The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1867-03-12

the same is liable. The department de-
cides that tho rates in the act will not be
applied to goods in bond 1t takes effect
the from the 81 inst
The Sherman Reconstruction Eliii-I;s
Reception North and South.
Like every other measure, however,
wise and.humanc, it finds no lack Of oppo-
.iion, everywhere, both in expected and
unexpected Quarters SO also, like every
ether measure, however, absurd an i'm.
jutt, there are largc numbers who REGARD
i: as necessity, and many even who cau
sec in ii no def ct Its acceptance or ron.
acc 'ptance, therefore, IrJy,s nothing, so
lar as relates to the wisdom AMI Justice Of
the law. But the reception it meets
with Is no less interesting and important.
If the Southern States accept in rood
faith the conditions offered. and recon
struct un'!cr the provisions of this act,
within one year, or two years at the
most, we may see every state represented
n Congress, and on the basis Of equal JUS
tice, civil and political to every class of
citizens. This is consumu.on deyoutly
to bc wished,
The indications now arc rather favor
able than otherwise. Il ia true large
proportion Of the Southern press is COM
miited strongly against the moasuro. One
Journal says 1.-THE once boastcd constitutions
al liberty Of this country expired with the
dying throcs Of the Conftdcracy," and
another calls the bill "a bill to subject in
teliigence to the rule OF Ignorance to make
the superior race subordinate to the iufe-
rior, and to put eternal enmity between
the two sections Of 4 once common coun-
try" and others still dep!ore The condition
Of affairs and affirm the mclanclolly fact
that the legislatures may be mainly com
posed Of negroes under this regime; and
yet Firginia'is already taking measures to
reconatruc: under this act The wcdgc
once entered, we may hope for progress
We regard the dangers which now
threaten us, just these Either the OK
tremo radical element Of the North, which
rather desires continued separation Of the
two sections, and would prevent the South
from gaining even moiety of power Or
influence. will continue to agitatc for new
and moro difficult conditions, and thus
cause the States which are favorably in
clncd, to distrus. the good faith Of Con
grcss in making these oyertuves; or, those
States may accept the terms only to break
all pledges and reverse all cnactmcnts
made under this pressure when they have
obtained power by admission to Congress
and union with their CO. workers at the
North. The HorU and other democratic
journals and dcmagogucs at the North
who urge reconstruction under the Shcr
man bill, undoubtedly desire the latter re.
suit. Prominent Southerners may desire i,
but they are too wise to hope for it,
They, therefore, take strong ground against
any action.
There is more danger, we apprchcnd,
from thu former result than the latter,
though we could wish that Congress had
made the guarantees Of future good beha-
vior, more really rrrersible. But having
mnde these conditions the faith of Congress
and their constituencies is pledged to abide
by them, No further legislation or Con-
gressiona agitation of questions of recon
struction should be had until it 10 fully
known whether the South will accept or
reject the terms already made. If thes
opportunities pass UNDECIDED, or are spurn-
ed, further action on the part Of Congress
will be appropriate and necessary.
1t is to be hoped that the first ebuljtious
of yexaton and disappointment will soon
pass away and that the calmcr sense of
the people will see it to be for their interest
to accept the amendment to the Consti,u-
lion, to organize on the basis ofjustice AMI
equality and to yield mere prejudices for
the permanent welfare of the nation. Until
further developments, we shall expect such
result. 1t would seem that too strong
influences are at work in favor of imme.