The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1867-06-14


most respectfully ask the patronage OF our
friends.
PROGRESS OF RECONSTRUCTION.
When the Reconstruction Act was passed BY
Congress-, some of the leading men Of the
South wrote to Senator SHERMAN, and others,
who were among the prominent sponsors OF
the bill, to know whether it might be deemed q
inality; and the reply in every instance was
an assurance, that if the Southern people ac-
cepted the terms offered by Congress in the
SHERMAN Military Reconstruction Act, passed
March 2, 1867, they might feel assured that
Congress and the Northern people would faith
fully execute their part Of the compact, and
receive them back into the Union, without any
further imposition Of financial burdens, OWL
or political disabilities, or any other species Of
pains and penalties. True, it may be said, no
one Senator or member Of Congress was au-
thorized to speak for the body; and no such
pledge is binding. But it must be considered
that these assurances came from those who
carried the measure by a large majority; they
were, moreover, the leaders of this majority,
and were therefore in position to understand
the temper both Of Congress and ofthe Northern
people. And by way of further proof that
Congress was in earnest, and meant to make
this Act fnality, they passed, few weeks sf-
terward, in the Extra Session, a Supplemental
Bill, defining, and in some instances limiting
the firstAct 1t is fair to presume that all
these precautions would not have been taken,
if Congress had not designed in good faith to
abide by its enactments.
..i The South accordingly, with few notable e1-
ceptions, throughout the length and breadth Of
its territory, accepted this Act, not with plea
sure OF alacrity; for only hypocrites could have
BEEN capable of such-;a manifestation. The
terms of the Act were harsh, and many Of its
provisions, in our opinion, unwise, and fraught
with ultimate trouble, if not dnnger. Still,
under the circumstances, they were accepted
with quiet and manly resignation. If we did
not. kiss the rod, we took it. The Radicals were
disappointed. STEVENS, BUTLER, KELLEY, and
men Of that ilk, were not content with the bur
idsns imposed by the Act, did not vote for it,
and have ever, since done. their utmost to de-
feat peaceful organization under its terms
They feel that they cannot trust the Southern
whites TO- vote the Radical ticket. They no
longer hesitate or disguise, their intention,
Radical agitators everywhere, both North and
South, put this alternative "a beautiful e1em-,
pii6cation Of the blessings Of free government)' D.
aeither vote the Unconditional National Union
ticket, or else the Reconstruction Act is null
lity." Thus the telegraph yesterday brought
the report Of speech delivered in Richmond
on Wednesday night, by one GEO. F. MOVES, OF
New York, who said that if, the rights Of the
colored people were secured, all would 60 well,
il not, he was in favor Of con6scation and war
to the knife. What private Interpretation he
may have for his phrsse-.'rights Of the color
ed people" lit is impossible to say. ''afa-
Two classes Of difficulties have arisen in the
course of the execution Of the Reconstruction
Acts, one to dehue the powers of the District
Commanders, and the'other to determine aecu-
rastely the classes disfranchised by the act. The
latter difficulty was apparent, Immediately
upon the-passage of the act; and the Executive
was applied to for definite instructions in re-,
gard to its Interpretation. After considerable
delay, Attorney General SrAxsBERRY gave an
opinion which was approved by the President
and Cabinet, and published; but has hitherto
not been declared binding upon the District
Commanders. In its main features, the Attor-
ney.General's opinion was accepted everywhere
as 9 fair exposition Of the Congressional Act;
and in the only District order, issued since,
that BY General SoHorIELD, these views have
been adopted, with perhaps one OF two triAing
exceptions. We are therefore surprised at an
editorial we fnd in the Now Orleans Republican
for June 6, headed: "Congress appealed to to
avert great danger" The Republican is the
only Radical paper in the South that can lay
any prstense to editorial ability, or that ap-
pears to have MONEY in its purse; and while we
do not think its r!terances come with any au-
thority (even Of General SHERrDAN-with
whom it is not on the best terms) it will never
theless serve as an indication of Radical
opinion. &
The Republican is furious with STANsBERRY
for reasserting in the very words Of the Recon-
struction Act, that by the act no one is disfran-
chised for participation in rebellion. Now the
act, VIC have always thought, is perfectly clear
on this head, and owes nothing whatever to the
Attorney Generals Interpretation. The Re-
publican says:
"We are not aware that any paper in the country
has thus far called attention to the fearful extent
to which this "opinion" OF MIR. Stansberry, il car
ried into operation, will subvert the war and open
the food gates for disoyalty. But this is M no timo
pie fully understand what will be the consequences
IL the military government bill is henceforfh to be
administered according to the Stsnsberry interpre
tation. In very few plain words let us point out
lust what this Interpretation is when stripped OF
its legal phraseology and described in everyday
'Sfhe military bill itself e1cepts from the
class Of voters suoh as may be disfran-
chised for participation in the Iebelion."-
line WOrQS Do 10 LOU mCAu nave
been they Ulude to the future, not to
tho past. But had the law used the other
words they would have been equally useless. MIR.
Stansoery says that no one has been disfrsncbis-
ed by any law for participation in the rebellion.
His words are very strong '"The mere facts, says
he ''do not operate the Acknowledgement. 1t must
be ascertained by the Judgment Of q court or by q
legislative act." There is no such judgment and
no such aot; but Congress, if it meets in July can
easily give uB one. ~ am not awere," he contin-
IL - L. klxa1 -l.. l..E~. -
to the right Of suffrage by force Of the act itself;
nor does such consequence. follow from the con-
vction for treason, or conspiracy to commit trea-
son, or for any other act Of participation in rebel
lion" SO that, as far as the military bill is con-
cerned, no one is disfranchised. It is perfect
nu1ity, dead letter in that resp ,ct, If Mr. stans
berry Is correct"
1t next proceeds to say that STANsBERRT's
opinion invites every ex-rebel to perjure him
self, etc., etc., and again appeals to the July
Congress, that is to be, to put q stop to it.