The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-03-12
Progrcss OF RsoonstruotiOn.

cfOfn ne Tribune.
The Reconstruction act which passed the
late Congress over the Presidents veto is
already virtually accepted by the South. 1t
is, of course, denounced and execrated by GER
tain noisy ex-Rebels (mainly of the bomb
proof Variety; but not many, even Of these,
talk of resisting it, while the policy of ''mas-
terly yinaotivity" has few advocates, and their
number is rapidly dwindling. And for this
there is excellent reason, in the fact that if
the ex-Rebels refuse to organize their States
under the act of Congress, the unconditional
Unionists (whte and blacll) will organize
each of and by themselves. If, then. the ex-
Rebels should insist on testing the constitu-
tionality of the act before the Supreme Court
they will simply compel that Court to decide
whether State organization by loyal men in
obedience to an act OF Congress-, or a rival or
ganization by eX-Rebels in defiance of Con-
gress, shall be recognized and upheld by the
authority and power of the Union: and it does
not seem probable that majority even of our
present Judges will decide that issue against
Congress and the loyal organizations.
The ten Rebel States are to be reorganized
under the late act of Congress, and are to
choose Representatives and Senators to claim
seats IN the present (Fortieth) Congress. So
VI.
certain that the great body of their people,
irrespective of past differences of politics or CON
dltlon, will participate in such reorganization
and election.
Nor is there any symptom of violent pertur-
baton or deadly collision likely to result from
the act which was so lately stigmatfzed by its
enemies as one ''to organise help in the South
On the contrary, the prospect is decidedly
favorable to nearer approach to peace and
hQTo hog han Ill,
for years. Outrage and violence are less pre-
valent there than they have been; and there is
reason to hope that the reconstruction at hand
will be marked by no such hideous tragedies
as those which in 1866 disgraced the cities of
Memphis and New Orleans
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 to Constitutional
Convention, and directed either the provisional
State authorities or the military district COM
manders to designate persons to hold the polls
count the votes, etc, all trouble would have
been precluded.
That the omission is unfortunate is already
manifest in Virginia and in Louisiana. In Vir-
ginia, the blacks and other loyalists are ex-
doubtless be held under the auspices of the
State authorities, but to hold an election of
their own. We trust means will be found to
avoid a double election; and we cannot help
advising the lOyalists of that State to follow
the lead of Francis H. PierpOnt rather than
that of James W. Hunnicutt.
In Louisiana, it is reported that the ex-
Rebels propose to hold a constitutional cleo
ton as if in conformity to the act of Congress,
hut 10 pniac fla Nrptag nf oil oD1n
We do not believe they will persist in this
stupidity If they mean to deny and resist
the authority of Congress in the premises,
their obvious course is to adhere to their pre-
sent State organization, and take no part in
the choice of delegates to make another,
On the whole the good work of reconstruc-
tion is progressing favorably and rapidly.
Those who have for years vociferated 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