Indiana American. [volume] (Brookville, Ind.) 1865-1872, 1867-08-30

ing election before their unfitness could
be ascertained, and even then il would be
more than difficult to remedy the evil. /
consider the method set forth in the Re-
construction act by far the wiser course Of
the two, and can hardly understand how
any man familiar with the facts can think
otherwise.
These disfranchised persons include,
generally, the whole army Of those who
now hold, or have hitherto held Office.
With few exceptions, all these persons
were active rebels, and are bitterly opposed
to reconstruction under the acts Of Con-
gress- opposed, in fact, to any reconstruc-
ton whatever. except such as would leave
them in precisely the samo political con-
dition as if there had been no rebellion
and no war. Even such reconstruction as
this they would only accept as necessity
Of the situation, with the purpose to re-
new ia Congress. and perpetuatc among
themselves as nearly as possible the same
conditions which existed before the war.
With these reactionists dominant in the
South, freedom Of speech and Of tho press
will not even exist in name. The Union
men, and even those who were secession.
ists, but have advocated reconstruction
under the late acts Of Congress, would find
no peace and protection In these States.
The last condition Of the freedmen would
be worse than the first.
/ need only point TO this speech Of Mr..
Hill, his numerous letters, the letters Of
Gov. Perry. Of South Corolina, Of Her.
sohel v. Johnston, OF Georgia, and many
other such mon, for sufficient evidence
nhpvo not oversiated the case
tn are the representatives Of a
powerful element bent on reac
y they have been In the habit Of
ling the Southern whites. By
Eopposite sides Of political ques-
hey have in times past divided the
rn whites on purely personal
fs, and have thus created the i'm
~ yD1V6n elsewhere that among the masses
there was political question decided in.
stead Of purely personal one. United
Ms they now are against reconstruction, IL
Is wise TO ascertain how far thoir influence
can prevail with the people, The dis
ifanchising clauses Of the acts Of Congress
put II out Of the power Of these men to be
candidates for Office, One great element
Of. their strength is thus destroyed and
the people, lett 10 choose other leaders
and vote for other candidates have really
q freedom of action which they never had
before, and find themselves under neces.
sity for thinking, which they had never
heretofore felt. Congress has given them
this privilege and imposed upon them this
salutary necessity. IL remains TO be seen
how they will use them. If thoy can win
the battle against their former leaders af-
ter an open fight. oil may bo we'll Ia the
future. If not, then not.
| do not st oil agree In the opinion that
there are not enough competent men In
this district 20 hold tho civil Offices who
arc not diaffanchlsod, | have, think,
reason 10 know otherwise But even ad.
hitting that IL IL 80, Il Ia hotter 10 have
an incompetent but loyal man In oilicc,
than 10 have rebel OF whatever ability,
In fact. tho greater tho ability tho greater
tho danger OF administration, The
questions al lsuuo under these acts Of Con.
gress, are the most mompntous over pro
senled 10 a People. The results for good
or evil will affect oil parts Of tho country
with more or less force, and will leave an
<m0feis upon our institutions which will
remain. II is easy, under existing
pstanoea, 10 win the hfnt victory and
lruoi these States under tho acts Of
-. but this victory IL only the
Ing OF the contest, and unless u be
Try. openly and fairly won, and very
70 In ita results, 10 may prove not
\pIlless. but absolutely destructive,
blem ID 10 perpetuate reeonstruo,
be spirit and on the principles
can alone assure free government
cooo,d we effect reconstruction even after
slleneing the open opposition Of tho old
political lenders, We stand committed TO
admit the reconstructed States into the
Union. Once admitted into the Union,
the power of Congress over them Is reduo.
cd practically TO the general power which
that body has over all States In the I'm
lon. By admitting these Southern States
after silencing the old political leaders
aud neutralizing, for the moment, old pc
litical influences, Congress aud the people
disarin themselves. The moment admis-
mission into the Union Is accomplished
the military power Is suspended, aud with
out oil restrictions are removed at once
these old political leaders. and the old po.
litical and personal Influences, will resume
their activity, and we may fnd TOO late
that such reconstruction as we have made
Is not only not what was needed and ex.
pected, but what will simply result in a
reproduction Of the same condition Of af.
fairs which made reconstruction measures
at all. Freedom Of speech aud OF the
press, education, equality before the law
and in political rights and privileges are
the essential Of any satisfactory recon-
struction in the South. Without securing
these we.hsve secured nothing. How can
We know that reconstruction will accom-
plish these results unless wo know in ad
vance the strength aud the power Of those
who oppose it? Reaction is certain un-
less the reconstruction party can win the
battle By decisive msjorities over all the
elements which oppose it, left to develop
themselves and apply their full force to
the contest. If the reactionists thus left
free can defeat such reconstruction as this
We then know what to do-what, in fact
we must do, if we desire to perpetuate
free institutions II is best to know all
these things before readmission into the
Union is granted 1t will be too late to
learn them afterward Now is the time
and this is the opportunity to complete
this work so that IN will stand Everv