Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1866-03-22
FOrney's reconstruction Pro
gram nle.

In d ouble loaded leader Forney, Washington
Chronicle marks out programme for Congress
that seems to be wise and udicious so far AS it
goes. Ii really needs but one thing more than
what il specifies TO make it acceptable pro
gramme to all fair minded patriotic men, viz: some
provision TO secure the right OF suffrage in the re-
bellous States to at least two classes of colored
men-Ihose who have fought for the Union and
received honorable discharges, and those who can
read and write Who would withhold the suffrage
from patriotism and intelligence Wat Republi
can in tile whole Union would object to letting
colored soldier vote who fought for the Union, if
a rebel who fought against il shall be allowed to
votel Ifwhoe masses of vicious, vengeful trait
orous whites who are so ignorant that they can
neither read nor write, shall be endowed with the
elective franchise, OH what principle Of safety or
justice shall lc yal colored men who can both read
and write be deprived of that privilege7 Senator
Wilson's terms OF readmission Of ten rebel States
provide that those loyal colOred men who have
borne arms for the Union, and those who can
read and write, shall be entitled to vote for Pres-
Dental electors. members of Congress and the
State Legislatures. Certainly nothing less than
this will ever satisfy the constituents of Rspub-
can Congressman. Here are the measures urged
upon the attention of Congressman by the Chron
iele.
The next thing in 0rier would be the passage
at an early GA. ~ the House oil REPRESENTATIVES,
of Senator Trumbulls bill securing civil rnnn's TO
the people Of the whole Union. This measure
has already passed the Senate. and is now pending
in the other branch of Congress. We are in hopes
that the President will not veto this bill, especially
az it has been amended in the House. Some Of
those who profess to speak for him are its warm
advocates. Should he sign it, then the colored
people will stand before the people az loyal and az
constitutional citizens, and the local courts of the
insurrectionary districts will be restrained by the
strong arm of national law whenever they may at
tempt te be oppressive or partial.
Follow this by passing the amendment of the
national Constitution prohibiting the payment of
all rebel debts.
Then place upon the road Of popular ratification
Senator w AIDES amendn,ent limiting the President
to a single term.
IfCongress and the executive could unite upon
these really easy and practical remedies, other
forms woi lid speedily follow. According to the
Presidents last assurance to en-. Howard, he pro-
poses to continue the Freedmen's Bureau-some
Of the features Of which are far more Objectionable
than those complained of in his veto of Mr.. Trum
bulls billfor another entire year, before the end
of which time should the above propositions be
carried by the present Congress-ether the col
ored population of the Southern States will be in
such condition as not to require extra official
guardianship and restraint, or else the one year
NAV be extended into another.
A
greed upon the important subject of suffrage will
remain a bone of contention between the sections.
( Not TO speak OF il in reveRgeful orr reproach
full sense, the great anti slavery sentiment, has
again proved its pon1erous and preponderating
power. The Southern people, well all po.
litical aspirants, must know, if they consult their
own hearts. that no experiment no project and no
hope, general or individual can erer preraiI that
seeks 10 cheat or check that sentiment.
| These may be called the organic features OF a
grand remedial and reconcling system. They may
be rapidly followed By a series of cons stent legis
lative enactmests-for instance, bill equalizing
soldiers bounties. "Give," says a valued and
distinguished correspondent, "to each veteran a
one hundred dollar FIVE per cent twenty year bond
and to those who enlisted in -1S6l-62, for three
years, a one hundred and sixty acre land warrant
besides. To those who enlistedin 1868, give m
eighty acre land warrant The quarter section be-
ing worth two hundred, and the eighty acre
tion one hnndred dollars each. Something like
this would sati sly the brave boys who whipped the
traitors in the South. and are needed to whip the
Copperheads in the North and West" "And."
adds our correspondent, "the interest on the bonds
will never be felt, and twenty years hence the
principal will be lost or forgotten in population
of seventy-ive millions Of inhabitants" Pass
the bill reported BY Hon. James C. Blaine, Of the
House, Assuming in part the local war debt Of the
States and cities and counties. These war debts
are severely felt in multitudes of localities 1t
will be far easier for the General Government to
take care of one hundred and twenty millions Of
this debt pm ting five per cent twenty year bonds,
than for the people in their local capacities; be-
sides, we make the rebels pay their .haTe
OF the treasure spent to save the Union fion
| ruin.
| This kind oflegi.ls.ion, with an export saI Of