The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-12-17

the whites the proposed bill Is very liberal for
II provides that no one who has heretofore
exercised the right Of suffrage shall De dsquall-
fed from voting &c the said election.n This
Congressional basis of suffrage for the election
of constituent convention is the best, we
think, Tor all the Southern States to adopt in
forming anew their State Governments. IL Is an
excellent basis, and would probably secure their
prompt admission TO Congress, and consequent
complete restoration.
As to the delegates to be chosen to the con-
vention, they will be required to take an oath
prescribed in the bill, that they did n vt will
lrgly, alter the 4th Of March, 1864, support the
Rebellion, that is, that they wished, II they had
had the power, to accept the terms of President
Lincolns proclamation Of December, 1868, TO
end the Rebellion. and return to their allegiance
to the United States; and also that they will
hereafter faithfully support the Constitution and
Government of the Unied States. This, we
take it, aztec all, is not such terrible oath. We
do not see anything ''iron-cladn aoout II. None
but the most determined and incurable Rebels
would be debarred from taking 1t. BY far the
larger portion OF the Southern people must
have become disgusted with the Rebellion and
desired to return to their allegience to the
United States by the 4th of March, 1854 Every
reasonable SoutheTner will say it is only right
that the delegates to torn a new loyal State
Government should have as much original
loyalty about him as that.
The bill provides for an election Of dele
gates ION the lst of next May, and for the
assembling OF the Convention on the goth of the
same month. 1t is to be hoped that Congress
win report bill or bills for all the Rebel
States to be put through the process of reorgani-
zal1on at the same time, and in a similar manner.
In the concluding clause of the bill the Presi-
dent is authorized and It is made "hs duty 50
TO dispose and employ the military and naval
forces as to enforce the prompt and efficient
execution of the provisions of the act.n
Thus, then, the late Rebel States are to lie
forced, by the supreme power OF Congress, to
return TO their status in the Union. They will
not be allowed TO keep the country in disor-
ganized condition to crafty their sullen and
ridiculous opposition, or TO indulge their absurd
hair-splittiog quibbles about constitutional
rights which have no real existence. The loyal
States are tired of the present abnormal state of
things, and will force restoration upon the
people they still hold under subiugation. The
Northern people want peace and harmony, and
theE resources of the country developed for
their own sake. They want that strength,
both at home and DAD, which q restored
Union only can give. This is the secret and
motive OF the present important movement in
Congress.
IT the South be wise it will cease talking about
its fancied rights aud imagined grievances, learn
that there has been revolution, see that it is
absolutely in the hands of its conquerors, and
accept promptly the Congressional plan OF re-
organization and restoration. If they do this,
they will be fully restored to the Union within
year or so, their troubles will be ended, their
beautiful country will enter upon glorious
career of prosperity, and they will help TO elect
the next President in 1868.