina, is to be taken only as the eX-
| preston of his own opinion of the proper
| means to be adopted in the restoration Of the
Southern States. 1t is thoroughly radical,
inasmuch as it proposes to cut up the present
Government by the roots and totally oblit-
crate its authority. Mr.. Stevens is pro-
gressive and earnest, and although an old
man, he has more energy about him than
| the majority of the younger members of
the House. When he takes hold of sub
| ject he rarely gives it up, and ms persever-
| ance is such that he carries measures by the
| force of his character. What will be the fate
| of his bill in reference to North Carolina may
not be predicted. That he will press it with
| all the energy of his character may be expec-
ted. This bill proceeds upon the theory
that the relations with the Government
which were severed by North Carolina ON the
Goth of May, 1861, have never been restored.
The Government set up by the President
was provisional, and needed the approval of
Congress. That approval has never been
given. Consequently all that followed was
immaterial and OF no avail. The present
State government is not a legal one, having
been Constituted under recommendation of
Provisional Government, which had no au-
thority. 1t therefore exists upon sutferance,
and may be abolished whenever Congress
chooses to exercise its authority. Upon this
theory, all that follows is plain enough. Mr..
Stevens would deal with the subject as he
would have done in April, 1865, and he
treats the present condition of affairs as if it
was not different from what it was at that
time. He, therefore, proposes that things
shall commence de moro in the old North
State de nOUO as to the means of reconstruc-
ton, and very much dc n0yO in regard to the
plan of setting the Government in motion
He proposes to enfrancllise all classes Of the
male population, without respect to color.
All can vote for delegates to a sovereign con-
vcntion. In this election returned Rebels as
well as Union men can vote. But they can
only vote for delegates who can take oath
that, on on the 18th of March, 1864, and at
all times thereafter, they were opposed to
the continuance of the Rebellion, and were,
personally, willing to have complied with
President LincolE's proclamation of Deem
Der 8. 1868, which offered amnesty to citi-
zens of the States i'll Rebellion, with the eX-
ception of certain classes, who would not take
the oath of allegiance to the United States.
Delegates must he able to swear that they
were willing, a year before the collapse of
the Rebellion, to return to their allegiance,
or they are not eligible To the convention
thus formed is to he granted authority to
draft Il Constitution for the State of North
Carolina. But the instrument cannot be-
come valid until submitted to Congress and
ratified by that body.
These are the principal features of Mr.
Stevens BILL and they are of the greatest i'm
portance as indicative of policy which Con-
gress may adopt, not only'w with North Caro-
lima, but other States. All this might have
been avoided by the adoption of the Consti-
tional Amendments, but there are some peo-
pie who sooner than get out of difficulty
by the right road, would prefer circuitous
route, incumbered with pitfalls, rocks and
tangled briars.-PhA Inquirer.