The Louisiana Democrat., 1866-12-19
Greeley on the Situation.

Horace Greeley gives down two-col-
umn article over his initials In the New
York Tribune on "the true basis Sf recon.
structioh." About to start, he says, for
some weeks sojonrn in the West, whence
he cannot readily and constantly confer
with the general public, he wishes to leave
his contribution to the general mass of
suggestion and criticism touching the true
basis Of national restoration and, concord
so plainly set forth that it cannot be mis-
quoted or Inexperienced. He then goes
on to declare that the main foundation of
as genuine, enduring resettlement Of our
disturbed and upturhed national structure
"are UNIVERSAL AMNESTY and IMPARTIAL
|sUFFRAGE.np We. have not ROOM for his
entire article, but quote briefly some of
his positions:
AthINTEREsTS ALIKg INVOLVED.
There is nc Northern, no Southern inter |
est in the premises, but common interest |
of the whole American people,
UNIVERSAL AMNESTY ANY WAY.
ain fofr universal amnesty-so far as
| immunity from fear of punishment or con-
fscation is eoncerned-even though impair
tial suffrage should forsthe present be re-
sisted and defeated
A REVISION OF THE CONSTITUTION HINT
| ED AT !. 1.-.
trust the States will generally accord
to blacks the common rights of manhood,
/ irrespective of the nati6h and OF each 9TH
er; and trust they will agree to place
those rights under the protection of the
Fedefal constitution. This may not, in
one sense, be necessary; yet it is best to
leave no "loop to hang a doubt upon"
THE s'INTELLIGENcE" BASIS CONDEMNED.
| dislike the suggestion of an "intelli-
gence" basis for suffrage. Let ns not be
deluded by false analogies and vague alb
stractions In State whefe each child
grows mp within sight of free sch6ol-houses
wherein he is more than welcome to be o
pupil, it is perfectly reasonable to pre-
scribe that those only who can read may
!, Evote. Where half the people have not On.
! ily been denied all public facilities for edu-.
cation, but have grown up under laws
which made teaching them. q crime, the
case is very different. Establish common
schools in the South, and yon may fairly
prescribe that no one shalt vote after 1876
, who does not know how to read. But do
not put out a mans eyes and then punish
) him for blindness
! AMNESTY AND SUFFRAGE INDEPENDENT
OF EACH OTHER.
q have said that I favor both universal
| amnesty and impartial suffrage on their
! respective merits, each without regard to
I the other. % @
h THE PARTISAN CONFLICT NOT OF INTER
i EsTs AND DUTIES, BUT OF RESENT
e MENTs AND PREJUDICEs.
- . There is ne conflict between the inter
= ests and duties Of the North on one side
= and the South on the other-what is best
= = for each, or either, is best fol. b0th-the on
: ly collision is between their, respective Re
q sentiments and prejudices. The Nortl
= wants to keep at least the leading rebels
- 20 under ban indefinitely; the South that is
!, o majority of the dominant caste at tn
- South-wants to keep the negroes unde
< foot-despised, powerless, and often abused
% by white ruffians, whose crimes the bette
4 class tlisavow, but neither preveht no
A punish The loyal North has dertionstra
N n ted her ability to Keep the rebels out o
y y Congress; the rebel South kds tike,cise prore
" " her poger to prevent Indefinitely the due ratif
;s cation of the Constitaiioaal amendment Thi
W deadlock affords to those whom I mus
y, consider the more generous and far-seein
r. minds of either section an opportunit
k. which, once lost, may never retnrp. Eye
az though the South were able to force be
or leaders into Congress, they could not hop
IN for full restoration to power and public I.
ct vor; even though the North were able t
~ force impartial suffrage onthe South,
10 10 would prove of little value while resiste
is by strong majority Of the dominant cast
to there. But let North and South strik
ed hands on the basis Of universal amnest
ed with impartial suffrage, and the resultin
en peace will be perfect, allsembracing an
n. enduring. Each section will gain som
ip thing and lose feally nothing. /
L. AN oMINoUs HtNT 10 1.-THE NORTH"
b. ! If the adjustment + Urge should nj,
ol o! niately fail, and in the mutations Of part
= tascendancy the rebels should he let mp az
/ the blacks be kept down, shall regret
!, as much for the sake Of the South as Of u
Ter North; aad I shall feel that the t1aMe do
hc not dll attach I'd the South. And, whatev
its the immediate issue, l shall bate no jot
III heart or hope that at last-and at no We
es, distant day=-our people will be thofough
;ts harmonized and united on the basis of il
TO- partial and universal freedom. II. G..
3D. =, ,.