The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1867-06-14
PROGRESS OF REcoNsTnuc1,ros.

When the Reconstruction Act was passed by
Congress, some Of the lending men of the
South wrote to Senator SHERMAN, and others,
who were among the prominent sponsors Of
tho bill, to know whether il might bo deemed q
! finalty;' and tho reply in every instance. was
| nm assurance, that II the Southern, people ac-
ceptcd the terms offered by Congress in the
SnERMAN Military Reconstruction Act, passed
March 2, 1867, they might feel assured that
| Congress and the Northern people would faith-
fully execute their part of tho compact, and
receive thom bnck into tho Union, without any
| further imposition Of financial burdens, civil
or political disabilities, any other species of
pains and penalties. True, it may bo said, no
one! Senator or member Of Congress was au-
thofized to speak for tho body; aud no such
pledge iB binding. i But it must bo considered
thai theso assurances como from those who
garfield tho measure by q largo majority; they
| were, moreover, tho lenders of. this majority,
| and wero therefore in position to understand
hetemper both Of Congress and fthe Northern
| people. And by way Of further proof that
Congress was in earneHt, and meant to mike
| this Act q fnalty, they passed, q few weeks af-
ter~ard, in the Extra Session, Supplemental
! Bill defining, md in some instances. limiting
! the first Act. II is fair to presume that all
these precautions would not have been taken,
| if. Congress had not designed in good faith to
! abide by lis cnnctmenis. ii.
Tho South accordingly, with few notable OK
oePtioha, throughout the length and breadth of
| its territory, accepted this Act, not with plea
sure or alacrity; for only hypoorites could have
! been capable Of suoh manifestation. The
/ terms Of the Act wero harshS and many Of its
provisions, in our opinion, unwise, and frahght
with ultimate trouble, il not danger. Still,
under. tho circumstances, they were accepted
| with quiet and uaniy resignation. If we did
mot kiss the rod, wo took It. Tho Radicals wore
disappointed. SrEyESs, DurLHn, KELLEY, md
mon Of that ilk, were not content with tho bur-
dens imposed by tho Act, did not vote for it,,
and have ever since done their utmost to de:
feat peaceful organization under its terms.
They feel that ,thoy cannot trust the Southern
whites to vote the Radical ticket. They no
longer hesitate or disguise their intention.
Radical agitators everywhere, both North and
South, put thi. alternative "a beautiful eIem-
plifcntion of the blessings Of FREQ government),
| "either vote the Unconditional National Union
ticket, or else the Reconstruction Act Is null
iity.'l Thus the. telegraph yesterday brought
the report of d speech delivered in Richmond
on Wednesday night, by one GKo. F. NoTEs, Of
New York, who said that if the rights Of tho
colored people we're secured, all would 90 we'll,
if not, he was in favor Of confscation and war
TO the knife. What priTnte Interpretation he
may have for his phrase-"rights Of the color
ed people'--itis is impossible to say.
Two classes Of difficulties have arisen in The
course of the execution of tho Reconstruction
Commanders, and the other to determine accu-
rately the GLASSES disfranchised by the act. The
latter difficulty was apparent, Immediately
upon the passage Of the act; and the Executive
was applied to. for definite instructions in re.
gard to it's Interpretation. Aftor considerable
delay, Attorney General SrAxsnEnnY gave an
opinion which was approved by the President
and Cabinet. and published; but has hitherto
not been declared binding. upon the District
Commanders. In its main features, the Attor-
ney Generals opinion was accepted everywhere
rs a fair exposition Of tho Congressional Act;
and in tho only District order, issued since,
that by General ScuoP1RLD, these views have
been adopted, with perhaps one or two trifing
exceptions. We are therefore surprised at an
editorial we find in the Now Orleans Republican
for June 6, headed: "Congress appealed TO TO
avert a great danger" The Republican is the
only Radical paper in the South that can lay
any pretenso to editorial ability, or TINT ap-
pears to have money in its purse; and while we
do not think Its ntteranoes come with any au-
thority (even of General SHEnIDAN-wilh
whom Il is not on the best terms), it will never
theless serve as an indication of Radical
opinion. ,tp .a.,i
The Republican is furious with srAxsBxaaY
for rensscrling in the very words Of the Recon-
struction Act that by tho act no one is disfran-
chised for participation in rebellion. Now the
act, wo have always thought, is perfectly clear
on this head, and owes nothing Whatever TO the
Attorney Generals Interpretation. The Re-
publican says:
has thus Gar called attention 70 the fearful extent
TO which this opinion Of Mr.. stansberry II car
lied M int9 operation will apbvort tho war and open
TO hesitate Or TO tell hall the truth. Lot the peo-
pie fully understand what will be Tho consequences
II the military government bill is hsuceforth 10 be
administered according 10 tho sts. Very intorpre.
tation: In very fow plain words lot us point ont
just what this Interpretation ia whom stripped Of
ita legal phraseology and described In everyday
'9fhs military bill itself ercepts from the
GLASS Of voters " such as may 10 disitan-
sas'd fRe wofa. SI ss n Is the
hoen they alnde. 70 the future, not TO
words thoy would hove been equally useless, III.
Btnnsberp says that no ono his boon disfrsnobis.
Cd by any law for participation In the robeIlon.
His words are very strong :'rThe mere facts asya
he, "do not operate the Acknowledgement II mnst
DO asoertsined By the Judgment Of q court or 6u a
fe9tstditce Gc." There is NO suoh iudement md
no such act; but Congress. lfit meots In July can
esstii fiTo us one. II am not aWere,n ho oontin-
ues, "of any Law that works dIsfranohisomont "A
70 the right OF suffrage By force Of the act tsolf
nor doeg auoh consequence follow from the CON,
Tlctlon for treason, or conspiracy to commit trea-
lon." 30 that, a. Ear as tho military bill is con.
oerned, no ono Is diBfranchised. Il Ia a perfect
nullity, dead letter In that resp ,ot II Mr. Stang
berry Ia correct"
II next proceeds to say that srAsspsRaY's
opinion invites every ex-rsbel to perjure him
self, etc., elo., and again appeals to the July
Congress. Tint is TO be, to put a stop to II.
Now, no one but stone.blini Radical, with
out grain Of sense, or grain Of honesty,
could have made any suoh deduction from tho