The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-02-23
Recons,ruction In Congress.

From the Independent
The Reconstruction Committee reported a
bill last week providing for the division of the
Rebel States into districts, and the appoint
ment of officers not below the rank of Briga-
dier-General to rule those districts, who are
clothed with large powers for the maintenance
of order therein until civil government shall
be fully established. This bill passed the
House by a large majority. 1t was purely
military measure. On Sunday morning the
Senate passed the bill, but with vitality i'm
portant additional section, which radically
changes its character, by providing for the
ultimate reconstruction of the States on a civil
basis. Whether the bill as amended can pass
the House remains to be seen Or, if it does
pass, whether it will be by a majority sufficient
to override the veto will be doubtful Or,
whether the President will veto it is, strange
to say, uncertain. We presume this COM
bined military and civil measure will be
treated as a substitute for the two bills of the
New Orleans and the Reconstruction Com
mittees, which simultaneously passed the
House last week. As We write, the whole
subject of reconstruction is passing the ordeal
OF Congressional action.
Though long stride i'll the right direction,
the measure, as it passed the Senate, is not all
that could be desired. 1t secures the right of
the freedmen to the elective franchise only
while the Rebel States are in a quasi territorial
condition. The friends Of the negro will never
rest satisfied with any scheme that does not
place that right beyond contingency. They
demand that it be incorporated into the Fede-
raj Constitution. The bill vests the appoint
ment of the commanding generals Of the dis
tTicts solely with the President. There have
been ominous outgivings that Mr.. Johnson,
alarmed at the cry for Impeachment" and the
near approach of the Forteth Congress, is try
ing to make terms with the radicals by ''meet-
ing them half way" We warn our friends to
beware of the baffled demagogue of Ten
nessee. Not insisting here that his repeated
treachery to those who elevated him to office
stamps him as utterly untrustworthy we do
say that the official who would so backward
| from his word as Andrew Johnson did from ms
pledge to Senator Trumbull respecting the
| Freedmen's Bureau bill is a "shyster," whose
word no prudent man should for moment
! trust. George III once deceived his minister,
| the elder Pitt. Under a severe pressure, the
| King went backward from his royal. word.
| Never afterwards did Pitt trust hin; and,
! l,noyvino this. whenever he fixed his eye upon
| him, his Majesty recoiled before Its eagle
| glance The historic incident does not quite
| meet the case for we have no Pitts III Con-
| gTess, ana ueoISe III was S0ii't I AeNer
| deserted his friends, and very rarely lied. But,
| if such leaders as we happen to have will fol-
| low the example of the great CommOner, they
will not 90 far astray.
| The Republican party is in perilous posi-
| tion in regard to the subject of reconstruction.
| Let it take heed lest it wreck it upon the
shoals of presidential aspirants, or sacrifice it
to the rivalries and jealousies of Congressional
! leaders. The recent course of certain radicals
| i'm the House gives ground for the suspicion
that they are either currying favor with the
| President to get some office, or are unwilling
that any plan should succeed unless il ema3
mates from their minds. The people have their
eyes upon these troublesome gentlemen and
will sink the brand of disapprobation into their
J fOreheads as soon as they perceive that they