Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1866-05-10

terfere in the State economy, except in de-
Tense of national rights. They declare
simply, in tho first place, that no State
shall abridgeIths privileges Of citizens Of
the United Stares. Such a proposition is
its own irresistible argument. A citizen Of
this country should be equally a citizen
every where in il this is plain, and there
fore all his civil rights Is a citizen of the
United States should be sacred wherever
the national flag floats. Can the President,
with all his warm convictions of the ~sanctity
of States, object to so obviously just a pro.
vision?
In the second place, whenever the cleo
tive franchise shall be denied to any portion
of the male citizens of a State who are Of
age, except for crime or participation in the
rebellion, the basis of representation shall
be reduced in the proportion which the
number of such male citizens shall bear to
the whole number of male citizens not less
than twenty.one years of age. In other
words, If South Carolina shall choose to dis
franchise 100, 900 of her citizens because Of
their color, or New York shall choose to do
the same thing because of want of property,
then each of those States shall suffer in the
national representation just in that proper
ton, Such q provision stimulates every
bNhtC u bblstkC thb buIidkCt uiiu " CANOhN
education in order TO make the suffrage safe.
It is strictly harmoRious with the Presi-
dents expressed wish to base representa-
ton upon the number Of voters.
In the third place. the COMMITTEES recon
mend that until the 4th of July, 1870, four
wears hence. all persons whe voluntarily ad.
hered to the rebellion shall be excluded
from voting al national elections. This
article We presume is introduced to embody
the Presidents desire that treason shall
be made odious," and that in the great work
of reors anization the late rebel feeders shall
''take back seats" In his frequent and
vehement expression of that desire the
President unquestionably spoke for the
loyal country, and his sentiments are still
further incorporated in the proposed bill to
render certain Of those leaders ineligible to
office under the government of the United
States. This third proposition is the one
which seems to us likely to occasion most
difference of opinion. That it is in strict
accordance with President Johnson's fire.
qu 1nt suggestions is true, but it is q point
of doubtful policy, net essential to the gen
eral plan, and, it seems to US, might be
safely omitted.
The fourth proposition is a matter o
, course, that neither the United States no
any State shall assume to pay any debt in
CURED in aid of the rebellion, or fer an,
claim for compensation of loss of slaves, ant
J Congress is authorized to enforce the pro
9 visions Of this article.
a These ara the propositions Of the Gem
mittee. which we trust will be unanimousi
adopted by the Union vote 10 Congress, be
4 and because they do not claim to reap NOR
- than hos hnap nrun Tbat, oiunnlv Hnfn
: and secure the legitimate result Of the wa
|, as recognized by the general conviction O
the loyal country, and as it has been ofte
i strongly stated by President Johnson. The
contain nothing vindictive, and if the Go,
|, eminent of the United States has any RICH
whatever TO do any thing whatever to pre-
; vent the late rebel States from gaining poll
ical power nv their rebellion, it NAV cha
!, lenge the whole world and it's late domesti
enemies To show any thing unprecedented
unjust, or ungenerous in the settlement
proposes We believe that the vast bod
of the Union party Of the country whic
= carried the war ,u ,cessfully to the end. an
which triumphantly elected Lincoln an
!. johnson. Will most cordially sustain tn
: policy Of reorganization and gladly appe'
to the country to ratify it. And howevs
anxious the President may he to see loy'
mea from the late disturbed States admitte
to Congress. We shall be very slow to beIiev
q that he will refuse his sincere co-operatio
n to a plan which does not conflict with an
of his own orinions, and which secures tn
II admission ofloval m~embsrsto Congress wit
the heart felt welcome and congratulAtion
the whole loyal country.
i That tho prnDssed settlement ofthe Con
y mitteo should bo greeted with sneers an
anger bv those who have persistently d.
% clared that Congress is a bloody. faction.
q revolutionary body is natural. These o.
factors have counted unon overthrowing til
President and destroying the Union mart
n by fomenting every real or asserted diffe
i ence between them. But here is the utt'
refutation Of their calumnies. Here is II
Is plain proof that Congress seeks only "
a speediest reorganization Of the Union upc
n the most temperate and reasonable CO.
ditions, For We assume that there win
> little delay in ratifying the report oil
then. 50 great and unprecedented is the q
j. casion, we trust that the Legislatures of q
States will he Immediately summoned
spccial session to net upon the propos
amendment. that Congress and the count
,nn and the world NAV know the will Of the Ia
" al people of. the United States upon Il
10 most vital point of national policy.
u