The southern enterprise. [volume] (Greenville, S.C.) 1854-1870, 1867-03-14
TO tie House of Representatives

To the House Of Representatives i
have examined the Bill q to provide
for the more efficient government of the
rebel States " with the care and anxiety
which its transcendant importance is
calculated TO awaken. l am unable to
give II my assent, for reasons so grave
that hope q statement of them may
have some influence on the minds Of the
patriotic, and enlightened men with
whom the decision must ultimately
rest. -. :cE . -. :
The Bill places all the people Of the
ten States therein named under the abr
solute domination of military rulers
and the preamble undertakes to give
the reason upon which the measure is
based, and the ground upon which il is
justified. 1t declares that there exist in
those States no legal governments, and
no adequate protection for life or prop
erty, and asserts the necessity Of en-
forcing peace and good order within
their limits. Is this true as matter Of
facii -, = ..-..
It is not denied that the States 10
question have each of them an actual
Government, with all the powers, ex-
ecutive, judicial, and legislative, which
properly belong TO a free State. They
are organized like the other States Of
the Union, and, like them, they make,
administer, and execute the laws which
concern their domestic affairs. An ex-
listing de faeto Government, exercising
euch functions as these, 10 itself the law
Of the State upon all matters within its
jurisdiction. To pronounce the su-
preme law making power of an estab-
lisbed State legal, is. to say that law
itself Is unlawful .rr.%, .
The provisions which these Govern
snents have made for the preservation
Of order, the suppression of crime, and
tho redress of private injuries, are in
substance and principle the same as
those which prevail in the Northern
States, and in other civilized countries.
They certainly have not succeeded in
preventing the eon,saissiou of crime, nor
has this been accomplished anywhere in
the world. There, as well as elsewhere,
offenders sometimes escape for want of
vigorous prosecution, and occasionally,
perhaps, by the inefficiency of courts, or
the prejudice of Jurors. itis undoubt-
edly true that these evils have been
much increased and aggravated, North
and South, BY the demorslizipg influ
ences of civil war. and by the rancorous
passions which the contest has engen-
.dered. But that these people are main.
tanning local Governments for them.
selves, which habitually defeat the object
Of all government and render their own
lives and property insecure, is in itself
utterly improbable, and the averment
Of the Bill to that effect is not support.
ed by any evidence which has come to
my knowledge. All the information l
have on the subject consinces me that
the masses Of the Southern people and
tbosewho control their public acts, while
they eutertain diverse opinions on ques,
tions Of Federal policy, are completely
united in the effort to re>organize their
society on the basis of peace, and restore
their mutual prosperity MS rapidly and
completely as their circumstances win
permit. -: .-.. r. .. q
The Bill, however, would seem TO
show upon SIS face that the establish
ment Of peace and good order is not its
real object. The fifth section declares
that the preceding sections shall cease
TO operate in any State where certain
events shall have happened. These
events are-6rst, the selection Of dele,
gates 10 a Sta.e Convention by an elec,
tion at which negroes shall be allowed
to vote. Second, tue formation Of q
State Constitution by the, Convention 80
chosen. Third, the insertion into the
State Constitution of a provision which
will secuse the right Of voting at all
elections TO negroes, and to such white
men rs may not be disfrapchised for re-
bellion or felony. Fourth, the submis-
sion Of the Constitution for ratification
10 negroes and white men not disfan
chised, and its actual ratification by
their vote. Fifth, the submission. OF The
State Constitution to Congress for'ex,
animation and approval, and the actual
approval Of il by that body, Sixth, the
adoption OF q certain amendment to the
Federal Constitution by a vote OF the
Legislature elected under the new Con,
stitution. Seventh, the adoption of said
amendment by sufficient number of
other States to make It part of the
Constitution Of the United States. All
these conditions must be falfilled before
the people Of any Of these States can
be relieved from the bondage of militia.
ry domination but when they are full
filled, then Immediately the pains and
penalties Of the Bill are 10 cease, no