The Daily clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1866-1888, 1867-04-17

constitutional amendment and under
the provisions of the Reconstruction
Acts =?
"a full and frank reply will be of
much general interest to
MIssIssIppI."
c -1TG w Rr,IARKsil ~ I'LL 2 e
To the first of these questions our
answer is affirmative.
To the second, we reply that the
qualification of members is a matter
SO entirely within the control of-the
respective Houses that we cannot pre-
tend to say what tests they will apply
to the Representative of the Southern
States. In the selection of Represen-
tatives, it will be to the interestof the
people to choose those, if such can be
found, who are not only eligible under
the amendment and acts of Congress,
but not obnoxious to the test oath. 1t
is very probable thatif those are chosen
who, while unable to take their seats
under the oath of 1852, have shown a
hearty disposition to reorganize their
States in harmony with the require
ments of the pending law, that the rule
will be relaxed or suspended in their
favor. Such was the case with one Of
the Senators from Tennessee.
The advocates of policy of mas
terly inactivity, who are waiting and
hoping for quiet political reaction in
the North, through which a restoration
Of all Federal relations may be reach
ed upon more lenient terms, make
great use of the assertion that the re
construction measures of Congress are
not finality. There is before us as
we write labored article from the pen
of the ponderous editor of the Mem
phis Appeal, in which he undertakes to
show that before a year has passed the
confiscation bill proposed by Thad.
Stevens will become law, and gen
eral confiscation 0 landed and person
al property take place throughout the
entire South. He does not expressly
state it, but leaves the inference to be
drawn, that as this is inevitable, the
people of the South may as well fold
their arms, and like the Oriental fatal
ist, take what comes, and use no excr-
ton to arrest catastrophe.
1t is time that less heed was paid to
ancient oracles. But for their advice
and influence the constitutional amend
ment would, we are persuaded have
been ratified, and the representatives
of the ten outstanding States at least
recognized as entitled to seats, and
such of them admitted as not individ-
ually debarred by the existing restric-
ton. There would have been no furth-
er preliminary legislation, and the
question representation, SO far as 1t
is general one, affecting the relation
of the States to the Federal head,
would have been settled The Recon-
struction Act, and the supplementary
legislation to give it effect, was the di-
rect consequence of the refusal to rat
;fs- ~of,rnl oonnh nd in at-'-I t----
and given in such a spirit as to con-
vince even the conservative that
more decisive policy would have to be
adopted in dealing with the people of
the States lately in rebellion. Ifthey
now refuse to act, will they have inn
proved their prospects immediate and
The result will be arenewal
of the terms now proposed in another
form, coupled with conditions more
severe and less palatable. Whether
Congress will go to the extremes adj
vised by Mr.. Stevens is doubtful, but
if anything would incline the majority
fits members to do so, it would be a
sullen and logged disposition on the
part of the South to do nothing toward
reorganization unless it be allowed to
10 it in its own way and time and upon
is own conditions.
Congress has not by resolution or
otherwise declared officially that if the
States are recognized in accordance
With the terms of the Reconstruction
Act, such action will be regarded as
inal and conclusive, and the States be
'estored to their relations and repre-
'entation without further legislation.
The Thirty ninth Congress could not
bind its successor by any such pledge
,r promise. and the Fortieth Congress-
las not seen fit to make such an Off
,ial expression. The fact, however,
hat almost its first deliberations were
given to the perfecting of measures to
make operative and practicable the
dill enacted by its predecessor, in
Joint of fact to complete a scheme
whereby Southern States may be re-
ieved from their present anomalous
and put upon equal footing
With the other States, ought to be ac-
epted as evidence of sincere deter
nination to reach an early solution of
'ur difficulties, and to this end the CO.
'peration of all not excluded for their
art in the rebellion, is invited, and
he mode of action made plain to
hem. There is no doubt in our mind I
hat if the questions addressed to this
ournal were put to the members of
congress Individually, who voted for II
he Reconstruction Bills, the same en-
hattie answer would be returned that
enator Sherman gave to an enquiring {
itizen Of Georgia. I
The constitutional amendment and 4
ne Reconstruction Acts cover all the 6
,rms that the people have demanded. I
T promptly and sincerely complied S
18th, as it now seems probable they 4
i'll be, no member of Congress, we |
are not how high his position or {
hat the extent Of his influence, will i
e sustained in delaying the hour of {
,mplete restoration, by demand for A
Irther limitations and exactions. Mr.. v
lmner's resolutions we're introduced S
sfore any steps towards reconstruc- n