Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1866-05-11
Reconstruction.

in rejoicing. Devotion to the Union
had triumphed over all efforts for It's
destruction, and for a moment the
great loyal heart of the North peat
with cxultation and joy. Immediate
", however, upon the assassination OF
President Lincoln, which was an event
of almost the same hour with the sur
render of treason, this feeling OF JOY |
paye ~ay to one of intense sorrow, |
mingled with a pln|ul anxiety and
apprehension, lest through weakness
or trcachery, the fruits of the victory
lust then won, should wither In our
grasp. The following questions were
then suggested: How shall the coun-
try be again most speedily and most
wisely roorganizcd, and rcestablIshed
in the pursuit of the arts of peace?
How most certainly can we incorpo-
rate into our political system the prin-
ciplcs indicated by the war, and thus
show ourselves not Only able, through
the blessing of God, to gain the vic
tory, but able also, through the same
blessing, to preserve its fruits? These
questions arose and hung upon the
minds of all. who looked inqnirlngly
into the future, and sought to com
prehend the complicated problem
which the sudden collapse of the re-
bcllion had thrust upon the country.
These were the questions then, they
are the questions to-day; and although
q full year has now elapsed, siucc the
rebel armies were disbanded, we are
apparently but little nearer the solu-
ton of that problem now than then.
This delay cannot be fairly imputed
to the people, or their Representa-
tivcs in Congress, but is chiefly att.'iO-
utable to the fact that President John
son, upon his accession to power, in
itiated q system Of reconstruction
which has not met the approval of the
masses; and what renders the situa
ton still more complex, and the work
still moro difficult, is his unwilling
ness to unite with them upon any plan
but the one proposed hy himself; and
that plan, as is we'll known, is to ad
init at once, to participation in Con
gressional privileges, the Representa-
tivcs from the States lately in rebel
lion. Mr.. Johnson thinks, or profess
cs to think. that those States arc al
ready prepared for admission into
fall fellowship in the Union. Thi,
proposition is Of course rcpugnant tt
every loyal man, and none favor it cX
cept those in the South, who were late
" rebels. and those in the North, VIII
think thut if the seeded States were
thus let back to full privileges in thu
Union, they might, by coalition will
them, be able to control h G mex
Presidential election; and sccur,
to themselves q distribution of TIL
"loaves and iishcs;" and thus throug
Lees surrender and Johnsons rcco.
struction, treason would again sit i
the White House, and in the Capitol
and as q result the black man woul
be reduced to system of pcOnag
worse than slavery itself; the nationf
war debt would be repudiatcd, or tn
rebel war debt assumed; pension
would be taken from Union soldier
or similar pensions would be given
rebel soldiers; and the demagogu(
would tell the people, that We wei
all members of the same family, an
should share, and share alike. Sue
to loyal men, is the obvious drift G
Mr.. Johnson's reconstruction scheme
and they have wisely and coarageou
ly refused to adopt it. Congress
thanks to that body-havc thus Fl
held the President at bay, and have
last, through joint committee Q
fifteen, reported the outlines of p!G
consisting Of a new article to Il
Constitution, and two bills, which v
give entire in another column.
Those who were looking for an il
mediate establishment Of univcrs
suffrage, will be disappointed by Il
report. 1t will however be notice
that the proposed amendment curtai
the representation in Congress, fro
any State, in the same proportic
that the elective franchise is curtail,
in that State, which if adopted as
part Of the Constitution, will forev
hereafter furnish strong induccmcI
for those States made up largely {
negro population, to give that por
lation the ballot; and although IL
may look to some, like purchasing 90,
conduct by proposed reward of mt
it, yet better have it at that price, TIL
not at all. The amendment also c
cludes from the right to vote for PR
ident and Congressman, until July Il
1870, all who adhered to the late
bellion, or gave it aid or comfort al
certainly if they get SO cooled of, a
washed of treason by that time, til
they can vote as become freemen. th