The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-04-26
Robert Dale OWENS Plan of Recon-
struCtiOn.

From the World.
A Washington despatch in Tuesdays Eoen-
ing Post states that a majority OF the Recon-
struction Committee have agreed to adopt the
plan of reconstruction proposed by Robert Dale
Owen. We were prepared for this announce
ment by letter to the Chicago Tribune, writ
ten from Washington by one ofits editors, whose
acrimonious hostility to the President gives him
confidential access to the Republican members.
The Chicago editor stated that, so far as he
could Judge from pretty extensive intercourse
with members, there are two propositions which
meet with most favor, and the probabilities are
that one or the other OF them will be adopted
by Congress, and submitted to the States for
ratification" These favored competitors to the
plan of the President, are that OF Senator
Stewart, already familiar to our readers, and
the plan of Robert Dale Owen, the noted
socialist some twenty years ago a member
OF Congress from Indiana. II, as it seems
likely, Mr.. Ovens plan is adopted as the
sole Congressional rival of the Presidents,
1t will immediately be made party test, AID
will, OF necessity array the whole Republican
party, as a solid phalanX, against President
johnson. 1t is on all accounts desirable that
the issue should be thus distinctly presented.
AS soon as the policy of Congress is relieved of
vagueness, large segment OF the Republican
party will cleave off and support the President.
Mr.. johnson is, as yet, politically classed as
a Republican; and as COnqress has agreed
upon no counter proposition, as 1t has set up no
definite policy as a rival to his, citizens who
have heretofore acted with the Republicans
have not satisfied themselves as to the sutli-
cheney of the grounds of separation. The
aspect in which the controversy has appeared
to many, is, that while the President has
policy fully formed, Congress has merely inter
posed delay for the purpose of investigation;
and that the difference between them is
more question OF time than of principle The
feeling with many has been, that if Congress
iTnn IG rnnd oh fhnu
should have it; and that 80 long as their inqui-
ries reach no definite result, so long as they
confront the plan OF the President with no we'll
shaped rival, matters are not ripe for party
split. But when two hostile plans are presented
on the most important question OF the time, fur
ther neutrality must be impossible. Every voter
will be either supporter Of Congress or sup
porter OF the President.
Mr.. Owens proposition begins to loom up into
such formidable competition with the Presi-
dents that we insert it. IL is in the form of an
amendment to the Constitution, consisting of
the following sections:-
Section1. All determinations among the people
of the United States because of race color, or pre-
vous condition. IN respect to their civil rights are
hereafter prohibited
Section q On and after the 4th of July, 1876 all
male adult citizens of twentyone years OF age ire
speotive OF race or COLOR shall be endowed WITH the
right OF suffrage at all elections, Federal as well as
State.
Section g. Representation in Congress and electors
for President and Vice-Presdent, until the 4th of
July, 1875, shall be based on the number OF male
adult citizens entitled to exercise the right OF suf
traRe by the laws of the respective Sates but after
that period representation shall be based on the
whole population.
Section Obligations and liabilities incurred in
aid OF nsurI ectiOn rebellion, and CLAIMS for
pensation account OF emancipation of saves,
void and shall not be assumed nor paid by any state
or the United States.
Accompanying this plan and forming part of
it is the following Joint resolution
Resolved, by the Senate and House OF Representa-
tives of the United States OF America in Congress
assembled, That whenever any one of the eleven
States whose inhabitants we're lately nsurrechon,
through its Legislature, having first authorized
so to do by popuar vote OF its prebent electors to
vote under the laws thereof they existed in 1850
shall have ratified The foregoing amendments to the
Constitution of the United States and shall have
modIfied its Constitution and laws in conformity
Herewith, then and IN that case such State shall be
recoRAiZed as having fully and validly resumed it's
IOrmer relations with this Government, and its
two Houses of the National Legislature; provided
that such Senators and Representatives shall pos
all the qualifications required by the COnsEItu
non ana laws of the United States
1t is perhaps hardly worth while to go into
any discussion of this proposition until 1t shall
have been reported by the Reconstruction Com
mittee. In good truth, we shall not be sorry to
see ii adopted by Congress. 1t has long been
tween that body and the President; and as an
appeal must be made to the people, the sooner
the Congressional policy takes shape the more
ample will be the time for discussion previous
to the fall elections. Since there must be con-
test, we cannot doubt that the President will
be as well suited to have this proposition of
MIR. Owens presented as the rival to his as
to have another. The moro palpable its abb
surdIty, the more assured is the triumph OF the
President.
We viii, at present remark on only one fea
ture of Mr.. Owens policy; and that is ITS self
stultifying character. 1t recognizes the CON-
potency of the present State Legislatures to
ratity the proposed amendment to the Consti-
tuition, while denying, in the same breath,
their present right to representation In Con
gress. To ratity an amendment is a much
higher function than to propose it. 1t is
absurd to say that States which are acknow.
ledged TO be competent TO ratify, are incom.
petent to participate in making the proposal
Why are they excluded from Congress Is
it because they are not StatesY II Is admitted
that they are States by asking their ratiica
| tion, since only States can ratify. Is it be
eause they have no competent Legislatures
| 1t is admitted that their Legislatures are com
| petent, by making provision tor their acting
| ON the amer dment, and promising full restora
| uon on condition that they act according tC
] dictation. The sole defense OF the delay in ad
| mitting the Southern members has consisted IL
the allegation that the Southern States had nc
| State Governments which Congress could recog
nize as valid; and vet their state governments
are fully recognized as valid by a proposition
l. which acknowledges them to be competent Il
perform the very highest OF all federal func
tions. II they are States, with competent Stat,
governments, nothing is more incontrovertibl
than their right TO immediate repre- entatioI
in Congress, II they are not States, with com
petent State governments, 1t is the height o
absurdtty to ask them to ratify constitutions
II there were no existing Constitution whicl
the members Of Congress are sworn to support
they might perhaps, act on their untrammelleC
Judgment of what is best for the interests Z
their political party. There can be no reasons
BILE doubt that the interests OF that party ar
promoted by the exclusion OF the Souther