The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1867-03-31


After months Of dawdling, now already
running into years, With this matter Of Re-
construction, and without the slightest pros
gress in the right direction, Congress at last
took the matter in hand. and put it poliey Of
Reconstruction into the shape Of . law Of the
land The Presidents policy, BY which -
much valuable time vas fooled away. to the
great detriment of the country, vas based on
the presumption that the rebels were to b
consulted, and the matter Of Reconstruction
vss 10 be shaped to their taste, and the re>
suit has proved that the defeated rebels hes
had not common sense enough 10 reconstruct
themselves.
Now that the matter has been taken in
hand by Congress, the Law contemplstss thss
Reconstruction is part of the Constitutional
power and duty Of the Government OF the
United States. And that that power should
be exercised just as promptly and with just A.
much energy in the matter Of Reconstruction,
as it already had been in crushing ont the
Rebellion. Hence the matter Was commit
ted to the charge Of the Military Command
ers who had conquered the rebels in the
field of battle.
Go n. Sheridan comprehends the situation,
and ACTS a. promptly now, and With the same
resolute daring that he exhibited in that
famous ride Of bis to meet the enemy, and
rally his retrestinR men TO meet the foe in
Virginia. He has too much practical com.
mon sense to stand idly by and permit such
rebels a. Mayor Monroe and Gen. Heron,
Who plotted the massacre Of Union men at
New Orleans, TO manipulate affairs officially,
TO defeat the object Of the Reconstruction
Act of Congress in Louisiana. That law
made il his business and his duty 70 recon.
struct by the exercise Of the military power
conferred upon him. Aad 90 he goes squarely
20 work to execute his commission, and find
ingrsbel officials hanging on the verge of the
Government" and using their pretended
authority to thwsrt bis efforts, be displaces
them at once.
He does well, and the people North and
South, owe him e debt of gratitude. We
trust that this will be the end Of shilshslly
dswdling over this oil important subject.
A nd that Gen. Sheridan will proceed on that
line 10 the end, and that other District Com
manders will make note of il, and 60 and
do likewise. II 10 to the interest of all par
ties, South as well as North, that the meas
ure OF Reconstruction, now that il has been
enacted into Law Of the land, of which
there is no prospect Of repeal, should be pu,
through with the lsss. possible delay. Sem
sible, practical men Of the South, what few
there are entitled TO thstreputation, realize this
fact, and hence are striving to make the mos.
of it. Il is only Southern loafers and North,
ern sympathisers, destitute Of brains or
honesty, that longer seek to place obstruc.
tons in the way Of reconstruction, or to de,
lay the final accomplishment of this long
desired object. And none but fools or knsves
should be tolerated in their abuse OF Sheri>
dan, and opposition to the effective steps
taken by him, in the direction arrived at by
the Law of Congress.
There are no legal Constitutional civil
Governments in the South, and it 10 mere
idle pretence, 10 claim reverence and ODE,
dience to the shams which President John
son has attempted to closhe with the dignity
and authority Of State Governments, by
means OF his Executive nkase. There is no
more reason or justice in claiming respec,
and obedience to the rebels who exercise
authority there, without warrant OF law, un
der Andy johnson, than there was in claim
ing like respect tor them when they held un-
der JEFF. Davis. And whatever may be their
pretensions as civil officers, the authority Of
the United States. represented by our Mill
tary Commanders, in execution of . para
mount law of Congress, supersedes them ut
terly. II is no conflict whatever between the
civil and military authority /; it is simply the
execution of Law Of Congress by officers
duly authorized, and appointed With powers
duly delegated and defined for that special
purpose.
Therefore, We say LET no honest man, or true
patriot, be deluded by the howlings of rebels
and Copperheads against military usurpation,
and the subyersion Of the civil authority in
the South. /. is bat continuation of the
same bowling, by the same howle., who
made themselves hosrse, and deafened the
country during the war, in denunciation Of
Lincoln, and the Congress OF the nation, and
our " boys in blue" who were thrashing the
rebels "out Of their boots"