Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1867-02-22
LINCOLN'S PLAN OF RECON-
STRUCTION.

We present to the reader the following,
which embraces President Lincoln plan
of recognizing State governments in the
South. How it contrasts with present
propositions, will public attention :;
President Lincoln, in his proclamation
of 9th July, 1864, stating the reasons
why he withheld his assent from the bill
IN guarantee TO certain States whose gov
ernments have been overthrow, a re
nnblican government among other
| things. saws: THAT while | am las
was In December last, when by procla
nation propounded plan for restora,
toni, unwilling, by q formal approval OF
this bill, to be iaferiby committed by
any single plan OF restoration, etc, and
while | am uHprepared to declare that
the free State institutions and govern
ments already adopted and installed in
Arkansas and Louisiana, shall be set
aside and held for naught, or to declare
a constitutional competency in Congress
to abolish slavery; but am ut the same
time hoping and expecting a constltu-
tional amendment abollshing slavery
throughout the nation may be adopted,
ETC., etc.
The proclamation of December Sth,
1863, lays down the plan of the President
as follows aaL
. II do further proclaim, declare, etc,
that whenever in any OF the States OF
Arkansas, Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi,
Tennessee, Alabama, etc etc, mum
Der of persons, not less than one-tenth
in number of the votes cast in each
State at the Presidential election OF the
wear of our Lord lS60-eaeh having
taken the oath aforesaid, and not having
since violated it, and being qualified
voter by the election laws of the State
existing Immediately before the so called
act of secession, and excluding all 9TH
ers. shall re establish a State Govern
ment, which shall be republican, and in
no wise centravening said oath-sueh
shall be recognized as the true govern.
ment of the State, and the State shall
receive Hereunder the benefits Of the
constitutional provision, which declares
that the United States shall guarantee
to every State in the Union a republican
form of government, ETC., etc. And do
further proclaim, declare and make
known, that any provision which may be
adopted by such State Governments in
relation to the freed people Of such State,
which shall recognise and declare their
permanent freedom, provide for their
education-and which may yet be con-
sistent, as temporary arrangement,
with their present condition as labor
ing, landless and homeless class, will
not be objected to by the Executive.
The form Of oath set forth in the pre-.
ceding part of the proclamation is as
follows:
], g., do solemnly swear, in the
presence of Almighty God, that / will
henceforth faithfully support, protect and
defend the Constitution of the United
States, and the union of the States there
under, and that / will in like manner
abide by, and faithfully support all its
acts of Congress formed during the ex-
listing rebellion with reference TO slaves,
so far and so long as not repealed, mod
flied or held void by Congress, or by de-
cision Of the Supreme Court; and that |
will in like manner abide by, and faith
fully support all proclamations Of the
President made during the existing re.
bellion having reference to slaves, so far
and so long as not modified or declared |
void by decision of. the Supreme Court,
etc etc /