American citizen. [volume] (Butler, Butler County, Pa.) 1863-1872, 1867-07-31
RECONSTRUCTION.

Tn his closing speech on the reconstruc-
tion question, Mr.. Stevens lakes occa-
sion to say that the Republican majority
in Congress ahas agreed that the States
lately in rebellion are conquered terrific
ry.' Immediately upon the close OF the
war, Mr.. Stevens advanced the theory,
then peculiarly his own, that the South
ern States, having engaged in an insur.
rrction which became in time magniled
to the proportions of rebellion, and SO
nowerful as to command the recognition
by our own, as we'll as other governments
of belhgerent rights, became for all po
litcal purposes foreign power, subject
in case of ultimate defeat and overthrow
to all the liabilities of conquered ene-
nv, with no other rights than those al>
lowed by the laws of war, the laws OF
nations and the laws of humanity. So
far as we can recollect, he advanced this
theory and argued for its recognition with
but little sympathy either in or out of
Congress. 1t was regarded generally as
dangerous ground, and as theory revo-
lutionary in its character. The Repub
lican party generally accepted the fact
that rebellion had placed the Southern
States outside of practical relations with
the Union, and insisted that on general
principles the work of restoration and
reconstruction should be committed to
Congress; but Mr.. Stevens stood alone at
first in maintaining that the rebellion had
e)nsummated the work of secession so
fir as the liabilities Of the States to the
government were concerned, and that
they are in consequence of the failure of
the rebellion conquered territory. The
difference between Mr. Stevens and those
of his party who opposed him was just
this-he insisted that our arms had con-
quered a government, owing, by its own
repeated declarations, no allegiance to
the United States they maintained that
we had merely suppressed a rebellion,
which by its magnitude and long contin-
nance had disordered and confused the
political relations of the States that had
engaged in it, Mr.. Stevens view, if
correct, would make these States for all
political purposes conquered territory
and entirely dependent upon Congress-
The other would simply warrant Congress
by virtue of supreme necessity in restor-
ing order and government to those States
under constitutional restraints and re-
strictions.
According to Mr.. Stevens view, the
constitution could impose no restraint to
congression action, that instrument being
n compact between States and not apply.
ing to territories, no matter how acquir-
ed. No direct issue was ever made be-
tween these opposing theories. Recen-
struction was allowed to progress inde>
pendent of theory but governed by ne>
cessity. Congress legislated upon the
subject not on the basis of any particu-
lar theory, but as circumstances demand
cd and the necessities of the country re-
quired. The result of it all is unquess
tionable a practical recognition of the
soundness Of Mr.. Stevens view. On no
other ground can the legislation of Con-
CESS be justified 1t implies total for
feiture Of rights by the rebellious States
and assume a sovereign power in Congress
to govern, direct and control them so long
as they remain in their present condition.
Mr. Stevens assertion therefore is war
ranted by the facts of the case. He is
equally correct when he says that we
would have had but very little trouble in
reconstructing the government had we
recognized the principle at the outset
Once concede the Southern States to be
conquered territory and the whole prob
lem is solved. The supreme power be-
comes lodged in Congress and no other
department of the government can inter-
fere with its exercise Of that power
That power extends not only over the po-
litical Ielat IS and con litions of the ter
ritory, but by the laws of war, and sub
ject to them, is made to embrace even the
lives aud the property of its people
Reconstruction as applied to them would
mean simply admission as States, just as
any other territory is built up into States,
and by the same power.
A twelve months experience has done
more to make Congress of one mind on
this important subject than all of Mr.,
Stevens arguments, unanswerable as they
were. Instead of standing alone as he
did at first, he is supported by nearly all
who then opposed him. The events Of
the last year has justified his predictions,
and the country regards his views as
completely yindicated-Eanktia Re
pository,