Nashville union and dispatch. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1866-1868, 1867-02-24
WHO ARE VOTERS UNDER THE NIL
ITAHY GOVERNMENT RILI2

The wording of the reconstruction or
military government bill seems to create
doubt as to who are entitled to vote in
the reconstruction of the Southern States
Those who were opposed to adopting
this bin in lieu Of that proposed by Thad
Stevens were at no loss to understand
who were to participate in the recon
struction of the Southern States In the
debate in the House of Representatives
on the 18th inst, Mr. Boutwell,, of Mas
sachusetts, who contests with Thad Ste
yens the leadership Of the Radicals in
that body, is reported in the Washing
ton Chronicle to have said
Under this bill there is not one Rebel
in the South, from Jefferson Davis himself
il he were released from Fortress Monroe.
20 the humblest soldier who trained in the
armies Of the rebellion OF praCticed the ne
furious business Of the guerrilla, deprived
of the right Of suffrage. IL provides for
universal amnesty and restoration 10 po-
htical power. The pending constitutional
amendment deprives certain persons Of the
right 90 hold office; but the power of this
government and the power of the States is
not the right 10 hold Office; il is in the
immensely superior power Of the people 10
elect 10 Office. The men elected 10 Office
will represent those by whom they are
elected. and thus the reorganization of
those ten States will be turned over 10 the
Rebels. You give them the front seats in
Il. 4 r -. 4
power, of influence of trust-and do Won
expect, after submitting ali authority to
them, that You can reconstruct loyal State
governments there? Now is the time 10
cherish and nourish the loyal sentiment of
the people. We ought TO see to it that the
reconstruction Of these States Is intrusted TO
loyal men. We ought TO remove from the
business Of reConstruCtlng South Carolina.
for example, the Orrs, the PiCkenscs and
the McGraths, and all those men who par
ticipated in the rebellion. This bill leaves
the whole matter Of reconstruction open 10
anybody and everybody in the South who |
may choose TO engage in the work
The same paper also reports that
''Mr Stokes opposed the Senate amend |
ment because he saw in il universal amnes-
" and universal suffrage He did not
understand the English language if il did
not enfranChise every Rebel in the South |
ern States. He, for one, would never cast
has vote 70 place the government of those
States in the hands OF Rebels
Thad Stevens opposed the sherman |
Senate bill in lieu of his for the following |
among other reasons
Why Is az that we are SO anxious TO pro- |
claim universal amnesty Is there any fear /
that the nation may awake from its lethar- |
~ and may insist upon furnishing bv im- /
pHsonment by oonhscation, or possibly by /
personal violence some Of those who have /
murdered our brothers, our fathers, and our /
children Is there any danger that such a |
spirit will be aroused in this nation /
spnt which sleeps only here and which no
other nation ever before allowed 70 sumherP |
II there Is such danger that there Is 10 be
punishment dreaded hv these men. then
this bull protects them. q God will
ing, and ] living, there shall be a question
propounded 10 this House and this nation
whether portion of the claims Of loyaI
men shall not be paid by the confscated
property Of Rebels But this bill cuts ms
all out; this bill is helping the President
10 take from the people that which belongs |
TO them and to give It back to traitors
The Cincinnati Gazette interpets the |
bill 20 mean reconstruction Of the State /
governments upon the basis Of universal
suffrage, and constitutions in conformity
with the constitution Of the United States.
and acceptable to Congress
Occasional (Col John " Fornev,
editor Of the Washington Clroaicle,) in