Cedar Falls gazette. [volume] (Cedar Falls, Iowa) 1860-1895, 1867-02-15
TIE MILITARY u1EL.

The last year was spent liz fixing up
on plan OF Reconstruction, first or
the part of Congress, and then by rat
ification of the people. The Constitu-
tional Amendment was thus firmly
fixed as the abiding basis for the re-
construction of the South. Although
the revolted States proceeded to reject
the proposition, it was not for the pres
ent Congress 10 NEEDLE with the basis
thus overwhelmingly endorsed by the
North. Ii was becoming for the coun-
tryto pause awhile, giving full opportu-
nifty for reflection and retraction on the
part of the seeded States. Thus we
counseled when the winter and the ses-
sion commenced; and thus Congress
has found it expedient to act.
No new plan of Reconstruction has
been brought forward by our national
legislators, and none is likely 10 he at
least till after this Thirty-ninth Con-
gress has.exp;red The President and
his friends have just brought cut a new
scheme Of reconstruction, whcrewitll
to battle the Republican plan but the
ConstitutionalAm ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS still
as the standing basis of Reconstruction,
acknowledged by the whole Republi-
can North. Our Congressman have in
deed been engaged in discussing plans
for governing tho South, while It per-
sists in remaining in its un-recoustruat.
cd state; but the basis OF Reconstruc,
ton itself remains untouched.
AT first it was proposed % adopt the
original theory of Mr.. Summer, and
establish a territorial government for
each State. But within the past fort
night, this proposition has been laid
aside, at least for the present; and in
stead Of it, the Reconstruction Com
mttee have brought forward another
plan. II is that of governing the I'M
restored States as Military Districts un-
der martial law. In the form first re-
ported, the plan meets with some OPP
position and must be amended con-
siderabiy, if it is to secure passage
through Congress. But either this
Military Bill or the Territorial Bill,
will doubtless beadopted in some shape.
For, in one form or another, the coun-
try is bound to over-rule the uneonsti.
tutional and traitorous governments set
up by Andy Johnson at the South
All this is a question of temporary
government for the South while i'm its
present un-reconstructed condition.
But, strangely enough. - is being very
generally mistaken, as if pe,U plan Of
Reconstruction. We every day take UP
newspapers which parade and discuss
it in this light. 1t is trum peted along
side of the Presidents new tangled
scheme of Restoration, as if itself ar
other Republican scheme, to he substi-
tuted for the plan of constitutional
Amendment last year ratified with such
popular unanimity. Nothing could be
more false and mischievous than this
idea. Let not our enemies be pleased
by this flattering JUNCTION, as if with
such hasty fickleness we could be
frightened from our solid ground, and
made TO seek out continually, like them,
some new device OF policy.
No! we stand as Republicans where
we have stood all along, anchored fast
70 the Constitutional Amendment as
the only Reconstruction plan of the
Ihirty-ninth Congress. And we
Through that Congress) are now SIM
ply trying 10 liz upon the best form of
temporary government for an un-re-
constructed South, until such time as
she shall see fit to return to her place
under the reconstruction provisions SO
generously offered to her. Whether,
for this purpose, the Military Bill or
the Territorial Bill is best, is question
which We do not here discuss.
p. S. The New Orleans Inyestiga-
ton Committee has reported, showing
the condition of things to be deplorable
in Louisiana, and recommending new
State organization on loyal free suf-
frage basis. The house took up the bill
at once, and passed it Gil Tuesday. 1t
is not SO much new basis of recon-
struetion for that State, as an additional
means of enforcing the Constitutional
Amendment plan, in despite of dis
loyal johnson organization calling it.
self State.
-s% sCo.
Funny, Rut True