The tri-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1866-1868, 1867-03-02
E1-Gov. Brown, of Georgia, in favor
of the Reconstruction Act.
Ga Feb 25

| ATLANTA, GA, Feb 25.
Ex-Gov. Joseph E. Brown, of this city,
will be out in the morning papers with
three column letter. in which he reviews the
political situation of the country, advising
the people of Georgia to accept the terms
imposed by the military government bill re-
Gently passed by both Houses ofCongress.---
He says:
1t only remains for me to add that I con-
slider it the duty of the Governor of Georgia
to call the Legislature together without de-
lay, and to recommend the passage of an act
calling convention of the people of this
State to so change our State constitution as
to provide for universal suffrage in conform
itv to the measure which has passed Con-
gress, known as the Sherman amendment,
and to provide for the early election of a
Legislature which will adopt the constitu-
tional amendment in accordance with said
requirements.
I'VE now have the assurance of Congress,
in the passage of this bill, that this shall
settle the question of our admission. We
shall never get better terms. Let us comply
with them, and be ready to be represented
in Congress as soon as possible l respect
fully suggest that the people of the several
counties of this State, who favor the propo-
sed action, hold public meetings with as lit
tie delay as possible and urge upon the Gov
ernor to convene the Legislature, and recon-
mend them to take prompt action.
The Governor and Legislature were elect
ted before the constitutional amendment was
proposed. I respectfully submit that it is
their imperative duty, in the present condi-
ton of the country, to take the necessary
steps to refer the question to the people at
the ballot-box. The most appropriate mode
of doing this is to order an election of dele
gates to convention to act upon the prop
osition now submitted by Congress- This
they cannot with propriety refuse if the peos
pie demand it let the people speak.
If the State will adopt this line of policy,
and the convention will memorable Con-
gress, asking that the judges, county officers
and Others necessary to the efficient working
of the State government be relieved from
the provisions of the constitutional amend
ment, believe the petition, if presented in
proper spirit, will be granted, and we shall
soon be relieved of much of the gloom which
is now widespread over the whole South. If
we reject the terms proposed in the Sher-
man bill, confess I see no hope for the flu
ture Should we accept them, trust the
example of Georgia may be followed by the
other States, and that this veXed question
may soon be permanently settled upon the
best terms which We will ever be able to
get.
am aware of the rapidity of the changes
which we are required to make and of the
natural prejudices which our people enter
tain against negro suffrage, but we should
not forge:, in yielding to an inevitable ne
cessity that these people were raised among
US and naturally sympathize with US. Their
conduct during the war proved this. II,
then, we treat them kindly, pay them their
wages promptly, and in all respects deal
Justly by them, We shall seldom have cause
to complain of the refusal to respect our
wishes or consult our interests at the ballot
box"