Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1867-02-28
THE TERMS OF RE.ADMIssIoN.

Gov. ORR's movement to secure the re-admls-
sion of the South into the Union has produced at
least one solid result This result is not exactly an
acceptance of the proposition he offered; that was
too lenient to please the Radical leaders. But the
concessions it proposed have as usual, encouraged
them to impose upon us more humAiatlng condl-
tions, in return for the privilege Of representation
in Congress. In this instance, however, the'con-
dtion have the merit of bearing the official pledge
of the National Government, that their acceptance
by any excluded State will be received as 9 final
settlement, by which such State will be at once re-
stored to all its rights as member Of the Federal
Union. After nearly two years OF angry debate
and vaclating legislation, Congress has at last pro-
duced its ultinaatum,, for our consideration. This
is Mr.. SHERMAN's bill, which we publish in an
other column, as it finally passed both Houses
The substance of this law, (for it may as well be
considered law) is that the States named therein
shall be divided into military districts, under the
authority of officers of the u. S. Army not under
the rank of BrigadierGeneral, and shall remain in
the status of military provinces, until they shall
have complied with the terms prescribed therein
for their restoration to the position of States
These terms are:
1st, Negro Suffrage.
I'd, A constitution framed in accordance with
that of the United States, and bya convention
elected by all the male citizens of the State, twen-
ty-one years old and upward without regard to col
or.
Sd. The adoption of the Constitutional amend
ment which has already been once rejected by these
States. ....
4th, The disfranchising of our leaders, civil and
military, during the war; and the dsqualfying them
from holding any Office whatever.
[ 1t is doubtful whether any Southern State is so
anxious to get back into the Union as to accept
these terms. They are offered the choice between
oppression and selfdegradation As a citizen OF
South Carolina, we prefer to try military law tor
while, rather than comply with any one OF the con-
ditions The last, in particular is most odous. BY
it, we are required to condemn those whom we al
ways found true in the hour of peril and whose gul-
dance is now more imperatively needed than ever
before. Martial law has many evils, but they are
small, compared with those which would flow from
the state of things contemplated bythis law. With
fully one half of our voters ignorant OF their re-
sponsibilities, and with our best and most capable
men excluded from holding positions of trust, we
would become the misgoverned subjects Of imbecle
and depraved officials A constitution framed by
such a mongrel gang of Statesmen as alone could
be elected under this bill, would be a burlesque
upon governments. An officer of the army, who
has a character to sustain would bea more reliable
ruler than such as these.
At all events, the experiment of military gov
ernment can be tried if proves too hard to bear,
the other alternative is always in ourpower Mean
while, firm refusal on our part to accept this set
tlement may cause it to be withdrawn. The pres
ent unsettled state of the country is seriously in
juring the North, though it presses harder upon
the South. If we can stand it awhile, they must,
for their own interest," retract from their position
Nor can we be forced into accepting it, so long as
we put up with military authority, which we con-
slider the less of the two evils.