Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1867-01-11
No More Laundering.

Gus intimations from Washington, one
Of the first acts of Congress, upon
its reassembling, will be to declare
its intentions to admit loyal Southern
members upon the adoption OF the
constitutional amendment. Ii this i
done, there is reason to believe thai
the Legislature of Alabama, whicl
ASSEMBLIES on the 18th, will reconsid
er its action on the amendment and
will adopt it. Gov. Patton of that
State will await at Washington the
decision of Congress. Senators Wade
and Sherman of Ohio, and Senator
Foster of Connecticut. favor the pro
posed action, and SO do representa-
tives Bingham of Ohio, Banks of this
State, and others generally counted
as radicals. Gen. Grant, Gen. Sher-
man, and in fact the commanders by
whom the rebellion was put down.
without a notable exception. favor
this course. Should Congress fail to
take it, it will at least b. its votes up
on the question indicate the opposite
determination. and so remove the
doubt now resting upon the subject.
W hat the Southern people now wish
to know Is, whether the adoption oil
the amendment will restore them to
their former position in the Union
An affirmative answer will create
strong party for the adoption; a
negative answer will doubtless pre-
clude all prospect Of It's adoption.
Either way the matter will be de-
termlned at once, which is exceeding
" important, and the way that will Lc
opened for other efforts towards res
toratlon of the States is not so seri-
Gus an evil as the vagueness and IN.
certainty resting upon the whole mat
ter as 1t now stands. The South asks
to know exactly what is required.
and objects TO the acceptance Of one
condition after another, with no as.
Surance that there will not be an iD-
definite series of exactions. Even So
obnoxious condition as that section
OF the amendment which ostracise,
nearly all the influential men of the
South might be accepted, if there were
any certainty that this would put
them at once an St0tu quo ante belium
lhey thought thai by the adoption Of
the anti-slavery amendment to the
constitution, by putting il into theiI
state constitutions, and BY rcpudiat
ing the rebel debts, they should re.
gam their former position. The Pres
dent promised them as much. without
the right to promise or the ability t.
fulfill it. They do not want to b,
cheated again, and who can blam,
them? We therefore think it onI;
lar and honorable in Congress to say
Squarely Yes or No to the question
Viii the States be admitted to repre-
'entatlon on the adoption of the
amendment?
IL Is quite time there were an end F..
TO Numbering generally in this mat
ter OF reconstruction. CONGRESS- has
had twenty months to consider and
debate it, and if it is possible to ar /
rive at liked principles and a policy +
We should have reached them bv this /
time. There were novel circumstan-
ce9 TO be met, it Is true. but there
should DC the wisdom and couraoa to
meet these before temporary diffruI.
ties become chronic. In too man,
cases instead of the skillful adapfa-
lIoH OF means to ends, we have moth
lh9 but Numbering. When the noba-
gen venture into fresh water the mn.
accustomed element conluses them
ana they 60 dashilg about in a blind
way, out OF the water aud against the
rocks; and if they did not soon he.
come used to the new element The, /
would perish altogether. ,Dur noli-
-lclanS have been cavorting about i,
he same wild way ever since the war
'nded. Such Of them as are ever
likely to come out OF the muddlp
ought to be out by this time. and sane
'n'ugh to take a straight course j, i
me direction or another. /,
The country wants peace. and there
'an be none without settled motley (,
1t all, We want no more temno,i1.
ng and doubtful expedients. f the
amendments now pend ;
ne are not sufficient guaranty for
uture loyalty and peace. let Us have
i once whatever is necessary. and i, =
ne permanent shape of amendment, ;
Q the constitution, not laws that max +
'e eVaded or declared unconstitut;on- {
H. II equal suffrage is the very best il
warranty to be had, as we fully b.. l.
leVe, let Congress propose that as ! In
amendment, with o. il
'lthout the educational qualification c
laklag Its adoption the condition Of @
representation in Congress. if that j. o.
lought advisable. At all even s. lcf y
) nave the finality of Congress for 0
construction in simple and straiqbt. u
'fWard terms. And. once offered $
u 1t he adhered to till it is accented ii
nd when accepted let it be PROMPTLY Il
nd generously fulflled.-.SDyiu ofcld y
republican. ''''" i
A Washington dispatch of Thurs. Il
~ says: e;
III Is generally conceded that the "
ST case as to whether Alabama i . C