The Fremont weekly journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County, Ohio) 1867-1877, 1867-03-22
How the South should Look
Mt if

The southern politicians are casting about
for some means of preventing the enforce
ment of the reconstruction bill. Some scold
the President for not defeating the bill by
retaining il till the thirty-ninth Congress
bad expired, which is unreasonable enough,
for the same till in substance could have been
passed by the present Congress. Others go
SO far as to abuse the President for putting
the act in force, declaring it his duty to resist
and obstruct it by every means in his power
which only shows how little knowledge they
have of the powers and duties of the Presi-
deut under the Constitution. Another class
are seeking legal means of obstruction to the
bill. Admitting that there is a chance that
the supreme court viii decide some provis-
ions of the Sherman bill unconstitutional,
what will the people Of the South gain by it!
II reconstruction under this bill is defeated,
what better can they hope for ia the future2
The most ssgacious amcng them must see
that there can be no permspent settlement
until equal suffrage is conceded, 1t is con-
temptible for States 10 demand this of the
South while refusing the suffrage to their
own colored citizens, but nevertheless it is
insisted upon, and the popular demand at tbs
North for this condition Of settlement is con-
tinually strengthening. In fact it is the sole
condition about which there is an approach
to uuauimity among our people. Those who
demand the disfrauchisement of former rebels
confiscation, and other retributiye measures,
are comparatively few, and the danger that
any of these measures will prevail lies solely
in the rejection by the South of the one es-
sential condition Of re -union. equal suffrage.
This being the true position of the ques-
ton at the present moment the South should
make haste to reconstruct and resume its
place in the Union. Indeed if Congress
passes supplementary reconstruction bill,
as it is nearly certain to d. the ten States
will be reconstructed, whether the present
States cannot be admitted to Congress till
that body is satisfied with the political con-
dition of the South, and if there were any
prospect of change of opinion in the North
OF this subject, as there is not, it would not
make itself felt in Congress for the next two
years. Practically, therefore, the whols
matter is fixed beyond hope of change.
| Clearly the South must reconstruct with
equal suffrage, and resume its place in the
/ Union; then, if it still thinks it has wrongs
TO complain of it will have tn esame oppor-
tunities with the other States TO seek redress,
But by that time il will have become used to
equal suffrage, and like il, and will be glad
to forget the errors of the past-its own and
those it now attributes to the North. The
rebellion was anomalous; so were some ofthe
means used to suppress il; SO is the situation
in which it has left the country; and if the
means of final settlement are also anomalous,
the sooner the work is done, and the normal
action the government restored, the better
| for all sections and all citizens,
.rhs new Supplementary Reconstruction bill hay
ing passed the two Houses Of Congress, may now be
considered law, the majoritss being ample to
| come any ExecuVVe NetO, IL nteonseiJ' ~ PfeNues
for registration of all male etizens who take
prescribed oath, the holding Of an election for dele
gates to convention wi privilege at the same time
to vote against holding any convention whatever the
assemblsge of such convention within sixty dsyf, the
formation of State Constitution, its submission to
the people, and slso If adopted BY bsm to Congress,
and approved BY the ater for the admission forth
with of such State TO its representation in Congress,
the leading idea throughout the bill being thst in 81
Eeps necessary to carry these two laws into effect
the initiative shall be taken by the military suthori-
,ty sone, which srpons boards of reputation and
ges Of election, dssgnsies every particular oftme
aud place. and re aims the sole executive power until