Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1866-05-19
From the Cincinnati Gazette
Reception of the Plan Of Res
IoFatiOn.

Iuo congressman pl6n OF reconStTec-
zion was not intended to suit the views
of those who hold that the war of re
bellion involved no pains or penalties,
and that the traitors while carrying on
war under government of their own to
destroy that of the nation retained all
the rights and privileges of citizens and
States Of tho National Union, and re-
sumed them all by the act of defeat in
the war. It was not expected that we
could make plan of settlement of four
years of belligerency conform TO the
easy going ideas of Mr.. Alexander I'll.
Stevens, who holds that secession is clear
" State right, and that although the
Confederate States have been defeated in
their assertion of it, they and their cit
liens have lost none of taeir rights in the
Union. "L
And It is strong confirmation Of the
merits of the plan, that it has encoun-
tered the opposition of only the class
who entertain these ideas. Ii is objec-
ted 10 il that il treats the States rs if the
four years of war rs hostile belligerent
power had affected their relations as
States 10 the nation so that the National
Government has the right TO prescribe
conditions for their restoration. That
was the intention, and that is ;he princi-
pie which the loyal people intend TO
maintain. 1t is oljected to it that II
treats treason as a crime which incurs the
Peis!tios of political disabilities, and that
1t actually prevents traitors from at once
Iesuming all the political privileges of
citizens, and from taking upon themselves
the powers Of government. That is the
intention, aud the loyal people mean to
maintain that principle.
We regard these objections rs com
meHdatiOns, and the fact that these in
cIude abou. all that is urged against the
plan by the late insurgents and their con-
fe,!erRtes, seem to us an excellent enc
dorsement We Judge from this and
fFo... the features Of the plan. that il will
draw the line of two divisions, one Of
which will be those who hold that seces-
sioa is right, and its assertion by war
WA no crime, and incurred no penalties,
aud that the right is still uuimpaired,
though wrongfully prevented by force;
and the other those who hold that seces-
sion is treason, and that it shall be so es
tablished, and that while they will treat
the conquered rebels with unprecedented
Inagnanimity, they will insist on guaran
tees that shall repudiate the right of Sc
cession, establish its criminality, and pro.
tect the nation against any future at
Sempt to assert it.
There is no other alternative. The
line is so plain thai men must take one
side or the other. Either secession is a
right, which being wrongfully withheld
from the Confederate States by force,
they resume. their former relations and
Jurisdictions, with all the political privi-
leges Of their citizens existing the same
rs before, it is no right, and the war is
rebellion and treason, and they who
made it must submit to such terms as
the outraged nation shall see fit to i'm
pose. - -L1 as
The first is the doctrine of Alexander
II. Stevens, and of the Confederate
Democratic party, of whom he now ap-
pears 10 be recognized leader.
According to it the Confederate reb-
els, when they were wrongfully overcome
by force, retained all their rights of State
Government and Of citizenship, and the
overthrow aud reconstruction Of their
government was an act Of usurpation on
the part of the General Government.
According to this doctrine, as expound-
cd in his testimony before the Recon
structicn Committee, the United States
Government is the criminal in the war,
and President johnson is guilty of usur-
patton for setting aside the rebel Gov.
ernments. The CoBfederates have to
suspend tie assertion of their constitu-
tional rights before superior force, but
they still retain them, and can assert
them again without crime, or carry them
out by getting control Of the United
States Government. it ......4.s.f 2.
According to this exposition Mr.. Ste
phens when he lenews his oath of ale
glance to the Constitution of the United
States, does it with the understanding
that the right of secession Is still retain
Ell by his State, aud that bis oath will be
10 hindrance and no pledge against bis
again engaging in secession if be and his
State shall deem it policy to try it again.
And Mr.. Stephens presents himself to
enter upon the Office of United States
Senator. and to take the oath of allepi-
anee to the Constitution of the United
States, with this declaration of its treach-
erous character, and he is accepted as "a
marvellous proper" Democratic Union
tnanr 4I..= tearIs a-ss Aces ..s
To take him in, the loyal people who
have preserved the Government against
rebellion, the Congress, President. and
all who have adhered to the Union cause,
must confess themselves criminals, and
worthy Of any peualties that the Confed-
crates may impose if they ever pct the
power. They must concede that every
obligation incurred in carrying on war
against this constitutional right of ssces-
sion, is illegal and void. And President
johnson must confess that his acts setting
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