The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-02-05
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY s, 1867.
The New Reconstruction Scheme.

The New Reconstruction Scheme.
FROM the circumstantiality with which the
new scheme of reconstruction was set forth
in our Washington dispatches yesterday we
are led to conclude that the movement means
something. Anything which promises to
bring the nation and the late Rebel communi-
ties into better relations is 80 far to be com
mended. An effort on the part Of the South
to accommodate ITSELF even in a small
degree, to the public sentiment of the North,
is a hopeful sign. 1t is certainly better than
that sullen, dogged persistency which refuses
to recognize the gravity of the situation, or to
take any means for its amendment. 1t is a
concession at last that something more must
be done before the work of reconstruction
shall be completed. 1t recognizes, too, If we
may assume this new movement to be in
earnest that the war has made great social
changes which must be respected, and find
expression in the constitutions and laws of
the Southern States.
The plan, as nearlyas we can gather 1t from
the somewhat meagre dispatches, is tor the
so-called Legislatures OF the late Rebel com
munities to pass resolutions indorsing "im-
partial suffrage" based on the qualification of
the electors being able to read and write,
and being possessed of two hundred and
fifty dollars worth OF property, and then for
the President to recommend these resolutions
to the new Congress, which assemblies on the
fourth of March next, as a basis Of recon-
struction, instead of the pending Constitu-
tioQal amendment.
If this scheme means to make the above
qualifications truly impartial - that is, to
apply them to all voters within the late
Rebel States-then long step may at once
be made towards satisfactory adjustment
Of our present difficulties. But if it means
that they shall be applied only to the popula-
ton of African descent. while others who
can neither read nor write, and who do not
own two hundred and fifty dollars worth of
property, are to be allowed to exercise the
elective franchise-in other words, if a dis
tinction in political rights is TO be made on
account of race-then the scheme amounts to
but very little, and will not satisfy the public
mind. Practically it would exclude almost
the entire colored population from the ballot
box and that, too, under. circumstances Of
hardship and injustice. Just escaped from
lifelong bondage, in which they were denied
all means of education, and every possibility
OF acquiring property, it would be exceed
ingly unjust to require OF them. alone both
knowledge and wealth as a prerequisite to
the exercise OF the elective franchise.
Still, as we have before said, we wehome
this indication that the South is willing to do
something. "It is the first step that COSTS"
We cannot expect the wide chasm which
separates the ideas of slavery and full politi-
cal enfranchisement to be crossed at leap
The prejudces of whole generation cannot
be changed in an instant. We must rejoice at
the first faint streaks of dawn that eak upon
the blackness of night The morning does
not come all at once, but when the light
begins to break then we know that the morn
ing is at hand.