The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1867-07-11


OF reconstruction. The first Congressional plan is
Expressed i'll tho HowARD Constitutional Amond-
nent leaving suffrage to bo regulated by the sove-
| rnl States and imposing upon certain classes OF
persons disqualification for Office as punishment
Tor rebellion nntl as safeguard for tho future
That plan having been refused by tho robe. States,
| Congress passed the Reconsideration Acts, which
| form second schomo Of reconstruction, entirely
| distinct in principle and plan from the former In
tho second plan, Congress assumes control Of tho
question Of suffrage, which is extended TO all who
can take prescribed oath, and also enforces tho
uisquaihcatton for onnUo, ~L:nh r,n,Il hnvo l..
the penal and conservative featuro Of Tho rst pan
| Now, IL socms to mo that tho true conservative
guarantee against reaction s In the addition made
TO tho loyal voto by the enfranchisoment Of tho
colored people. That being done, tho occasion for
the disqualification clause ceases. Hence, the true
solution, boliovo Ia to declare, with uniyorsaI
suffrage, general MISUNDERSTANDING the erce,-
lions. moro liberal amnesty is. in my judgment,
esHontial 10 tho success OF the Congressional plan
OF reconstruction It will enlarge tho range OF popu-
lar choice for tho important judicial executive, and
Legislative departments Of tho State governments.
otherwise inconyonicntly confined to classes yory
| fow OF whom are tit to hold oflico Tho pcople
can surely DO entitled to judge and select from
those who took part in tho rebellion, tho mon at
once qualified and sincere il their adhesion TO tho
new order OF things. Suoh men, being eligible to Of
fco, will aye motives TO identify themselves with
rcconslruction and to support tho views OF tho ma
jority. Now, moro than over, u en- OF ability and OK
| perIonce in public business Ere needed for the
State governments in tho South and Il is truly un-
\ fortunate that at such mon ent, nearly all who
know ANYTHING of public affaro, and especially
those who could fill judicial stations, arc disftan-
chised. This exposes Tho experiment OF general
| suffrage to noodless hazards. II tho experiment
fail, it is most lkely 10 fail from tho inability Of
the people to pnt In ofico those who could and
! wonld assure success. II would have boon adYan-
tageous pcrhaps, TO havo removed many diaaftect-
ed persons, especially Jndges, sherifs and &agis-
tratos. In tho execution pf tho BlI Section OF tho
Act OF ID March, If competent; successors could
havo boon found among thoao who ,aro eligible to
6fllco. And would regard tho pos4cssion now OF
wdor fold OF ohoicoior civil officers, as one Of tho
most effective inslrumonts In lilo o1ecution Of tho
military authority conferred upon District COM
mandera. As II is i flnd myself prevented, as will
tho peoplo by and by from securing for the pp5lio
serdco men OF aptitude and character, whose 70.
pentance is as certain tho devotion Of the most
consistent loYalist. Iii truth, tho zeal OF sonio Of
tho oorots outruns tho discretion OF many of the
faithful. With roferonco TO other practical sug.
gestions, 1t might be useful II Congress- by ono o
It's committees, tntorrogatod tho Commanding OH.
cora Of the several Districts upon tho operation Of
the Reconstruction Acts, and 1theIfurthcr lesisla.
lion required. ~, {. ,Ar y ~:
worry respectfully, D. Z. BICKLES
Hon. LYMAN TnuMDuII, Chairman Judiciary Com.
mitteo, United statos Senate,