The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-02-19

scarcely to have been expected, he recognizes
the Mexican failure and the necessities of peace
with the United States. His speech to the
French Legislature discloses so clearly his
internal policy and his diplomatic programme
with regard to Europe, and makes them appear
so consistent with the interests of France, of
his dynasty and of the entire continent, that
we cannot deny the admirable skill and ad-
dress which it exhibits.
CLEAN of Hope-Action of the Senate
on RecOnsJructtOns
From The Times.
We have CLEANS Of light at last from Wash
ington. The Senate has tempered somewhat
the rash and perilous action of the House.
While it concurs in extending military govern
ment over the Southern States, it leaves open
way of deliverance. 1t provides for the pos
sible return of those States to participa-
ton in the national councils. They need not
be left indefinitely under absolute military con-
troll.
This result was reached at o'clock on Sun
day morning, after session which lasted all
Saturday night. Mr.. Sumner first proposed
that the Constitutional amendment should be
adopted by three-fourths of those States that
are represented in Congress; but this was sum-
marily rejected only seven votes being cast in
its favor. Next Mr.. Henderson, of Missouri,
offered the Louisiana bill as basis of govern
ment for all the Southern States; this also was
rejected. The Blaine amendment, which had
been defeated in the House by a coalition of
Democrats and Radicals, was then offered and
refused whereupon Mr.. Sherman, of Ohio,
offered substitute for the pending bill in the
following terms:--
Whereas, No legal State govern ments, or ade-
quate protection for life or property, now exists
South Carolina, Georgia, alabama, Mississippi,
Louisiana, Florida, Texas, and Arkansas; and
shouId he en- forced in said States 1nti iowaI ond
republican State governments can be legally
Be il enacted, ETC., That said Rebel States shall
be divided into military districts and made
subject to the military authority of the United
States, as hereinafter mentioned; and for that
purpose Virginia shall constitute the First Dis
trict North Carolina and South Carolina the
Second District, Georgia, Alabama, and Florida
the Third District, Mississippi and Arkansas
the Fourth District, and Louisiana and Texas
Section Q. That it shall be the duty of the
President to assign to the command of each of
the rank of Brigadier- General, and to detail
sufficient military force to enable such officer
to perform his duties and enforce his authority
within the district to which he is assigned.
Section 3. That 1t shall be the duty of each
officer assigned as aforesaid to protect all per-
sons in their rights of person and property. to
suppress instruction, disorder and violence,
and to punish, or cause to be punished all dis
turbers of the public peace and criminals and
to this end he may allow local civil tribunals
TO take jurisdiction of and try offenders, or.
when in his judgment 1t may be necessary for
the trial of offenders, he shall have power to
organize military committees or tribunals for
that purpose; and all interference under color
of State authority with the exercise of military
authority under this act shall be null and void.
Section A. That all persons put under military
arrest by virtue OF This act snail be tried with
out unnecessary delay, and no cruel or unusual
| punishment shall be inflicted, and no sentence
of any military commission or tribunal hereby
authorized, affecting the life or liberty of any
person, shall be executed until IL is approved by
| the officer in command OF the district; and the
| laws ana regulations TOR the government of the
army shall not be affected by this act except in
| so far as they may conflict with its provisions.
''Seetion b. That when the people of any one of
| the said Rebel States shall have formed con-
| stitution for their government In conformity
| with the Constitution of the United States in
| all respects, framed by q convention of dele
| gates elected by the male citizens of said State
| twenty-one years old and upwards, of what
ever race, color or previous condition, who have
| been resident in said State for one year previ-
GUS TO the day of such election, except such as
| may be disfranchised Tor participation in the
rebelllon or Tor felony at common law; and
| when such constitution shall provide that the
| elective franchise shall be enjoyed by all such
persons as have the qualifications herein stated
| for electors of delegates, and when such consti
tuition shall be ratified by a majority of the per-
| sons voting on the question of ratification who
/ are qualified as electors for delegates and when
| such constitution shall have been submitted TO
| Congress for examination and approval and
| congress snall have approved the same, and
| when said State, by vote OF its Legislature
| elected under said constitution, shall have
| adopted the amendment to the Constitution of
| The United states, proposed by the Thirty ninth
| congress, and known as article Ii, and when
| SAID article shall have become a part of the
| Constitution of the United States, said State
| shall be declared entitled TO representation in
| congress, and Senators and Representatives
| shall be admitted therefrom ON their taking the
| oath prescribed by law, and then and thereafter
| the preceding sections of this act shall be in
| operative in said State"
In principle this is identical with the Blaine
amendment and like that, it will encounter
i'll the House the united hostility of the Demo-
Gratis and the extreme Radicals. That coali
ton, which proved so potent last week, will be
renewed. The ultra Radicals are determined
that there shall be no reconstruction in the
Southern States, unless the negroes have uni
versal suffrage, and the whites are stripped of
suffrage altogether. The Democrats stand
ready to help them secure this result. In
order to keep their party 'record" clear, they
refuse to make the bill one whit better, or
more tolerable for the South than the most
ultra OF the Radicals would make it without
them. If they could defeat the bill altogether
there might be some excuse for such an
attempt. 1t is certainly repugnant to
their principles and their interests, and
l no one expects for IL thar sunnort