The weekly North-Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 186?-1869, 1867-02-13
UThe Plan.0

lions, now, hencefortl, and for several months
to come, to those true Southern men and
those "5est friends of the South at Washing
ton," who have given their valuable time
and jealous labors to the perfecting OF "Me
plan for restoring the Southern States to
the Union. We publish "the plan" else
where, from the Richmond Enquirer. The
Sentinel, the organ of all "true Southern
men, publishes e the plan in its last issue
with very equivocal endorsement. That
paper, however, will submit to any plan of
restoration which provides that its friends
may hold the Offices.
We have stated elsewhere that the plan"
and the Howard amendment are the same,
with this difference, that the plan" does
not provide, as the amendment does, that the
leaders of the rebellion shall be disqualified
from holding Office, and that "the plan :"
provides, as the amendment does not, for
negro suffrage. But we find, on examina-
ton, that there is another very important
difference, as will be seen by comparison
of the plan" with the Howard amendment,
which We re-publish as follows for informa-
ton:
SECTION l. All persons born or naturalized in
the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction
thereof are citizens of the United States and of
the State wherein they reside. No State shall
make or enforce any law which Shall abridge the
privileges or muunities of citizens of the United
States nor shall any State deprive any person of
life, liberty or property without due process OF
law, nor deny to any person within its Jurisdlc-
| ton the equal protection ofthe laws. -
SEC. Representatives shall be apportioned
among the several States according to their re-
spective numbers, counting the whole number OF
persons in each State, excluding Indians not tax
! ed But when the right to vote at any election
for the choice of electors for President and Vice
! President of the United States, representatives
ia Congress- the executive and judicial officers OF
| State, or the members ofthc Legislature thereof
| denied to any of the male inhabitants of such
State, being twenty one years of age and citizens
| of the United States, or in any way abridged,
| except for participation in rebellion or other
crime, the basis of representation therein shall be
reduced in the proportion which the number OF
| such male citizens shall bear to the whole num-
Der of male citizens twenty-one years of age in
| such State.
SEC g. No person shall be Senator or Repre-
sentative in Congress, or elector of President
| and Vice President or hold any office, civil OF
| military, under the United States, or under any
State, who, having previously taken an oath az a
member of Congress, or as an officer OF the Uni
| ted States, or as member of any State legisla.
ture or as an executive or judicial officer of any
State, to support the Constitution of the United
Stases shall have engaged in instruction or re
! belion against the same, or given aid or comfor
| to the enemies thereof But Congress may by o
| $50 ;rls Of aaob NJ
disability.
SEC 4. The validity of the public debt of the
| United States, authorized by law, including debt
| incurred for payment of pensions and bounties
for services in suppressing Instruction or rebel
lion, shall not he questioned But neither TIN
United States nor any State shall assume or pay
| any debt or obligation incurred in aid of insur
rection or rebellion against the United States o
| any claim for the loss or emancipation of an,
slave; but all such debts, obligations, and claim
shall be held illegal and void.
SEC. S. The Congress shall have power to en-
force, by appropriate legislation, the provision
OF this article
The Howard amendment provides tina
Congress shall never pay "any claim for tn
loss or emancipation of any slave" The pro
posed plan omits the precision. The amend
ment also provides that the faith of the ma
ton shall be pledged to pay bounties ant
pensions to federal soldiers. This is ais
| omitted in "the plan"
1t is scarcely worth while, however, to dis
cuss this new proposition, as there is not tn
ghost of chance that it will be adopted
The Howard amendment now lacks the rati
fcation of but four States to make it par
of the Constitution; and it would be absurt
to suppose that this amendment will b.
withdrawn or suspended to give place to
new proposition, which has little to recon
mend it save the fact that it is the produc
ton of few true Southern men,"
But behold the change! The Howard
amendment was opposed by these very poll
tieians, because they declared it containe,
negro suffrage; and now they themselve
propose negro suffrage, if the Congress viii
only consent that they may hold the offices
| Verify, their motto is every thing for Office
and nothing for the country. They invol
we'd the country in war on account of Office
and they are determined that the troubles @
the country shall not be settled, if they ca
prevent it, unless they are allowed to con
time in office. The measure of their patri
otism is office. Beyond office, office, office, the
never have hope, a thought, or an emotion