The Portland daily press., 1867-02-12
DAILY PRESS.
ND.
Tuesday Morning. February IL, 1867.
PORTLAND.


The State governments authorized by Pres
ident johnson under the military power have
proved their complete worthlessness. They
have been unable or unwilling to afford pro-
lection to the loyalists of the South, thus fail
ing in their first duty as local governments
They have rejected the constitutional amend
ment which might have paved the way to re-
sumption of their former relations to the Ma
tional government. 1t was undoubtedly their
privilege to accept or reject that overture; but
it is also the privilege of Congress to accept or
reject these quasi governments, to give them
the standing oflegitimate State governments
or to leave them as they are, creatures of the
executive fiat. There has been great un-
willingness in Congress to set these govern
ments aside. Some men indeed felt assured
from the beginning, that nothing was to be
expected of them; but the great majority hop
ed they might be made useful in Bridging the
gulf which still separates the Northern and
Southern States. 1t is too evident that they
will serve no such purpose. Some other means
must be adopted to restore those States to
their normal relations to the nation. Some
other means must be speedily provided to Sc
cure to all their citizens the blessings of peace
and good order i''7
The bill for the reorganization of North
Carolina, prepared by citizens of that State
and introduced in Congress by Mr.. Stevens,
aimed at the formation of new gosernment
by all the citizens instead of part, and was
SO far better than Mr.. Johnson's experiment.
The bill prepared by the Southern RepuJli-
cans and introduced by Mr.. Ashley, proposed
to supersede the present governments at once
by the appointment of Governor and Coun-
Gil to assume their functions. The bill offer
ed by MI. Stevens last week proposes to sub
ject these communities once more to military
control. 1t is understood that this PROPOSE
tion is favorably regarded by military officers
whose rank aid SCI vices entitle their opinions
to the highest consideration. Grant, Sheri-
dan, and Sickles are said to be convinced not
merely of the propriety but of the necessity
OF the measure. If the leaders of Southern
opinion cannot otherwise be made to compre-
hend their situation, it is time to let them
understand that. they have been conquered.
In some way the notion that they can dictate
terms of settlement must be expelled from
their minds.
The work of restoration will then remain to
be accomplished. There is no way in which
it can be accomplished thoroughly and finally,
save by an amendment to the national consti-
tuition. If anything has been decided by the
war. the decision must be recorded. The
amendment which has just been offered by
Senator Dixon, at the Presidents suggestion,
has been so generally repudiated that it is un-
necessary to review it, 1t is acceptable neith-
er to the South or to the North. The Presi-
dent ought to know that he too is in no posi-
tion to dictate terms In this form however The
conditions of renewed Union must be pre-
sented, and the Presidents failure is not alto
gether uninsiructive. He has tried to please
both parties and failed. 1t is impossible to
please both parties The amendment propos-
ed at the last session was not fully satisfac-
tory to the North yet even that has been re-
jected by the Southern Legislatures. Why
exercise the right so dearly won, and dictate
the terms of settlement ourselves? How can
we refuse any longer, to assume the duty
which is laid upon us? b ri afa
1t is the duty of Congress, after providing
for the temporary government of these
States, TO draw up and arrange definitely the
terms OF their restoration. Not in anger, rot
in a spirit of revenge, nor Of self-willed obsti-
macy, but calmly, deliberately, wisely, regard
ing the past and the future. Let these terms,
fully settled, be embodied in better consti-
tutional amendment than that which the Leg
isature of Maine has just ratified, and then
let the Southern people understand that
whether they accede to the requirement at
once or wait hundred years, it will not be
changed. Throw the onus upon them and
then, il they can wait we can. ha-