The New era. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1865-1871, 1867-02-21


newspapers, is that the people have pass
ed Judgment upon the conflicting plans
of Congress and the President in regard
to the great question of Reconstruction,
and have declared by an immense ma
iority in favor of the former. Now, let
US see, for a moment, what all this
amounts to.
Everybody knows what Mr.. john
sons policy has been. 1t is a misuse
of words to style it policy OF recon-
st,1tction. It really is-and the word
expresses its true character better than
would be done by sentences of descrip-
tion-the policy of restoration, as oppos-
ed to reconstruction. His idea has been
TO restore the Southern States to their
original position in the Union; to place
them again in fraternal and constltu-
tional relations to the other States; and,
by giving them their preport onate and
srightful participation in the government
.of the country, to bring back to their
hearts and feelings their former interest
in its welfare and loyalty to its authori-
ty. Had this plan been contaminated
one year ago, what would have been the
effect? We would have peace within
our borders. Animosities, however bit
ter, would have been allayed, and there
would to-day be presented to the world
the spectacle of a great people forgetting
with heart and soul in the great march
of national progress.
But the people have repudiated this
plan, and adopted that of Congress.
What is the Congressional Scheme?
Does anybody know? Is it the Constl-
tutional Amendment? If the people
have made any endorsement at all, it
must have been of this last mentioned
project. yet to-day it is openly repudia-
ted. and no Radical dares rise in his
place, in Congress, and say that the Re
publicans are committed to it, or will
be bound by its provisions, evenifadop-
ted by every Southern State. What has
been substituted for it? Is it the Lou
isiana Bill? That is understood to have
been already stifed in the Senate, and
will not be, as its authors hoped, the
pioneer of that monstrous legislative
yehicleWhich would make a Sahara of
the whole South. Is it the Bill of Thad
deus Stevenso No one is brazen enough
to style it measure OF reconstruction,
for all recognize it as more detestable in
its effects than the most outrageous edict
of q Roman Senate for the government
of a conquered province.
The truth is, Congress has no policy.
Here in the last week Of its second ses-
sion, it shows itself powerless to deal
with this great and practical question;
it gives no evidence of craftsmanship;
it leaves the country bleeding at every
pore and, as Mr.. Banks stated, ii has
brought the people to the grave point
in their history "that it is impossible
for the Government to go on as at pres
ent, for two years longer, without APP
preaching to the very verge OF ruin"
This Massachusetts representative fixes
the circuit of two years that is the
term of another Congress, composed of
the same material, with the infusion of
more malignant and radical elements,
and likely to do no more in the right
direction, and great deal more in the
wrong, than the present, weak, inn
potent, unwise and radical Senate and
House of Representatives.
To say, therefore, that the people have
endorsed Congress is to say that they
have endorsed nothing; endorsed a
paper in blank leaving to time and
chance the expression of the purpose,
and the illustration of the policy they
are said to approve. Every fool may
see the folly and stupidity of such an
assertion. =
There are reasons for all this, which
lie below the surface. They may be
found in tfe desperate schemes of am
bilious and reckless politicians in the
enterprises to plumber the
Government; in the desire of hordes of
place hunters to fill pro-consulates and
pettier Offices in the South in the de- |
jnt Of Norfhorp ;r,fa IN |