The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1867-02-09
.. .gN ...,u.F s aT-HEo .1n p.aI..
RECONSTRUCTION.

advert once again to this never-cnding subject;
! not from any preference we have for it. But it's
| utmost Importance is un Ieniable, and however
| much peo~le may disclarm all interest in
politics, they cannot DO indifferent to the funda-
| mental laws and principles, by which their very
existence, we may say, is to be regulated. Even
| although we may have no influence in giving it
form or character, vitaly interested in
whatever plan Of reconstruction may be ultimately
adopted; that wo should at least be well informed
OF every step in its rise and progress. The subject
naturally has gained new prominence at this time
! from the promulgation Of scheme for this
purpose by the Administration. @ 14
recent article in the New York Ere7sang Post
onumerates the several plans OF reconstruction
heretofore proposed. They as follows:@
First. What is known is tho Presidents plan,
viz: ''to admit to scat in Congress every person
bearing the certificate OF the Governor Of South
ern State, who should prove acceptable to tho
House in which he claimo1 Q seat, as a loyal man,
and who was able to take the oath" This, there
can be little doubt, was also Mr.. LINcoLNs policy
! Second. There was tho plan agreed upon by the
famous Committee on Reconstruction at tho last
session of the present Congress, viz: tho Howard
| Constitutional Amendment, the features Of which
have be- n SO repeatedly discussed in our columns,
that we shall take it for granted all our readers
are familiar with them.
| Third Next there was plan agreed upon by
HORACE GREELEY, MONTGOMERY B1AR and others,
OF universal and unconditional amnesty-sso far
as immunity from fear Of punishment or conisca-
ton is coacerncd' Tho foregoing three plans ac-
cepted the present State governments in tho
| South.
Fourth. There was the territorial scheme. .sRe-
turning common sonso" snys the Post, has,
! We believe, caused most OF the advocates OF
this plan to drop it."
Filth. ssThere was what was known as the North
Carolina Bill: with an important amendment,
which looked to the reorganization Of tho State
governments under the guidance of Congress, and
by the action of Ill tho people Of each State" This
plan is still endorsed by the Euening Post saTho
fourth and fifth plans, it will be noticed, look to
upsetting the, present State governments, as not
legally formed; tho North Carolina Bill, however,
using these local governments until they are gu
porsodsd By the constitutional action of the peo-
pie, and legalizing their acts until then"
The Post IS still candid enough to say that tho
first plan, that proposed by Nr. JOHNSON, would
have been the best, because it would have at once,
and without danger to any worthy interest in the
country have set the whole machinery OF civil gov
ernment regularly going. tE@%0$ $#
There has not hitherto been any plan proposed
that covered the ground, and was at all likely to
be accepted by both sections of the country The
field is open, therefore, for new projects and &C
eoEdlnsly. Es RaEu hafFe Wisdom nT se Bran new
plan, carefully elaborated. This, we are told, has
the appreciation Of the President and his Cabinet,
It also has the indorsation Of Gov. sHARKEx. Of
Mississippi, Coy. MARVIN. Of Florida, Gov PAT
TON, Of Alabama, Gov Orr, Of South Carolina,
and OF leaolng gentlemen from the other Southern
States. It is to be laid before the North Carolina
Legislature now in session, and it is said that Gov
ORB will shortly call special session Of our Leg.
islature for the same purpose. In the NEWS OF
Thursday we gave the plan, as published authori
| tahvely in the Richmond Enquirer The same ia
IN the form Of q proposed amendment to the Con
stltution OF the United states, and also proposed
| amendment to tho Constitutions Of the several
! States. Section first Of the former provides for
the perpetuity of the Union; the second pledges
the ,sacredness Of the National debt The third
section is re-atirmation of the Civil Rights Bill
Section 4 Part first, relating to the basis Of
Congressional representation, ia, to all intents
and purposes, the same as in the Howard Amend
ment. The following is the latter clause OF tbia
4th section:
No State shall require as property qualification;
for voters more than two hundred and ffty dollars
worth OF taxable property, nor US an educational
able the voter to read the Constitution Of the
United States in the English Language and write
his own name. . MT N -'...a- 4 t1'',s
We reprint, also, the Amendment proposed to
the State Constitutions s r.s szs e.S
:, Every mule citizen who has resided in this
State Tor one year, and in the county in which he
offers to vote six months. Immediately preceding
the day Of election, and who can read the Consti-
guaEe, and can write his own name or who NAV
20 the owner Of two hundred and fifty doll ars
worth OF taxable property, shall be entitled to vote
2l2cti0n9 rcf% hoN NAeko
OF the Legislature, and all other officers elective
by the people Of the State Prouided, Thatno per
from voting who has heretofore exercised the elec~
tive franchise under the Constitution and laws of
th!s State or who, at the time of the adoption Of
TINS amenoment, may be entitled to vote under
said Constitution and laws T23S ,-'-5 ~->'o