New-York tribune., 1867-03-11
ppocpEss or RECONSTRUCT

The Reconstruction act which passed the late
Congress over the Presidents vetols ALREADY VII
tually accepted by the South. lt Is (ot couISe)
donounced and execrated by certain noisy ex-
Rebels (mainly of the bOmb-proof vanety) DuV
notmany, even of these talk OF resisting 1t, Whilo
the policy of "masterly inactivity" has few ad-
vocotes and their number is rapidly dwmdlhg'
And for thisy thero is excellent reason, In
tho fact that if the er-Rebels refuse TO organ
;ye their States snder the act of Congress, me
Unconditional Unionists (Whte ana biach!
,pM organise each of and by themselves. IL
then, the ex-Rebels should insist on testing
the constitutionality of the act before the
Supreme Court they will simply compel tnat
Court TO decide whether q State organization
nv loyal men in obedience to an act OF Con
cress or rival organization by ex-Keoeis IN
defiance of Congress shall be recognized ana
unbeld by the authority and power of the
Union and it does not seem probable that
majority even of our present Judges will decide
,bot issue against Congress and the loyal or
ganizations.
The ten Rebel States are to be reorganlzed
under the late act of Congress, and are 10
choose Representatives and Senators to claim
seats in the present (XLth) Congress. 90
much ia already assured. And it is morally
certain that the great body OF their people,
irrespective of past differences OF politics or
condition, will participate in such reorgan-
izaton and election.
Nor is there any symptom of violent perturba-
tion or deadly collision likely to result from
the act which was so lately stigmatlzed by us
enemies as one I" to organize hell in the South
On the contrary, the prospects, decidedly iavora-
BILE to nearer approach to peace ana ORDER
than has been exhibited at tie south TOT years
Outrage and violence are less prevalent there
than they have boon; and there Is reason 10 nope
that the Reconstruction at hand will be marked
by no such hideous tragedies as those which
In 1860 disgraced the cities of Memphis and
New-0rleans.
The only clouds on the horizon are fairly
chargeable to an omission by Congress to pre-
scribe the machinery whereby Reconstruction
is to be effected. Had the act prescribed
day (say the 4th Of july whereon the people
Of the ten States respectively shall (not may)
meet and choose delegates 10 Constitutional
Convention, and directed either the provisional
State authorities or the military district com
manders to designate persons TO hold the polls,
count the Noleh, &C, an Nioupi' NOhiu hh'N
been prccluded.
That the omission il unfortunate, is already
manifest in Virginia and in Louisiana In Vir-
ginia, the Blacks and other loyalists are eN-
horted not to vote at the election which will
doubtless be held under the auspices OF the
State authorities, but to hold an election Of
their own. We trust means will bo found TO
avoid double election; and we cannot help
advising the loyaists of that State to follow
the lead of Francis ii. Pierpont rather than
that of James w. Hunnicutt.
In Louisiana, ii il reported that the cx-Rcb-
els propose TO hold q Constitutional election as
if in conformity to the act Of Congress- but TO
reject the votes Of all colorcd men We do
not believe they will persist in this stupidity.
II they mean to deny and resist the authority Of
Congress in the premises, their obvious course is
TO adhere TO their present State organization.
and take no part in the choice of delegates TO
make another.
On the whole the good work of Reconstruc-
ton is progressing fayorably and rapidly.
Those who have for years vocifcratcd that the
Radicals were bent on keeping the Southern
States unrepresented and in chaos until after
the next choice of President, will be singing
very different song before December.