Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1867-01-10
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eALLIPoLIs. JANUARY 10. 1867.
Oongress.

O0ESIeSSs
Congress reassembled last week,
its recess over the holidays termira-
ting on Thursday. Previous to the
recess but little bad been done in the
way of actual legislation. There had
not been time fer the respective
committees to perfect their work and
prepare bills fer submission to the
Houses. Opportunity was therefore
given for members to deliver them
selves of s'their views" upon the
State of the country, speeches which
are usually read to empty seats, be-
ing designed principally for distri-
button at home ameng their several
constituencies. We trust however,
that upon reassembling Congress
will go vigorously to work and de-
vote its whole time and attention TO
the perfection of such legislation as
the necessities and condition of the
country may demand. The subject
of reconstruction has been finally
and definitely settled by the people,
who, at the ballot box, have declared
for the proposed constitutional a.
mendment as the true basis of the
restoration of the lately rebellious
States. Upon this exciting question,
therefore, Congress may well m&in-
tain dignifed silence, leaving to
the South the responsibility Of deter
mining when she shall be restored to
her former position in the Union.
The loyal people of the country have
settled the terms of her restoration;
let the South herself fix the time. By
the adoption of the amendment, it is
at any time within her reach.
We hope to sec less talk and pas
sion and more work, during the re-
mainder of the session. A strong
effort is being made by the few orig
inal Uuisn men of the South to in
duce Congress to abolish the exist
ing State Governments at the South
and reorganize them on a strictly
loyal basis. They propose to gain
fer their plan the sympathy and sup
port of the extreme radicals by coup
ling with it the promise of negro
suffrage. They have formed an asse-
citation composed of the most promi-
nent and able men of their number,
who will remain at Washington dur
ing the present session Of Congress
to urge upon that body their peculiar
views on the subject of reconstruc-
tlen. While ready to yield to these
noble men the praise which their de
voted loyalty to the country SO emil
nentlv deserves, and to demand thet
the whole pswsr of the Government
be employed to secure to them full
protection for their lives, their liber-
ty and their property IN their South
ern homes, yet we can not believe
their plan a practicable one. The
true original Unien men of the South
are few, very few in number, and to
organize the State Governments upon
that basis alone, would be in effect
to disfranchise Aine-tenths of the
whole white population of the South,
and lodge the whole political power
of those States in the hands of CON-
paratively a few men. Such q gov
ernment would not beFepublican in
fact, whatever il might be in form,
and the danger Of such a course is
too obvious to need further comment
here. We, therefore, deem it wise
policy for Congress to adhere stead
fastly to the amendment, ignoring
both the new Democratic plan of uni
versal amnesty and impartial suf-
frage, and this plan Of the Southern
ioyalists which looks to the total de-
struction Of the existing State Gov,
ernments at the South.