Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1867-02-13
The Presidents New Plan.

For several weeks past, Gov. Worth, OF
North Carolina, Gov. Orr, of South Caro-
lima, Gov. Marvin, of Florida, Gov. Shar-
key, of Mississippi, and Gov. Parsons, OF
Alabama, have been in Washington City,
and in frequent conference with President
johnson. 1t seems that these interviews
have resulted in the Matching of new
scheme OF Reconstruction, which, in sub
stance. is as follows: l. That no State has
a right to renounce the Union; 2. That
the National Government has no right to
eject a State from the Union, or to deprive
it of representation in Congress; 3. That
the debt of the United States shall be sa-
cred and inviolate 4. That neither the
United States nor any State shall assume or
pay a debt incurred in aid of rebellion 5.
That all persons born or naturalized in this
country shall be accounted citizens of the
United States and of any State In which
they may reside, and shall have full protec-
ton for life, liberty and property, from both
the National and local Governments 6.
That representation in Congress and Eleeto-
raj Colleges shall be apportioned by count
ing all the population, excluding only Indi-
ans not taxed, and that whenever any person
shall be denied the right of suffrage on ac-
count of race, color or former condition of
servitude, then the entire class so excluded
shall not be counted in apportioning repre-
sentation.
These propositions embrace an amend
ment to the Constitution of the United
States, which, according to the programme,
is to be submitted to Congress, and the peo-
pie, by one or all of the lately seeded States.
In addition to this change in the Federal
Constitution, they also propose that changes
shall be made in the Constitutions of the
Southern States, so as to provide that every
male citizen who has resided in the particu-
lar State for one year, and in the county in
which he offers to vote six months immedi-
ately preceding the day of election, and can
read the Declaration of Independence and
the Constitution of the United States in the
English language and write his name, or
who may be the owner of $3.50 worth of
taxable property, shall be entitled to vote at
all elections for Governor of the State, mem
bers of the Legislature and all other officers,
the election of whom may be by the people
of the State. To reach the case of natural
lied citizens who do not read English, or
who can not read at all, it is proposed to
provide that no person shall be excluded
from voting who has heretofore exercised
the elective franchise under the Constitution
| or laws of any State, who, the time of
| the adoption of this amendment, may be
entitled to vote under said Constitution and
| laws.
A comparison of this new Presidential
scheme with the pending Constitutional
| Amendment, will, at glance, reveal the
difference between the two The pending
amendment prohibits the leading rebels from
holding office under the National or State
governments, while this new plan inflicts no
penalty whatever upon the rebels who tried
to destroy the Government-per contra; it
| places those who fought TO destroy the
Union on the same footing with those who
fought to save the Union, and who did save
1T from destruction by traitors. Nay, more.
| This new Presidential scheme restores the
rebels at once to a perfect equality with
those who were loyal to the Government =
it utterly ignores the character of the strug.
gle through which the country has passed,
and virtually admits that no wrong had been
committed by the rebels, and hence no need
of Furnishing traitors nor of making treason
odious." Such being the character of this
new reconstruction plan of President John
son, it is but natural that every truly loyal
heart should instinctively turn from it and
seek safety in the fidelity of Congress Then,
let the people heartily sustain their repre-
sentatives in Congress, and all viii be we'll
the Union will be preserved, and traitors
| will be punished.
The terms of the contract resulting in the