Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1867-11-01
The Steps of Reconstruction.

The Steps Of beconsCrueClOn'
The Convention of Louisiana is to
meet on the 23d of November in New
/ Orleans. The votes cast numbered 49,
/ IA, of which 75,0 ,083 were for cOnyen-
] tiOn It will be remembered that del
| egates were voted for at the election,
and these are now called to meet in
| convention in accordance with the act
] Of Congress. 1t is curious TACT GnaG
| Louisiana cast only 0,510 votes in the
! Presidential election of 1850.
/ Virginia votes to-day on the question
| of a convention Alabama has voted al
! ready, and for a convention. General
! Candy has just appointed the 18th and
! 10th of November as election days in
/ North and South Carolina.
It may be of use to recite briefly
/ she order of proceedings in the matter
/ of Reconstruction, so far as this is demo-
ted by the act ofCongress and its sup
I Piemeut. These provide;
First-For a registration of the voters;
| this has been accomplished, we believe,
] in all the States.
Second-For an election, in which the
registered voters are to vote for or
against a Constitutional Convention,
and at the same time delegates for such
convention in case it is held. Such
elections have been held in Louisiana
and Alabama. They are ordered in
most of the other States.
Third-Ifa majority of the registered
voters vote for a cOnventiOn-as they
have done in Louisiana and Alabama
the commanding general must summon
the convention to meet within sixty
days after the day of election. The
convention is to consist of as many
members as there are legislative dis
tricts in the state.
Fourth-When the Convention meets
it is to Crane a constitution and civil
government according to the prOvis-
ioDs'' Of the two Reconstruction acts.
What that is will be seen by reference
to the fifth section Of the RecOnstruc-
ton act, which requires that the re-
formed Constitution shall be "in con-
formity with the Constitution Of the
United States in all respects; and that
If shall secure the elective franchise to
all persons who were electors under the
previous registry. Briefly. the COnsti-
tuition is to declare general suffrage.
Fifth-When the Convention, which
is to meet in Louisiana on the 23d of
next month, has finished its work, the
amended or new Constitution is to be
submitted to the registered voters, at
an election Of which thirty days no
tice is to be given by the Convention
Sixth-At this election at least half
of the registered voters must vote, and
if a majority of those voting ratify
the Constitution, then the presi-
dent Of the con vention is to transmit a
certified copy of the new Constitution
to the President of the United States,
fswhO shall forthwith transmit the same
to Congress.
Seventh-Congress is to scrutinize the
Constitution, and also the election at
which it was adopted; if 1t approves,
then,
Eighth-A legislature, elected under
this new Constitution, is to adopt the
proposed constitutional amendment
known as article 18th. This declares, it
will be remembered, all persons born
or naturalized in the United States to
be citizens of the state where they re-
side, and forbids any state to abridge
the rights or privileges within 1t, OF
citizens Of the United States. 1t fur
ther regulates the quota of representa-
tives according to voters; excludes GER
tain prominent rebel leaders from
office-subiect to a vote of Congress
asserts the validity of the federal debt,
and prohibits the payment Of the rebel
debt.
Ninth-When the amendment is thus
adopted military Interference is to cease
and the states i'shall be declared enti-
tied to representation In Congress-"
and Senators and representatives are
to be admitted, on their taking the pre-
sCribed oaths.
These are the different steps deman-
y
before it can, under these acts, be rep
resented in Congress. Three elections
must be held-One for a convention,
one TO ratify the work of the cOuven-
ton, and one to choose a legislature
and, we presume-thOugh the act is si-
lent on that point-a state government.
Two deliberative bodies must act-the
convention and the legislature, besides
Congress itself.
All that is required may be quickly
accOJu plishcd if those who control the
work desire to get through quickly; for
the state constitutions require but little
amendment; the work of the conven- /
tiuns can he done in week. Allow
ing this time in Louisiana, where con-
veutiou is 10 meet November 23d, ad-
ding thirty days, as provided, for no
tice befute the ratification election, and |
sup posing Congress at once to approve
of ih, new Constitution, an election for
"A !, gislaturc to be called as soon after /
wards Hs pOssible-reckOning all the |
steps, with the least possible delay be- |
tween them, Louisiana can, by the
18th IF March, or lst Of April appear in 1
washington, in the persons or Repre- /
sentatfves and Senators.-N. Z Post, /
oct. p.