Smyrna times., 1866-09-26

~" loIh0uIcuS were Cne questions involved,
the issues depending. Consider how novel and
extraordinary was the situation. Consider how
utterly silent and blank is the Federal Consti-
tuition touching the treatment of insurgent
States, whether during their fragrant hostility
to the Union or after their discontinue. Con-
slder with how many embarrassments and diff
cultles the problem is beset, and you will not
wonder that months were required to devise,
perfect, and pass, by a twO-thirds vote in eli
ther House, just and safe plan Of reconstruc-
ton.
Yet that plan has been matured. 1t has
passed the Senate by 33 to II, and the House
by l3S to &c. 1t is now fairly before the coun-
try, having already been ratified by the Legis-
latures Of several States and rejected by none.
Under it, the State Of Tennessee has been for
mally restored to all the privileges she forfeit
ed by Rebellion, including the representation
IN either House of Congress. And the door
thus passed through stands invitingly open to
all who still linger without.
Are the conditions thus prescribed intolera-
bic, or even humiliating? They are in sub
stance these
/. All persons horn or naturalized in this
country are henceforth citizens of the United
States and shall enjoy all the rights of citizens
evcrmOre; and no State shall have power TO
cOntraycne this most righteous and necessary
provision.
III. While the States claim and exercise the
power OF denying the elective franchise to a
part OF their people. the weight of each State
III the Union shall be measured by and based
upon its entranchiSed population. If any Stae
shall choose, for no crime, to deny political
rights to any race or caste, it must no longer
count that race or caste as basis of political
power in the Union.
Ill. He who has once held office on the
strength of his solemn oath to support the
Federal Constitution, and has nevertheless for
sworn himself and REASONABLY plotted to sub
vert that Constitution. shall hcncefOrth hold
no political office till Congress, by a two-thirds
vote, shall remove or modify the disability
lN. The National Debt shall be nOwise re-
pudiated nor invalidated; and no debt incurred
in support of the Rebellion shall ever be as
sumed or paid by any State nor shall pay
ment be made for the loss Of emancipation of
any slave
V. Congress shall have power to enforce
these guarantees by appropriate legislation
Such, Fellow Citizens, are the conditions of
reconstruction proposed by Congress and al
ready accepted by the loyal Legislature of
Tennessee. Are they harsh or degrading ?
DO you discern therein disposition to tram
pie on the PROSTATE or push an advantage to
the uttermOst? Do they embody aught of
vengeance, or any cOnhScatiOn but that of Sla-
very? We solicit your candid, impartial judg-
ment.
What is intended by the third section is sim
ply to give Loyalty fair start in the recon.
Structed States Under the johnson policy,
the Rebels monopoliZe power and place even
in communities where they are decidedly out
numbered. Their Generals are Governors anC
and Members elect Of Congress; their COlonels
and Majors fill the legislatures, and oficiate az
Sheriffs Not only are the steadfastly loya
prescribed, but even stay-at-hOme Rebels have
little chance in competition with those whC
fought to subvert the Union. When thi
Rebel monopoly of Office shall have been bro
ken up, and loyalty to the Union shall have
move the disability, and will doubtless max,
haste to do So
! We do not perceive that the justice or ftnes
Of the fourth sectiOn-prescrlbing that thc
! Union Public Debt shall be promptly met, bu
that of the Rebel Confederacy never-is sc
riOusly contested
! There remains, then, but the second section
which .prescrlbes in substance that politica
power in the Union shall henceforth be base,
only on that portion of the people of eac
state who are deemed by its constitution e
repositories of such power. In other words
; a ctate which chooses to hold part fits popu
latlon IN ignorance and vassalage-powerles,
uneducated, untranchised-shall not cour
that portion to balance the educated, INTEL
, gent, entranchlsed citizens of other States.
We do not purpose to argue the Justice ,
! this provision. As we'll argue the shane of
: cube or the correctness of the Multiplicatic
= Table. He who does not feel that this is sin
ply and mildly just, would not be persuade
though one rose from the dead to convin,
: him. That there are those among us wi
I would not have it ratified, sadly demonstrat
\ ! that the good work of Emancipation is nos y
y y complete.
t But" say some, "this section is designt
! to cOerce the South into according Suffrage
{ her Blacks. y Not so, we reply; but only
notify her ruling caste that we will no long
} bribe them to keep their Blacks in serfdom
! An aristocracy rarely surrenders its privilege
u no matter how oppressive, from abstract dev
~ tion to justice and right. Itmust have coger
! palpable reasons for so doing. We say, thei
y restrict all power to your 100000 Whites,
i must insist that these no longer balance,
- - Congress and the choice of President, 1000
~ Northern White freemen, but only 300, 900.
- Ii you keep your Blacks evermOre in serfdo
=, 1t must not be because we tempted you so
~ ~ do and rewarded you for so doing.
nd Fellow citizens of every State, but especia
at of those soon to hold elections we entreat yc
lid earnest, constant heed to the grave questiC
pie now at issue. If those who so wantonly plul
ed the Union into Civil War shall be allow
ne by you to dictate the terms of Reconstruct,
nd you will have heedlessly sOwn the bitter SEE
ID of future rebellion and bloody strife. Alrea,
srs you are threatened with recognition by
IN President of sham Congress made up of
IN factions which recently cOalesced at PhilaC
me phia on a platform of Johnsonian-a Congr
constituted by nullifying and overriding ri
to- law of the land-a Congress wholly inspi
ion from the White House, and appealing to
,lt, sword alone for support So glaring an atteu
ing at usurpation would be even more criminal Il
@ an9 absurd. Happily, the People, by electine
Ike overwhelming majority of thoroughly loyal
nd presentatives, are rendering its initiation
q if possible.
MD tribute to the general fidelity wherewith
the view Of the Presidents detection, the gr
the body of the People, and even of the Fed,
no Office holders, stand fast by their convict
- and their principles. The boundless patron