The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1867-03-16
CHI A r L ES T ON.
SATURDAY MORNING, MARCH Is, 1867.
MIR. SUMMERS RESOLUTIONS.

The debate and vote in the Senate on Mr. eoM-
NrR,s resolutions are very significant. I'VE neeo
not e1aggerate that significance, but we ougns NV
to disregardi it. Mr.. SUMMERS resolutions uec..e
in effect, that, although the provisions OF 'ne VIII
torv Reconstruction Aot were satisfactory as 1ar
thew went, they must not be regarded as nnalsy;
that while the unrepresented States might procseo
to preparatory reorganization, IN conformity Will
its terms. Congress had the right, and wouio e1-
ercise the power, to add such other conotuons %
they might deem necessary for the completiou o.
their policy. And he indicated that cne OF tnose
conditions would be confscation Of Southern lanos
for distribution among the negroes.
In the debate and vote, this issue WAS squarely
met. Mr.. SHERMAN, the author OF the act' SUP
ported by large majority Of the Senate, declared
that the act. if accepted apd executed m' gooo
faith by the South, was fnaity that the faith OF
the country was pledged to complete the restora-
tion of the Southern States upon performance ol
the conditions, and that the policy OF contscaSon
would not be permitted. -. -. :
OF course MIR. SUMNER will persevere IN his ag1-
tation-he #in be supported by others as vlolens
and extreme as himself, but the indications are
that he cannot succeed The passage OF the MILL
tary Reconstruction Act has settled two issues
upon which not merely the Radical party but tne
whole Northern people seem TO have come 70 q
fixed determination.
1. That the question Of the re-admsslon OF 'ne
Southern States. was a question for Congress TO
decide.
2. That tho law of universal suffrage should be
the basis of the political system OF this country'
With hundreds Of thousands these were pr1nclples'
not mere matter Of policy, and the extreme Radl-
cal party has had in it's policy, so long as that
policy was identical with these principles, the i'm
mense advantage Of this popular support.
For all practical purposes, the debate has closed,
and this issue ia decided. Congress has main
tanned it's right and power to decide this question,
and much as we of the South may admire the
courage and ability with which the President dis:
charged what he felt to be his duty under the Con
stitution, it is well for us that the decision hal
been made. Between the upper and neither mill.
stones Of this controversy We were being ground
to powder. Much of the bitterness and violence
of this contest sprang from the very fact that il
was contest. It is only reasonable to expect no"
an abatement of that excitement and more 1u'
dicious and statesmanIike exercise OF that power
the establishment of which has cost 80 fierce
struggle. ..-1.E-,-5
So with the law Of umyordal suffrage. We may
think it unwise and dangerous. We have Little
doubt that many who voted for it thought so like
wise. But it is positive solution Of most din
cult problem. We;know now what we have to dc
and what We can do.
Through all that dark and doubtful fight
The cry Of AJAX was fer Light.
And if that light does show that We are sur.
rounded by difficulties, We at least can see what
the real character and force Of those difficulties
ore. E.ii r7ts.s..y,sGl
If the extreme leaders Of the Radical party insist
upon further and harder terms, these terms will
cannot any longer now be confused with. the prin-
ciples for which the, North has been oontending,
and the mass Of intelligent Northern voters can
not any longer be driven to support npolicy OK
vengeance, because that policy involved principles
which they were unwilling to abandon.
y The language Of MIR. SHERMAN and those who
supported him is strong and unequivocal. They
have pledged themselves to maintain the terms
which they have offered. It only remains for us
to fulfill the conditions imposed. They may be
very hard; but the people Of the South are like d
man struggling in quick-sand. Until he can find
something upon which to rest, al effort to e1ti-
cate himself only sinks him deeper. This act,
hard as it is, does afford us positive, if narrow
foothold and the sooner We plant our feet upon it,
the sooner viii we escape from sthe slough Of