Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1867-01-31
NEW RECONSTRUCTION SCHEME.

The Washington Correspondent of the N. York
Times writes to that paper as follows:
Early in November last informed you that lead
ing politicians of the North and South -Repub
licans, Democrats and ex-rebels alike-had beer
in conference upon plan whereby should it be
adopted, it was believed the unfortunate difference:
between North and South and between the Execu
tive and Legislative branches of the Government
would be satisfactorily adjusted and also inform
ed you that these gentlemen were urging the Pres
ident to adopt this scheme and recommend it tc
the favorable consideration of the South. Suffrage
and amnesty formed the basis of that proposition
MIR. johnson gave to the suggestions OF these pa
triotic gentlemen the most careful and sincere con-
sderation, and was at once favorably impressed
with them.
But inasmuch as the amendment to the Consti-
tuition was then before the people, and its adop.
ton or rejection undecided, the President deemed
it mpolite, if not absolutely improper, to present
the matter to the country, believing as he does
and he has acted upon this belief, the assertions
to the contrary notwithstanding. The Southern
people should decide upon the proposed amend
ment without let or hindrance from the Executive.
The time has arrived when it may be safely as
sumed that the constitutional amendment will fail
to receive the approval of any one of the Southern
States, and upon this assumption MIR. johnson is
considering the propriety Of giving his approval
to the main features Of the scheme first above
mentioned, and Of recommending its adoption by
the Southern States, in Difference to the demand
Of the people of the North, and in which Southern
representative men, who have been heard upon
the subject acquiesce. The President thinks that
the negro population of the South should have
such safeguards thrown about them as to secure
to them the permanent enjoyment of their freedom
and all civil rights The negro, armed with the
ballot, can as well protect himself as any other cit
zen
As Mr.. johnson interprets the Constitution, hi
does not discover any power in the General Gov
ernment to egislate upon the subject of suffrage in
the States In whom rests the exclusive control of
the matter? Some Of the Northern States, Mas
sachusetts and New York for example, have given
the ballot to the negro In one of them is an edu-
cational, in the other property qualification, and
it is asked why may not S. Carolina for instance,
be placed upon the same footing with Massachu-
setts as to those who shall hereafter be admitted to
the elective franchise, and why may not the loyal
of the former be admitted to Con-
gress upon the same footing as the Representatives
Of the latter. Working out this plan in practi-
cal form, let the people of the State of South Ca
rolina so amend their Constitution and laws as to
extend the elective franchise 50 far as Massachu-
sets has done. As an incentive to this reform the
President ntimates his readiness to issue procla
nation of amnesty to all the people Of South Caro-
lima who may have approved the movement. This
reform accomplished, the people of that State elect
loyal Representatives to Congress, blacks voting
with whites, rs indicated above It would then
rest with Congress to determine whether these
should be admitted.
I have good reason for saying that this plan for
adjusting the existing difficulties in the way of re-
is now receiving the serious considera
ton of the administration and has been discussed
in the Cabinet with view to its adoption. 1t diff
fers from Mr.. Greeley's amnesty suffrage scheme
in this, that it provides for seperate State action
and proposes qualified suffrage, and it leaves i'm
practicable and unrepentant rebels still subject to
the penalties for treason, amnesty and suffrage each
being qualified 1t leaves States to the exercise of
their constitutional prerogative of prescribing the
qualifications of voters and extending the elective
franchise to the negro. To the Executive the dis
pensation Of pardon and amnesty, and to the Leg
slative the admission of loyal representatives to
the respective houses of Congress. Each branch
Of the Government thus harmoniously moving in
it's appropriate sphere.