The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1866-03-27
SENATOR STEWARDS PLAN.

We published last week brief telegraphic
summary of Senator Stewards universal suffrage
and general amnesty preamble and resolutions,
offered in the II. S Senate on Friday the 18th,
and referred to the Reconstruction Committee.
The resolutions involving the, to the South,
vital question of the day, We give Id full, to-
eether with Mr. Stewards and Mr. Sumner
remarks thereon. Mr.: Stewart, though Re-
publican, has hitherto voted with the cQpserva-
tives. and has advocated what is known as the
Presidents policy:
Whereas, In the present distracted condition
of t he country, it is eminently proper and ne
cessary that all Just and constitutional means
should be employed for the quieting of popular
excitement, the removal of unreasonable pre-
iudice. and bliteration of all hostile feeling
growing out of the late unhappy civil war; and
| whereas one of the most prolific sources of us-
| friendly sentiment is the conflict of opinion ex-
listing on the subject of negro suffrage; and
whereas it is now most evident that there is no
probability whatever that Senators and Repre-
sentatives in Congress from the States whose
people were lately in Instruction will be allowed
to occupy the seats to which they have been
elected until said States shall have complied
| with certain fundamental conditions, portion
I of which are hereinafter recited; and whereas
it is unreasonable to expect the establishment
| of harmony and good feeling as long as the
eleven Southern States whose people were re-
| Gently in insurrection are prevented from re-
Stunning their ancient relations to this Govern
ment; therefore, belt
| Resolued, &C., First. That each of said States
whose people were lately in instruction, as
aforesaid, shall be recognized as having fully
and validity resumed Its former relations with
| this Government, and its chosen representatives
| shall be Admitted into the two houses OF the
National Legislature, whenever said State shall
| have so amended its Constitution as, LIST. 10 do
away with all existing distinctions as to civil
rights and disabilities among the various classes
of its population, by reason either OF race or
color, or previous condition of servitude; I'd
To repudiate all pecuniary Indebtedness which
said State may have heretofore contracted, In
CURED or assumed 10 connection with the late
unnatural and reasonable war; 3D. To yield all
claim to compensation on accoant of the liberia
ton of its slaves; and, 4th To provide for the
extension of the elective franchise to all persons
upon the same terms and conditions, making no
discrimination on account OF race, color or pre-
vious condition Of servitude: Provided, That
those who were qualified to vote in the year
1860 by the laws Of the respective States shall
not be distranchised oy reason of any new tests
or conditions which have been may be pre-
scrbed since that year
Res0ire1, That after the aforesaid conditions
have been complied with, and the same shall
have been ratified by majority of the present
voting population of the State, including all
those qualified vote under the laws thereof as
they existed 10 1860, general amnesty shall be
proclaimed in regard to all persons in such State
tod ,.yth r,nI
opposition to the Government of the United
States wholly generating them from all pains,
penalties, aud disabilities to which :hey may
have become liable by reason of connection with
the rebellion.
Resoicel, That in view of the importance of
the thorough assim !ation Of the basis of suffrage
in the various States of the Union, all other
States not above specified shall be respectfully
requested to- incorporate an amendment in their
State Constitutions respectively, corresponding
with the one specified.
ResolUed, That in the adoption Of the afore-
said resolutions it is not Intended to assert a
coe,ciue power on the part of Congress in regard
to the regulation of the right Of suffrage in the
different States of the Union, but only to make
respectful and earnest appeal to their own
good sense and love of country, with view to
the prevention of serious evils now threa tened,
duUsto tue PchCtlUl pelpctUdtiou VI inc icpooC,
the happiness and the true glory of the whole
American people
Mr.. Stewart said he asked that the resolutions
be printed aud referred to the Committee on
Reconstruction, and added, | have been care
full observer of the current Of events since Con-
gress assembled, and have come to the conclu-
sion that proposition of that kind corresponds
with the prevailing sentiment 10 Congress and
also in the country, and is Indicated by the
public press; and without expressing any opin-
ions as to the propriety or improperly of negro
suffrage, which have steadily avoided from the
first to the present time, [ have come to the
conclusion that, in the present attitude Of Con-
gress and the country, the terms which Congress
is willing to grant should be submitted to the
South for them to adopt or reject. This prepo-
sition avoids all the odious objections attached
to the other propositions that have appeared, and
all that appears like coercion. 1t also avoids
the long roll OF amendments which must be
contended for on Northern battle fields before
the South be heard at all. 1t is the only propo.
sition that can be heard by the South
[ want the South to have an opportunity TO
act upon it, without imparting to it what they
regard as odious. When they refuse the promo
sition it will be time enough to consider other
ones. Until they do, l think it is unjust to the
Sonth to take from them the right to decide for
themselves And | would say, furthermore,
that | find it TO be in accord with letter writ
ten by the President of the United States,
which am authorized to state Judge Sharkey
says is genuine. 1t corresponds in spirit with
that letter, and [ have no reason to believe from
anything the President has thereafter said that
he at all objects to it. 1 beg leave to read the
letter.