The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1867-03-07

OF secession, WHICH we 0au pdSScO
with so many demonstrations of proud
defance-no more humiliating than it
was for US, who boosted of our State
credit, to be required to repudiate our
State war debt-and no more humill-
ating than it was, after we had con-
temned Mr.. Liucoln's emancipation
proclamation, to ratify it as part OF
the Constitution of the United States,
and Incorporate it into our State Con-
stitution.
When told that so large a proper
ton of our people have, at some time
in their lives, held Office, and sworn
to support the Constitution of the
United States, that the adoption of
the amendment will render it next to
impossible for us to organize our
courts without the importation of
Judges, or to find suitable men to fill
our county offices, they say they were
not aware that this class was so large
as it is now represented to be, but that
Congress will still have the power, by
two-thirds vote, to relieve them,
and that they do not doubt that COM
pliance with the terms on our part
will so far soften the feelings of the
people of the North, that our judges
and other officers will very soon be
relieved, except our political leaders,
who may be required to submit to ex-
clusion for longer period.
These are the views of the more
moderate wing of the party in power.
1t is no longer a question whether the
freedmen shall vote-that is already
decreedin his favor; but the question
is whether the white men who aided
in the war against the United States
shall vote. This will not be permit
ted if we continue to throw obstacles
in the way Of reconstruction upon the
basis of the Constitutional amend
ment and universal suffrage.
As have already stated, the bills
passed in the House embody the SUBJ
stance of the more radical pro-
gramme, except upon the question of
general confscation, for which the
popular sentiment is not yet prepared.
The Military Bill was amended in the
Senate on the motion of Mr.. Sher-
man, so as to allow each State to be
relieved and re-admitted upon the
adoption of the Constitutional
Amendment and universal suffrage,
the latter to be secured by constitu-
tional provision in each State, and
the Constitution to be approved by
Congress-. The bill, as amended, was
sent back 80 the House, where, if the
kilograms are reliable, the amendment
was rejected, the majority of the
House being unwilling to recognize
the present State governments and
re-admit us to Congress upon our
compliance with the terms contained
in the Sherman amendment. 1t
seems, however, from the dis
patches published, that this was
afterwards reconsidered, and what
is known as the Wilson Amendment,
which excludes all persons included
in the Constitutional Amendment
from voting as we'll as from Office,
was adopted as an additional pro-
vision. And also, an amendment
that the present State governments
are to be regarded as only provisional,
to be placed at the will of Congress.
As thus amended, we are informed,
the bill has passed both Houses, and
will no doubt become law, without
the Presidents sanction. This simp-
ly gives us few more days of grace,
which is the best that even moderate
Republicans will sanction. IF our
people improve the time, and act
promptly, we may save something; if
we do not, all is lost. Our prompt
adoption of the Constitutional
Amendment and universal suffrage
would, in my opinion, settle the ques-
ton. Nothing less ever will It
might have the further effect of ad-
justing the unhappy differences which
exist between the President and Con-
gress. He has contended all
the while that the question of
suffrage belongs TO the States. IF they
move and extend it, he has no reason
to be displeased. On the other hand,
Congress refuses to recognize the State
governments established under his
direction, without the adoption Of the
Constitutional Amendment and uni
versal suffrage. By compliance on
the part of the States, Congress main
tains its point of honor. The Demo
cratic members of Congress have
agreed with the President that the
suffrage question is one for the States
to decide. The pride of each party
has been staked upon the maintenance
of its position. Unfortunately for us.
while this fight is progressing, we are
between the upper and the neither
mllistone, being ground to atoms.
The longer it lasts, the worse we are
ruined.
Here, then, the inquiry naturally
presents itself, what is best for us to
do? answer, Agree with thine adj
versary quickly" We are PROSTATE
and powerless. We can offer no fur
Their resistance. The conquerers die
tate their own terms which are