The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-04-08
INC EGort TO stop Reconstruction.

WE CanuOt Dut IeBaTu lne attempt Ihat Is
being made to procure an injunction from the
Supreme Court restraining the execution Of
the Reconstruction law recently passed by
Congress, as a most ill-advised and unfortu-
nate movement. The question sought to be
thus settled is political one, and outside of
the proper province of the Supreme Court.
That body might as consistently have issued
an injunction to restrain General Grant from
attacking Lee, as it now could to restrain any
one of our Southern Generals from executing
the Reconstruction law.
In ordinary times we should have no fear of
the improper interference of The Supreme
Court but that body has so forfeited the
confidence of the people by its partisan action
and language, in some of the late cases before
it, and has so evidently been controlled not
by legal, but by political considerations, that
we could scarcely be astonished at any step it
might take.
We regret that this question has been raised
at all, because the Congressional plan of re-
construction is now in the full tide of success
full execution. 1t is proving itself daily
measure Of peace and reconciliation. It's in
Auence upon Southern society in breaking
down the old antagonisms of race and color, is
almost magical. The South never was so
peaceful, never gave such evidences of its
capacity for progress and improvement; in
SAaEs- never presented so hopeful an aspect as
z; docs tO-isy under the practical workings of
.As DEMONSTRATION law. If its honest execu-
ssoa is not interfered with, there is every
~ u l - Al
Union, organized on principles of pure republi-
canism, before the next Presidential election.
We shall then have peace which will be per-
manent, and the entire structure of the Union
will be frmer than ever before.
Just at this moment, when all of these
bright prospects are dawning before the coun-
try, an effort is being made to put a stop to
the whole work, and to remand us to a fercer
agitation than any through which we have
passed. Is this wise ? Is there any valuable
practical end to be reached by it9 Suppose
the Court grants the injunction, what then
Will Congress feel forced by it to give up its
plan of reconstruction? Will the moral sense
of the country feel concluded by itH Will the
States be brought back into the Union by it?
the better hopes inspired by the workings of
the law, be quickened by it? No; but the very
reverse of all this.
Is there any public demand for this move
ment? None. Considerate men of all par
ties unite in deprecating it. Even the South,
or those who are enabled to speak for her,
does not desire it. Said Governor Orr, in his
hag
Board of Trade:-
"The act Of Congress recently passed has
assumed that this country is conquered ter
riJory, conquered people, and consequently
that that body has right to dictate terms. The
power exists In that body to dictate those terms,
II is secure for the next two years. and when
they place themselves squarely and broadly
upon that platform, Jorone do not propose TO 90
TO the Supreme Court, anyUhere else for the pur-
pose OF diepuiT0 that pO,Oer; bat in good faith IWiH
accept The terms hllnIiliating as they mag be- and
openly, fairly, md Sq,tarely urge their adoption
before our people"
And this sentiment, we are told, was re
ceived with 'great applause" by his audience.
This, then, may be assumed to be the senti-
ment of the business men of the South. Theydo
not wish to dispute before the Supreme Court,
or anywhere else, the power of Congress over
this whole matter. They accept the situation
and are ready to go ahead with the work.
Why, then, the question recurs, should
the effort be made to throw us back again into
the whirlpool of strife and agitation?
Our own opinion has been and is, that ''the
hand of Joab" is in this matter. Sharkey.
who makes the application for the writ. was
one of Johnsons Provisional Governors. We
have no doubt that he acts in accordance with
the suggestions of his superior officer The
whole movement is of piece with that obsti-
nate contempt of public opinion, and disregard
for the good of the country, which has become
so characteristic of the author of ''My Policy
He sees that, despite all the predictions of his
veto messages, despite his long and bitter
warfare upon Congress, their plan of recon
struction is working and working so admira
bly, as to extort praises even from those whC
would much rather curse. Unless something
can be done to arrest the good work that il
going on, the President and ''his plan" will b.
laid up high and dry on the banks of popula
contempt The policy of Congress will b
yindlcated by its wonderful success. Henc
the work must be obstructed at whatever cos
to the country. Peace, prosperity, union-al
must DE sacrlhced TO the political necessitie
which environ the President. 1t remains T.
be seen whether the Supreme Court will len
itself to such a scheme.
BELLGERENTs.-Rich must have a
atmosphere which is calculated to pro
duoe collisions between fellow-citizens. O
Saturday no less than three contests too