The Van Buren press., 1867-02-22
Louisiana.
A bill passed the House of Represcn
tatives on the IL inst. for the reorgan


tatives on the IL inst for the reorgan.
izing Of Louisiana. 1t provides that the
"Prc.idcn, with the consent of the Senate
shall appoint loyal Governor, who had no
part In the rebellion. and who shall hold office
for one year; that he shall also appoint Pro-
vlsional Council OF nine persons who shall
have the qualifications prescribed for Cover
nor. and exercise with that officer all the leg
i>lative powers that all officers OF State chos-
tn by the Council and Governor shall be loval
men able lo take the test oath that on June
l>t. 1867. all male citizens OF II years. without
distinction OF race or color, who have resided
In the state for one year, and who have never
aided rebellion. shall have the right to vote
for Governor. state officers and members OF
the Legislature That in October next an
election for such qualified voters shall be held
for the members of the Convention to form a
state Constitution: that the Secretary of War
shall issue orders 10 regulate these elections
that the Constitution shall not permtany dis
tinction OF men on account of race or color.
and shall prohibit the payment Of any debts
contracted on behalfofthe rebellion, and shall
recognize the perpetual union of the States :
that the President shall forthwith appoint a
military commander for the State. who shall
enforce the laws which the civil authorities
al Council shall be valid till Congress has an
proved them; that all laws of the State con-
sistent with this act shall remain in force"
From this it appears that the various
plans and schemes Of reconstruction,
which have been discussed at the present
session of Congress, are about to take
form and crystali,e. II this bill pass the
Senate, it will furnish convenient pre-
eedent Of action towards the other sorth
ern States Since we are utterly impo-
tent to prevent, retard or accelerate this
consumation, it should be matter Of no
concernment to us whatever. We are but
clay in the hands ofthe potter We may
derive, however, this consolation from
our situation-that we shall incur no po-
litcal responsibility in whatever may be
done. We are powerless to stay the tide
Of coming events and should therefore
dismiss the matter so far as possible from
our minds and address our thoughts and
energies in another channel
Individual, social and neighborhood
intercsts-teo much neglected in the past,
demand now, more than ever our best
thoughts and our best efforts We should
put our farms in good ordcr-the dwell
ing house, barns, stables, cribs and more
important than all--the fences should be
in thorough repair" shipshape and
Bristol fashion," as the sailors say. Let
us plant large breadth of corn and other
cereals, so that above all contingencies,
we may have enough and to spare. But
we should avoid the great mistake of
planting more than we can thoroughly
cultivate. Let us so far as we can live
within ourselves and learn to be self sus
tanning. Let us be Industrious, frugal
and self-reliant--and by our own exam
pie, nstil these lessons Of wealth and
wisdom into the minds of our sons and
daughters. The harangues Of bowling
political demagogues whose occupation
in the past was to convince the people
that, in spite of their prosperity, happi.
ness and contcntment-they were suffer
ing untold wrongs and outrages.-nee
no longer occupy our time and attention
If in the mean time, we build up our home
and neighborhood interests, we shall find
when the political heavens become once
more clear and serene--that our time has
not been unproftably spent
The lesson of the hour, evidently is
let every one mind his business and all
90 to work.