The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1867-03-06

too, although it passed by the requisite
majority, yet it is known that the vot'
in the Radical caucus on it's adoption
stood Is in its favor to IA against it
1t seems, therefore, that of the 80 sena
tors who voted on the question, only
fifteen were originally in favor OF it,
passage. On the other hand some o
our own friends have shown symptoms
of weakness and vacillation ON the
question. Mr.. Johnson, Of Maryland
voted for the bill on the ground that il
was the only bill likely to pass which
afforded any indication Of q speedy adj
mission of the Southern States to repre-
sentation in Congress, and because
that, in case this bill should be defeat
ed, another more Radical in its nature
had already been framed. Mr.. John
son may be great lawyer, and vel
versed in the science of logic, but W.
confess that we are unable to under.
stand the process of reasoning by which
he has brought himself to the support
of this odious measure. He will find il
very difficult to explain how the States
are to be admitted into Congress
through the agency of a bill which
makes no provision for such admission
that the South can adopt consistently
with her interest, her honor or her self.
respect. And if indeed Mr.. johnson
wishes this bill adopted for fear Of {
worse one, it seems that if the more
moderate could not pass without his
vote, a tortiori the more Radical one
also could not be carried without it.
While it is barely possible that this
bill may fail to become law, we have
about made up our mind that it eithel
will, OF that some other equally as OBJ
noxious will be forced upon us. twill
be well, therefore, to reflect what is tx
be the condition of the South under thu
new order of things, and what the duty
Of her people in the impending crisis.
We are already under military gov
eminent, with a subordinate govern
ment erected under the direction of thu
President of the United States, which
has never been recognised by Congress
It will be observed that, while the new
bill provides for the continuance of tn
military, with slight modification,
also recognises the State government
as provisional. The Military Com
mander is to permit the present civi
government to continue in, the exercis,
of it's functions and to interfere with i
only in case he may deem it proper TO
the protection of life and property. If
therefore, the President should be hap
Ply in the assignment of the militar,
commanders we can conceive that, il
certain contingencies, our condition
would either be not changed at all, O.
else changed for the better. But, OF
the other hand, the means for oppres
sion are SO ready at hand, and North
ern general officers are SO accustomed
to tyrannise over the Southern people
that it would be strange indeed if ou
worst fears should not be realised.
would be strange if military com
mander, charged with full authorit,
over life and property, with the writ 0
habeas corpus in his own hands, shoul'
mot abuse his power, when he know
that such abuse would be hailed wit
delight by the political party which ha
control of the government of the Uni
ted States.
But what should the South do whel
the bill shall have become q lawg w
hope there is no necessity for us t
urge our people to decline the invita-
ton to go into the Union on the term
offered by the bill. Admission into th
Union with negro suffrage, the adop
tion.of the Constitutional Amendment
and the Acknowledgement of the howe
of the Southern talent and virtue, i
such an admission as we do not want
and will not have. We will stay GU
forever, before we will submit to it.
would be much better for us to renal
with our military satrap over lis, an
our "provisionaln government in oper
alton. But it is also true that if til
| provisions OF the bill are carried out
the provisional" government will soo1
become everything that the Radical
desire it. 1t is provided that in al
elections for officers under the presen
government, the qualifications of voter
shall be the same as required for tn
election of delegates to a Convention
for the reconstruction of the State
That is, in our election for q Genera
Assembly next fall, or for governor
negroes and mendieant loyalists cal
vote, and s'disfr,nchised rebels" can
not. And we suppose also, that in tn
election for delegates to the Conven
ton just called by our Legislature Il
amend the Constitution Of the State
the Radicals would claim the sam,
qualifications of voters, for the reason
that the delegates are ''oficers of til,