American citizen. [volume] (Butler, Butler County, Pa.) 1863-1872, 1867-11-13
VOLUME 4.
SMistellaneous.
Common-Sense in Reconstruction.


Those who have supposed that new
plap of reconstruction was likely to be
adopted because of the result of the au
tumn elections have neither observed the
facts of those elections nor reflected very
maturely upon the character of the
American people. The elections do not
show substantial increase of the Demo-
cratic vote and nothing less than that
could be fairly Interpreted as a change
of the popular sentiment and purpose
Republicans have abstaiued from voting
indeed, and the result will be whole>
some correction OF many errors into which
a party with an enormous majority Is
very likely to fall. Good aud generous
men-meu who are earnestly devoted to
various moral reforms-naturaliy ally
themselves with a party whose funda
mental principle is that justice is the
best policy And such men naturally
wish to advance their reforms by means
of the great party organization. But
those who. adhere to the party for its
especial and legitimate purpose are re
PEELED by such efforts ani feeling the
objects of the party to be endangered by
the want of wisdom of some OF its mem>
bers, they do not hesitate to rebuke them
by suffering the party to be defeated
upon some minor issue. This brings the
whole party to its bearings, provided its
real purpose is yet unachieved and, ike
a confident army worstcd in the skir,
mishing Of the outposts, it feels the ns>
cessity of care aud discipline, and its vic
tory is assured. .....
Now the great purpose of the Repub>
lican party in tho reconstruction of the.
Union upon the policy Of equal rights.
The war left the rebel States without
civil government and without slaves
The National authority thus being ohlig>
ed to provide local State governments
proposes to found them upon the eensent
of all the people expressed in the usual
way, and excepting a certain incousld
cradle number whose disability may be
removed at any time by Congress. 1t
further proposes that in this State gov
ernmeut no person shall be disiranchise.
ed on account Of color. This is tho Re,
publican scheme of reconstruction. IC
intends the restoration of all States peace.
ably and securely, as soon as possible.
This can not be done by creating arbi-
trary political distinction omong the in
habtants of the State least of all by
giving politica power to the most 1isaf>
fected clasn No sane man supposes that
there can be an effective reconstruction
until there is moiority of truly loyal
voters in every. State, or a minority so
large and important as to hold the ma
iorty in check. There was but one way
to have this number, and that was to en-
franchise the whole population, with Ger.
tain conspicuous and notorious exception.
Such system admitted the ignorant
white and the ignorant colored inhabit>
ants to vote. 1t was great pity that all
were not intelligent, and that the matter
could not he delayed until all were ed
ucated But delay was indefinite mills
iaty occupation, which must bs avoided
if possible. Public impatience must also
be considered The law was therefore
passed, every honest man feeling that
man who could not read, but who was
instuctively loyal, was a safer citizen
than mau who could read and was lis
affected
The result has proved the justc, of
this view The recent elections in the
Southern States show that this majority
or large minority of loyal votes has been
developed in every Site Unfortunately
it has also taken the aspect of a division
by color. Bn' that is not the fault OF
the reconstruction policy. 1t is the nat
ural consequence Of the situation, The
former STAKEHOLDER class was white, and
it fought against the Governmout in or
der to perpetuate slavery, the basis of its
political power 1t failed, and nobody
knew tn purpose of the rebellion better
than the slaves When therefore, they
were made free against the will of their
late masters, was it likely that they
would instinctively turn to them as to
their best friends ? but having made the
slaves freemen, what was the Government
to do Should it leave them, under the
plea of State rights. wholly to the mercy
of the master class or should it guaran'
tee the civil rights which it had confer.
rec in the only effeciual way, by giving
the new citizens political power There
can be no serious question upon this
point. 1t is mere folly to say that there
are, people who have civil rights and
who are protected without participation
In political power. Does any competent
person believe that the colored inhabit>
ants of Louisiana or Texas would be 50
protected !? Does not every American cit>
isen know that they were not
The Republican policy of reconstruct
tion is that of practical common sense,
and it will therefore be maintained. Its
strength and security do not rest upon
any partiality for the colored race, nor
upon any remarkable love of justice nor
upon and viadictive feeling toward reb-
els, but upon precisely the instinct and
determination that carried the war to an
unconditional triumph. The people of
this country do not believe that the
Southern States can be safely and eco
nomically restored by giving them wholly
into ex rebel hands, ard they therefore
will not bring into power party which
has no otter policy. Men are not very
logical In politics. and great multitudes
are seldom controlled by perfectly pure
principle. It must have the alloy Of in