The national Republican., 1868-12-08

Congress Aireauy NJ WORK IN Ear
uest-The question of the nceog-
nItion OF Georgia and Louisiana As
Reconstructed states-More Legis-
Iation for their Reeoustruetton 20
be Enacted-Thc Manhood Suffrage
Proposition = Presidencs Forth.
coming Message.
DECEMBER I, lses.
To TnE REPUBLICAN: The reader Of Con.
gressional proceedings will perceive that both
Houses entered, yesterday, upon the trau'ae-
tion Of most important business with far more
promptness than has been usual at the open.
ing Of q session the subjects brought up,
and to which allude. being tho question
of greatest public Importance at this time As
foreshadowed in these letters, tho question Of .
reconstruction 10 the States still virtually In |
rebellion against the laws Of not against the |
authority of tho United States, that Of uni. |
form manhood suffrage In ail United States |
elections, and that Of the reform and uni. |
formity OF tbs naturalization laws, were the |
particular subjects to which Congressional
attention was thus so soon and earnestly ad.
dressed.
10 both Houses Il seemed clear to me, from
the debate, that Congress will not accept rs
construction as having been re .estsbiisbsd in
Georgia and Louisiana True, both these
States have nominally accepted the terms of
tho Government Of the United States to that
end. They have Organi =ed State governments
under those laws; but only to repudiate them
in toto in the administration Of those States
governments In both the blacks are accorded
political equality and equality before the law
with whites; but in both those States these
rights are signaliy withheld from the blacks BY
violence, where intimidation fails to accom-
piish that end. This Is but keeping the
promise to the ear" Tho leading features of
the Governments policy Of reconstruction are
quite as Hagrsntly ignored in and BY both the
States named above as though they had never
pretended to aequiescs In and accept the plan
Of rebabiliment in the Union upon which
Congress agreed to restore them to co equality
therein.
In neither Georgia or Louisiana is any
law Of C1ngrss'-or any principle Of recon-
struction involved in any such law that con.
a,cts with the prevailing Georgia and Louis.
ians) white.msn's notion Of the proper status
ofthe uegro-of the slightest force or value. The
negro with the exception Of not being held in
actual personal slavery stands practically be.
fore Georgia and Louisiana law las admins.
= tered) precisely as he stood before Lees sur.
render. The position Of thsoe States towards
the reconstruction laws Of the United States
is such as that they are in as fagrant re-
bellion to the United States laws as when
claiming allegiance to the Government Of JET.
ferson Davis 1t 10, therefore, by no means
wonderful that the Senate propose to siit the
- condition Of things in Georgia thoroughly be
y fore admitting Mr.. Joshua Hill to a tsa
:. = among them; aud that too with general be
lief that he Is acceptable, so far as his owr
loyalty is concerned, as any member OF th'
body. Nor can any one wonder that the
House elects to refer to its election committee
." the claims Of all members elect from the Statel
. named above, instead Of admitting them upon
their pro JoyRia certificates.
Indeed, I see no prospect of their admission
!, to seats In the hall until their respectiv,
a States are reconstructed in fact as in name
n. Congress are neither children nor fools. They
\. did not mature and enact their reconstruction
q. policy TO be whistled aside by traitors in th,
\, South, as the latter will soon come to under.
r. stand. II those States will not abide tn,
ia terms of reconstruction in good faith Congress
Ii. them without permitting those in their limit,
ro who set at naught existing United State
is laws to have any lot share or part in the wOrl
to or In the conduct OF their future State govern
Y. ments DO not believe that there Is a singl,
a Republican party Senator or Rspreseutativ,
| L., hn f.,Ia "A -
d. tho prompt adoption Of a constitutions
e. amendment making manhood suffrage the rul
he in presidential AMI Congressional election
's- throughout the Union. That belief is th
ch result of earnest inquiry on my part upon tha
II. subject in the course Of the last three fou
ng days.
IRE The adoption Of such an amendment
IN. Congress will doubtless do Its share in human
izins. christianiIipg. civiliIing, and rsput
on icaniIing Georgia and Louisiana. The eIis
y, ing incentive to the rebellious disposition
he those States is neither more nor less than
~. lingering hope Of being able by threats at
to actual outrage, murder, &c, to prevent neg
the suffrage and oO-equality, before the Law, fro
MS becoming irrevocsbly fixed upon them. II
ma proposed manhood suffrage amsndment,
,o adopted, destroys any such hope, beyond q
aid question. Hence the evident unanimous d
lhs termination Of the Republican party Of bot
Fas Houses to push 1t through without delay.
'ed shsl not be surprised to sec II adopted hnAll
~ bsfore the Christmas holidays, judging froi
the tone Of tho members on the subject.
aed The President is said 10 have signihed, II
%" formally, that hs will not send In bis annui
me message until Wednesday. His anomalot
II position takes from that paper much of th
hed interest usually felt in 1t 10 advance Of its
csc oeption. lit were thought that he propose
by to renew his late var with Congress, all wou
OF be BgOg with curiosity with reference to il.
Don
"a. Report OF the Department OF Ayr
" culture.
From advance sheets Of the annual rspo
an. Of the Department Of Agriculture, now
press, (but not ready for distribution befo
'nu January the Newark Adpertissy gives son
her interesting figures In reference to tho produ,
IT. tions of the soil for the year named. The 70
The lowing shows the total yield, average an
No, money value Of tho crops pamed for all tn
-o' States in the United States:
ity Total I'D. Aps. Value.
Inl'n corn, bu J6B 320 900 AZ b20 2lD k6lO Dls n