Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1867-03-22

passage of the bill, the Radical Senator
made no secret of the object desired to b.
accomplished by this supplementary bill
las also in the enactment of the Military bill
the debate and the action turning entirel,
upon what was supposed to be the interes
of the party, spurred up somewhat by thu
unexpected losses i'll New Hampshire ant
the threatening appearance Of political af
fairs i'll Connecticut. Mr. Fessenden, de
string to appear somewhat conservative
offered an amendment providing that aftel
the completion of the registration provided
| for Ill any State, the commanding genera
shall furnish certified copy thereof to the
! Provisional Governor of the State for which
| the same was m ade, and whenever thereaf
ter the provisional government of said
State shall. by legal enactment. provide
that a Convention shall be called FOR the
purpose of framing constitution and civil
govern ment. and shall furnish a certified
copy thereof to the commanding general
| he shall direct that a Convention shall be
held, and shall appoint the time and place
for holding it.
As explained by himself, the object of the
amendment was to commit the choice of
coming back 30 the people of the South
| themselves, rs the Democratic party charg-
| ed the majority with a design to keep the
Southern States out He wanted them
| back, but did not want them forced in
He wanted them either to come in or stay
out of their own free will. But even this
appearance of liberality, for under the
operation of the Shellabarger amendment
was voted down by vote Of thirty-two to
fourteen.
The amendment gave rise to considera-
bic discussion, however, as to the effect of
their legislation upon tho future prospects
of the Radical party. Governor Morton,
of Indiana, and Mr.. Drake, Of Missouri,
two new aspirants for leadership of the ez
treme wing of the party, were especially
bitter on the South. This was to be eX
pected of Mr.. Drake, who WAS an original
secessionist and is determined to prove
his present loyalty by outstrippinS the
" original panel" Gov. Morton positively
asserted that if the seeded States are not
back in the Union before the Presidential
canvass of 1868, the success of the Radical
party is very predetermined, which Mr.. Nye,
with equal certainty, predicted reconstruc
ton and the downfall and overthrow of the
party would 60 hand in hand. Mr.. Wilson
was of the opinion that Congress had done
its work SO completely, that whether recon
struction was speedy or delayed, the Radi-
Gals would have majority i'll all the South
ern States, and the shackles had been bound
so firmly and so much had been e1acted Of
the Southern people, that he had not the
heart to demand more.
The result of these deliberations is en-
braced in the bill to be fond in the tele-
graphic columns, and whatever effect it
may have. its purpose is manifest from the
sentiments of their leaders given above
We have before expressed our opinion upon
the subject. We are glad that Congress
has continued Ill the exercise of It's power
over the matter of reconstruction, and will
end by vote what would probably have
been the incipiency of a wicked and dan
gerous movement bymep plotting mischief
who care neither for white OF black, SO
that they be promoted. Whatever we are
compelled to do by the command OF Con-
gress. we hope it will be done peaceably,
and in accordance with the mandates of the
"power8 that be-" We desire to accept
nothing unlawful, resistance is more thaH
useless, and inaction IS equally dangerous.
Therefore we see but little to be regretted
in this last action of the Senate, while we
depIore the spirit which actuated it.