The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1867-03-18
CHI A r T. EST TON.
MONDAY MORNING, MARCH is, 1867.
snERnrAn,s tsEsoLuT1oN.

MONDAY MORNING, MARCH IS, 1867.
SENATOR sHERnIAN's fsEsoLUTION.
Wo recognize in tho resolution OF Senator SHKR-
MAN relieving Governor ,Bnows, OF Goorgia, and
Governor PATTON, OF Alabama, from tho disabilt-
tics of tho Reconstruction Act, tho return Of bot
ter md kinder foolngB, and indication that tho
Government is willing to trust those who, however
firm mud active In tho discharge Of what thoy con-
coived to be their duty during tho war;, hive &c
copied tho results OF that war as flnnl md aro
willing to give thoir ability and influence to the
completion OF tho only settlement which aeon,s
practicable. And whether we consider tho dovo-
tion with which thoy did their duty to tho Confed
eracy while it lasted, tho spirit in which thoy
have declared their readiness TO do thcr duty to
tho Union nB it Inns been restored, no two public
men aro bcttcr entitled to this rolef. But wo can
not help thinking that both in their own interest
and in that OF tho country It is very questionable
whether such exceptional position is IN adyan-
tagc, whothcr tho object which tho Government
has at heart, nnd which mon like these can 30
efficiently servo, will be furthercd by separating
them from tho thousands in tho South who ncted
with thom in tho past, and who can net wisely and
efficiently with them ut present. and thus rendering
them liable to tho picion If not to the charge,
Of being influenced in the ndvice thoy giye by tho
| personal benefit which such advice may seem to
| bring thom. ,ss A.t-s.I
Tho Reconstruction Act is hnrd measure TO
| conquered people. Tho interest, tho good sense,
tho manly resolution to meot tho consequences
Of great failure, may control tho Souhorn people
to accept It. And in time, when wo bocomo fa-
niliar with tho new ideas and realize the broader
development Of thought md enterprise which TINT
this life. But Il is ido and useless to attempt
to disguise tho fact TINT submit to necessity,
and like wiso mon aro endonyoring 10 mako the
best of o very disngreeable position. Our people
ncod to bo educated to their new duties; to be
taught how to uso the conditions OF this sudden
| and radical resolution in their thoughts, habts
and interests. Thero ia large and most respectn-
bio class Of mon who will DO slow hoth to learn
and to unloarn, and it is Of great Importance to
our unfortunate section that this lesson should be
learned quickly. Tho mon who hnye hitherto on
joyed tho public confidence can be Of incalculable
service in bringing about this rcsoluto md intelli
gent perception OF tho truth. But their influence
depends upon ono conditon-tho people. OF tho
| South, whom thoy advise and :hopo to influence,
must feel auro Of their perfect disnlercatedness.
Wo do not care how wise these mon havo become
how frankly thcy may recognize tho mistakes
which they hnvo made, tho people will noither
listen to nor regard them II this change Of opin-
ion is to result In their personal adyancamont and
in their being mndo exceptions TO the penn1ty
| which men as wiso and good, as wol entitled to
| tho respect and confidence Of tho country, must
pay for their participation in tho past. IN.
II tho body OF citizens disfranclised by tho pro-
visions OF tho Reconstruction Act, could and would
| say TO tho people whose confidence they hayo
shared, that they wore honestly OF opinion that
| truo wisdom aud patriotism required frank no
ceptance Of the conditions Of this Act, HID the
carly Reorganization of the State under its proyi-
sionH, no more powerful agency for tho settlement
Of this question could bo found or would be needed
Their Acknowledgement would bo the guarantee Of
tho honesty OF their conviction and the unsclfsh.
ness OF their advice. But tho only reward thht
such men or ought to receive is tho conscious-
moss Of q painful duty faithfully performed, and
the confidence and affection Of thoao who arc to
profit by their saorifoo. ;.,l o! B,= ia. ~. :,
There is, 1t seems to us, but ono argument that
would justify this exception, and that is, that tho
men so excepted, aro, by thoir virtues their ability
and Their" influence, necessary in tho work Of ro-
construction. Is this so2l In the first place, II
cannot be denied that such virtues and such ability
viii command as large and aB wholesome an inf1u.
ence out Of Office In It. In tho noxt plsse tho dis
clause does limit veryfaiI choice
for members Of the Legislaturo,. and The Blbordi:
nato executive and judicial ofHcers Of tho stato;
In this State NO think fair selection stl fetnnins
open for members Of Congress although perhapsi
not for Senators, but 1t must also be remembered
that us far us membors OF Congress- and Senators
arc concerned, Tho relief from the disability OF the
Reconstruction Act, does not relieve from the no
COSTLY Of tho ofninl test OATH nnd that as long ns
that remains Of forco, tho relief fom the disa6ilf7
ties OF tho act will scarcely enlarge our choice.
The greatest practical disadvantage under tho dis
abilities Of tho eet, viii DO tho effect upon Tic Jn-
dlcial officers Of tho State II VIII bo not only;
embarrassing but injurious to The best interests Of
society 10 remove our present. Judges, especially
as nearly all the mombers Of the Bar who could
succeed them with proprlety are in the Ba1no cate
gory Now tho rolief Of fow abfo politicians would
not help us in this strait TO organize the State
authorities efficiently would require much larger
hst Of exceptions Nor can we see any INN. .dists
necessity for this measure. As soon as tho officer
appointed, takos command Of his District, he WILL,
it is to be presumed, order q registration. That
registration will take tmo, then comes an electioof
delegates, thon tho meeting Of convention then
tho adoption OF tho Consultation, thon it's ratifea
ton, then it's reference TO Congress- and its final
approval: n'the meantime, the Provisional Goyorn-
mont OF tho State Is Valid We have nov q Gov,
ornor Judges, Legislature, who CON 40 On quietly
In the discharge Of their duties until next faI at
least. When the convention niaots, wlen die
State has giyen this proof Of the good faith with
which 1t has accepted the condition, then Ii the
people feel that certain men by thor characters
or abilities. necessary TO the wise government Of
affairs, with whnt strength and confidence can
that body ask Of Congress- their reldf tffom' dis
ablityl ..,5t.r,, (; gg., { !;
( We do not know how ~ is In other States, but
wo think wo speak the Benso' 81 this siate whoin
We soy that we arc sure there Is no such difference
between those who hayo incurred disrranchiss-
ment by their obedience 10 hor command as would
justify such an eIception-th that just as what they
hayc dono was from tho .convictisn Of easred
duty, so what thoy will do will DO to the bost Of
their Judgment for Tho honor and interest Of tho
State. Tho people Of tho State will lstsn TO them
moro readily, thoy themselves VIII sbedk flbbffd
freely and boldly, whom no posaibilisyof personal
profit no suspicion Of selfish fnterest attaches 70
their words. We trust that the time Ia hot fss
distant whom thoy will all bo msdo FREQ TO servo
with removed fidelity the State for which aley
have suffered, and when their wiso and patriotic
conduct will havo proved to tho whole country
TINT thoy arc mon TO bo trusted but no. men 10 bo