Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1867-03-22
s.,,,.n,.rt.I Re,onstruction.

suppIementaI Reconstruction.
The reconstructionists of Congress ap-
pear to have been seized with teverlsh
dread that the provisions of the Sherman
military bill may be accepted and acted
upon by the Southern States too soon for
their purposes. Nobody ever supposed
that they really meant to admit the States
under il until after the next presidential
election, and it was obvious enough to any
man who scanned its provisions that album
dant care had been taken for the contin-
eency of any State rushing upon an accep-
tancc of the terms, to cool its ardor while
waiting for gracious ratification of It's ef-
forts to rebuild, according to the pleasure
of Congress, as reserved III the fifth section
of the bill But by the reports OF con-
gressional proceedings within the past two
DAYS it appears that either ignorance of the
effect of their own work, or from that ner-
vous apprehension which often forces the
guilty to betray his guilt through the very
agencies he has devised for its concealment,
the extreme men are contrvlng now de-
vices to prevent the Southern States from
acting under the Sherman bill. Not the
least transparent of these is the provision
for registering the voters 81 the Southern
States preparatory to any act OF reconstruc-
ton on their part, which registration IS to
be postponed until the close OF September.
| After that the elections are to take place,
the conventions to be held, the const1t1-
tons framed by them to be submitted to
the people for ratification, and then to be
laid before Congress for approval or reJec-
ton. All this work Of circUmlocution must
necessarily consume the balance OF the
wear 1867, so that the earliest time at which
any State can present itself for admission
will be the beginning OF the year 1865
| After that stage of advancement in the
work shall have been reached, not much
skill in parliamentary continuance VIII De
required to postpone the question OF &C
ceptance or rejection until after the presl-
dental election in the autumn following.
We are not unaware that MI Sherman, IN
tho Senate Oh Monday, spoke earnestly OF
the pliehted faith OF the nation having
been given to the States that if they &C
cepted the terms Of his bill no further con-
ditions should be exacted of them. so
much might, indeed, be un answer TO the
extrayagant demands Of Mr. Sunner.-
These latter go beyond the political and
partisan necessities Of the case, and may,
| therefore, we'll be repudiated with certain
degree of virtuous Indignation. But the
partisan unanillity with Whlol the Wilson
| bill passed the House on Monday warrants
the assumption that this commentary upon
the Sherman bill will pass the Senate also
Should 1t pass, we do not think 1t will be
any breach of the faith pledged i'll the
| Sherman bill itself, and, therefore Mr.
Sherman may be expected TO vote for II.
We have heretofore shown that every con
dition expressed III it is tacitly bound up IN
the Sherman bill itself. One Of the pre-
texts of this new bill OF Mi. Wilson IS that
the Sherman bill provided no machinery
for initiating the necessary procedure to-
wards reconstruction, and therefore the
States might remain inactive for want OF
motive power. OF the present Legislative
bodies of those States might take 1nlm1cal
action towards the newly franchised cltl-
zens Now, in fact, these suggestions were
both void Of foundation, because by the
bill supreme dominion is given to the mill
tarv power, and without the Wilson sup
plement the commanders might at their
pleasure either prohibit the call OF IL COLI
yention under the State authority OF call
and organize q convention themselves, I'M
der their military power, after the prece-
dent established in California, when that
territory was conquered from Mexico. The
whole animus of the new movement Is
therefore revealed and like the professions
of the preamble and enacting clauses otth
Sherman bill. which were so completely
unmasked by the veto message OF Pres1'
dent johnson, the motives for this new lie
gislation are clearly other than those which
are ASSIGNED by its advocates in Congress-
Those who have been actuated by vim
dictiveness towards the Southern people
and with Il desire still further to humiliate
them by the passage Of the Wilson bill
have quite overreached themselves in this
That the people of the States who have hao
the Sherman bill forced upon them felt 6
lust reluctance in themselves actively going
) to work to fasten, by their own voluntary
action, that law upcn themselves, yet thai
they might give to their enemies no excuse
for further imputahonS upon the good taltl
, in which they accepted the consequence:
of their surrender, they we're nerving them
} selves to take the initiative, and to lift tc
their own lips the cup Of bitterness pre-
pared for them by that law.
This new enactment, made with the Op
posite purpose, will spare them that severe
) trial, and now that the whole matter is tx
be put distinctively, as before it was sub
, stantially, under the control Of the militia
{ ry, there can be no opportunity for thei
enemies to accuse them of obstinate, sullen
contumacious rejection of the terms o
reconciliation and restoration which ar
presented. They are and must now be en-
: tirely passive, and bide the results which
, are yet undeveloped in the womb of time
But every day Will add 10 the accumu!atlol
of proofs which must ultimately satisfy tn
American mind that the lcudest professor
of loyalty make wonderfully little haste t.
furnish plan, rational and consistent pla1
r for bringing back the excluded States t.
o the fold of national unity.-BoH. Sun.
The Spring state Elections.
Three of the Eastern States will hol
> their annual elections during the next thre
: weeks. The election in New Hampshir
will take place tomorrow; but as the resul
seems to be foregone conclusion very lii
tie interest has arisen in relation to 1t. .
Republican Governor will be again chosen
It and three Republican members of Congress
# will no doubt be returned The people c
"a Connecticut will vote on the first day {
- April for Governor and four members {
! Congress. In the latter State the excite
~ ment runs high, partly in consequence {