New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1867-02-13
RECONSTRUCTION.

RECONS7R UC1YON.
Mr.. Eliot'S bill to establish Provisional
Government in Louisiana, and provide for the
reorganization of the State on the basis OF
loyal and impartial suffrage. passed the
House yesterday by the decisive vote of lib
to As. The Democrats opposed its immediate
passage upon the plea that it needed
longer examination. But the principles of the
bill have been discussed by Congress since
1855; they have been again and again voted
upon by the people, there is not an important
section which has not been thoroughly debated,
and the bill embOdies many of the absolute
convictions of the Republican party. 1t does
not follow that this measure was hastily
adopted by the House merely because the bill
itself was so recently proposed
Whether the bill goes to the root of the mat
ter we do not need TO discuss; nor whether
Congress should make it the basis of the recon-
struction of all the Rebel States. Uniformity
of reconstruction has not been proved to be
necessary. What is required for Texas or
Louisiana may not suit North Caro-
lima. The House, we believe, establishes
no arbitrary precedent in passing this bill, and
does not probably intend it to stand as the
final method of reconstruction. 1t is simply
practical measure, which the House. acting
upon the report of its Committee appointed
TO investigate the New-0rleans massacre,
deems necessary to protect loyalty III
Louisiana. And it is a recOgnition-which the
House, we Judge, begins to feel-of the urgent
necessity of passing some measure OF recon-
struction.
AS a beginning, at least, of that great work
Congress has only talked about for two years.
the passage of measure which has some
principles of justice and permanence may be
welcomed. II takes at once the State OF Loul-
siana out of the power of the men who
dragged her into the Rebellion, and who
are depressing the men who opposed rebellion.
1t is useless for the Democrats to object that
the Louisiana loyalists were Rebels, for ii they
were, the bill excludes them from office. Vi
more importance than the exclusion OF disloyal
citizens is the declaration that in the reorgan-
izaion Of the State Government all loyal male
citizens, without distinction OF race or
color, shall have the right TO vote Tor
officers, and voice in forming the Con
stitution by which they are to be governed.
This is the great principle OF the bill, to which
the appointment of military commander the
Provisional Governor and Council, the pro-
hibition of the payment of the Rebel state
debt, &c. are but accessories and preparations
We rejoice in the passage OF IN act which
pcremptorly asserts the power OF Congress to
restore TO all loyal citizens in the States which
have forfeited their old Constitutions by rebel
lion, their inalicnable rights.
MIR. Stevens's bill TO establish military gov
ernments in the South does not appear to
conflict with this Of Nh. Eliot for 1t Is under
stood that it is meant to be but preparatory
| to such measures of permanent reorganization
rs those the House has just adopted.
! Mr.. Stevens's bill would remove every
officer in the South who has usurpcd
| authority; it would end the rule Of men who,
! like Mayor Monroe, instigate murder, and those
who, like Gov. Throclmorton, appear powerless
| to prevent or punish it. 1t sweeps away that
machinery by which the men who maintained
| the Rebellion, and who surrendered TO Grant,
have regained possession of the South. Ii is
| thought that this bill will be passed by the
| House in a day or two. When it becomes a
law, it will place every Rebel State exactly
where it stood at the end of the
Rebellion. Then will follow those grander
measures for rebuilding State Governments
which shall not be the tyrannies of priv
ileged class, or an arstocacy, but the work of
the people, in which all citizens shall be
represented and by which all shall be pro-
tected.