Tama County Republican. (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1867-1872, 1867-01-04
RECONSTRUCTION.

View that armed treason is snbdued. the
~nr a. arms is nt An end, the great and ab
sorb;ng question cones up, "how to again re-
Q Construct the Sts'cs, and pat the general gov
eynnen, in runr,ng trim, in working order.
Andrew Johnson, President OF the United
;!,a,es, favors one policy, and the Congress o.
the United States, another. Viii We like
,Aat OF Congress best, we must also 81; tina,
TIE Constitutional Amendment, abou,
witch there has been such content on
ard strife between the Executive and Legisla
1--WE Departments of the government to our
mind is object enable in two points, at least,
and these are we do not like the power given
" tina. Amendment 70 Congress, to remove
the disability of treason from those Congress
men elected by the Southern States, upon
whom Congress may choose to exercise such
:anioncy Nor do we like it because i, re-
notely, at least, compels the Southern States
10 give to the negro the right 10 vote. We do
net. however, wish to be understood as dis
liking this Amendment because its effect il
s:Aus favorable TO the negro, but more especial.
" 50. from the fact that We ask, in tina.
Arenamen,, Of the Southern States, that
which We refuge 10 do ourselves. We think
W. should be consistent aid not require OF
others what we refuse 10 do ourselves.
Our views on the negro question are briefly
these: We favor the political equality of u
Sacn. whether red, black white, green, copper
or-any.other-color regardless of cline, birth
or condition, except those convicted Of crime
We. believe that such . recons rpction
should be cfec ted as viii! forever preclude the
Possibility Of again returning - or holding
Aay c!ass of people in slavery on this conti-
neat. All loyal citizens of the United States
sa.l d stand equal before the law, and all
rebels be disfranchised. Here, however
comss in legal technicaity. Are men trail
tors before the law until convicted by the
proper tribunal? Whether they are thus
cow noted or net, j: 10 . matter Of fact that
they ave tra:tcrs, net to the States but to the
Nni.el States, for the State laws were an
nailed by shA making authorities of the
States and oraiuano.s of secession passed, \
government formed, rebellion inargura ed,
~ army armed and equipped and set to work
SO reels: tie al lAcr:,ies of the general gov
enmcn. and not Of any one of the States,
hence Congress has full power, We think TO
disfrsnshiss them. This being done, tie 10y; !
citizens could eicc, .heir officials, q Consti,u-
s:ausl Convention formed and the rebel cons
.:tu.ca abolished by that convention. ami
cue il ascotdance with the Federal Conssitu>
,ioa AID The Amendments thereto, or any
ether adopted, 80 it vas Republican in form;
chen when the loyal people of any Of til
3sstes Shoag:l, these DISTINGUISHED rebels quail
lied for. the elective franchise they could ad>
mi: :hsm to slight of citizenship. Thus
reconstruction could be formed or effected
without admitting the RICH, Of accession.
IL ,rre We said That the ordinance of seccs>
son was Passed, . government formed AMI an
Go Tot admit u at his ordinance was legal,
only TO suspend the Stale laws Tor time,
only An unlawful act done in legal Wy,
perhaps, which formed pie,ext for the rehs,
soldiers to fgh. against United States Laws.
II the ordinance was legal then they the
Esates) we're out Of the Union; if out
sLeu they can only be reconstructed - Ter.
ri,ories. We held that State laws we're only
suspended fer ,hor, time; the rebels were
fighting agains. Federal, AID not State laws
hence the Federal authorities have power TO
make such disposition of them as they choose
IN isr the laws II rebels we're dsflanchised
il would not matter whether negroes voted or
lot, ~ the reconstrustion would depend o.
loyal people in thu, case, solely and alone
We do not think the State governments are
destroyed, but only that their operations As
erch, are ., srcnded for the time being.