Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1867-08-01
THE PRESENT REBEL POLICT.

4 dispatcl, frcm Augusta, Georgia, states
/ that Ex-Governor JOHNSON, of that Stale
has written letter advising the people not
to accept the terms oft Military Recon
siruction acts, ana expressing the hore
that every msn in Georgia who can regis
/ ter will do so, with the view of defeating
the reconstruction policy of Congress.
Recent indications point to this as Tire
policy which will be pursuedby the dissnt-
ifiied and uncomprom sing rebels Of the
seeded States; and it is not difficult to de-
iect tllc interference of the Copperhcad
+ leaders of the North, in this new rebel pro
grammc against reconstruction. They
have steadily opposed every measure for
the reorganization of tho South. except
that of President JOHNSON, which would
1 have restored the architects Of the rebellion
to power, and enabled ttcm ia form a new
alliance with the anti war, a;i-dcSt-payine
/ Democracy of the loyal States.
For time il was the policy Of the South
ern maicOn:ents not 10 register ut all, but
ldisclaiming all responsibility for the future,
To stand aloof aad let those who were will
/ ing to- accept the terms OF the rccOnstruc-
ton acts 90 on and organize State govern
ments under the conditions therein proscrib-
ed. Now, however they call upon all who
are not DISTINGUISHED To have their names
registered as voters preparatory to voting
against holding conventions to form new
constitutions for the rebel States
There are two provisions OF the act OF
March 2;3d, 1867, under which it is possible
that reconstruction may lie temporarily de-
feated In some Of the States. The first is
found in the proviso to section 3, which is
that no constitutional convention shall bc
held unless majority OF all registered vo-
tiers shall have voted on the question of
holding such convention; the second in
section ., by whichit isprovided that when
n convention is held and constitution is
by ii framed and submitted to the people,
one half al least OF all the registered elect
ors must vote on the question of lis ratif-
cation, and majority of the votes cast
must be given for the constitution, or the
same shall rot bc deemed ratified.
The third section enables the enemies of
reconstruction to defeat convention, at
the outset, by simply staying away from the
polls, If they number one-half Of the regis
tered voters. All the votes cast may he
for convention, but they viii amount to
nothing unless they arc more than half the
number registered II the vote for CON
vention is strong enough to- carry that
measure its work may be defeated by one
half the registered voters declining to vote
| or being prevented, by violence or other
means, from voting.
In providing for the reorganization Of the
rebel States, Congress desired that recon
structiOn, when accomplished. should he
the work Of a majority of the people to be
Immediately affected thereby, as it was not
believed that governments founded by a
minority could so command public conf
dcnce and support as TO successfully con-
duct the affairs of the States, and protect
the civil and political rights OF the newly
enfranchiscd citizens. 1t may be that in
some of these States the lenity of Congress
may be abused, and under the malign
counsel of Northern Copperheads, major
ity be secured, by non-action, against
| accepting the provisions Of the law.
! Should that be the case, more stringent leg
islation will doubtless be adopted, for
whatever obstruction false Democracy
may throw in the way of the restoration
of the States lately in rebellion, the Union
Republican party is resolved to establish
loyal local governments. republican in form
and in substance, in each and all of them.
| Several Of those States are certain to vote
for convention and constitutions in har-
mony with the reconstruction laws; and
when they have done so, and have resumed
their proper positions in the Union, other
steps will be taken for bringing back such
States as rcbelism and copperheadism may,
for time, succeed in keeping under mill
tary government.
We see in this new programme the ami
mus of Mr.. JoHysOy's order to General
SHERIDAN, to extend the time for rcgistra-
ton in Louisiana. Many ofthe aristocrat-
ic rebels had refused to register when the
opportunity was offered them They were
not the men to degrade themselves by vot-
ing with their former slaves; not they, but
when the policy of defeating the constitu-
ton. If possible, was resolved upon by the
rebel managers, they wanted the time ex-
tended, SO that all the enemies of the law
could be brought in. They will not sue
cced in Louisiana, however fortunate they
may be in Mississippi and Texas. Ind.
Jour. IL