The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1868-02-19
De.netism, Incompetency and
Folly Of Congress.
A Rspublicaa Paper Condemns tie
Republican Plan Of Recon-
stYuction. q

The Chicago Republican, of the 18th, de-
nounces the radical plan of reconstruction
and calls on congress to repeal the Whole
batch of reconstruction acts and go back to
the starting point. 1t says:
"For months we have had a series OF con
stitutional conventions. From aay 70 aay,
columns of the dispatches have peen ueVo1-
ed by the press to salient points OF the pro-
ceedinps. What have we SEEM Bodies,
called together to frame organic laws and
Governments for states, attempting to exer-
else legislative functions. Delegates seek
ING to incorporate vengeance into the frame
work of reorganization. Days consumed in
discussing and scrutinizing petty details,
foreign to the legitimate work of the conven.
ton, such as inquiries into the validity of
the charter granted to a gas company, or
squabbles about the rates of pay, or the trial
of delegate for an act alleged to have been
committed seventeen years ago. What less
on does all this teach? That ignorance
cannot substitute capacity in removing the
obstacles to reconstruction--that a man who
has dug and delved all his days who IS lint
crate to the last extreme; who could not
spell constitution" on half dozen trials
who knows nothing of history save the sad
history of his own experiences within his
own narrow sphere who makes cross mark
when he signs his name who never under
stood the commonest rules of parliamen tary
usages until he took his seat as a delegate ;
who has no apprehension of constitutional
law who does not comprehend the relations
existing between the state and general gov
ernment-canuo. be fit to exercise the func-
| tons which task the intellect, experience,
| and patience of the best minds in commu-
nity. What light can corn-held hand shed
| on the intricate problems brought under re
view? With what amount of intelligent ap-
| probation of the issue can he vote yea OF
| s.nay' on a pending question? What can
| he know of the far-reaching influence OF
proper limitations of constitutional provis
| ion? What can he be in the body of VII ich
| he is a member, except a supernumerary, oil
| an appeudage to somebody else :? Such del
egates naturally feel their kelplessness amid
| their surroundings, and find refuge in de
tendency on some mind higher than thei
own, blindly following their guide, right o
wrong. The effect of such conditions can
not fail to be injurious on public interests
and especially upon the work of the conven
tons.
part of the results are before US. Thu
organization made for Alabama has beer
defeated. The florida convention is spill
into two portions, each claiming to have ex
elusive control over reconstruction in tina
state. The Georgia convention is engaged
in trying one of its members for adultery
charged to have been committed years ag'
in New York. The Arkansas convention
just adjourned, has provided for distran
chisement, not only of all disfranchised b,
the military bills, but even of those VIII
shall vote against the ratifying of the consti
tuition, to be submitted to the test of the ba
lot box on the 18th of next March. an,
which was adopted, as q whole, five hour
after being reported to the convention.
"Shall we endorse such folly as this
What mockery can be greater than to refe
an organic law TO the people for approval o
rejection, with the proviso that all who vot
negatively shall be punished? DespotisI
could go no further while pretending to re
spect the verdict of suffrage. Incompeten
cy could make no more ridiculous blundel
Reaction itself could not make higher BIZ
to insure the defeat of the constitution. In
prudence could not put into the mouths {
the countrys enemies stron ger argumen
against the prevailing plan of reorganiza
ton.
"-Since the above was written, the tele
egraph brings US the bill introduced by Sen
ator Sherman. providing for the immediat
admission of Alabama, under the constitr
ton her people have just refused to ratify
The objection to this plan is, that congress
has not been officially presented with cop
of the proposed constitution for approva
and that the acceptance of the instrumen
when ratified by a minority vote, is not keel
ing the faith which the reconstructed
laws imply"