The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1868-03-31

PORT'LAND.
Tuesday Morning, March 3l, 1879.


Alabama has refused to reconstruct in ac.
cordance with the requirements of Congress
Arkansas is yet debatable ground, with the
probabilities at present rather against the rat,
itication of the new constitution. The other
rebel States, except South Carolina and
Mississippi, may refuse to accept the over
lures OF the general government, no matter
IN what form they come or how their original
terms may be modified.
what Is to be done? Suppose it be grant
ed that during the term of the present Con-
gress the whole South will inevitably fail to
enttie itself to restoration to its practical re-
latlons with the Union on any basis that con-
templates the commission of the government
OF the several States to the loyal people, how
| shall the case be met? To this question the
reactlonary party has had an answer, swift
| ana exultant, for many months ready for the
contingency-admitt the Senators and Repre-
Sentotires of the provisional State oouern-
ments at once. There are many purbIind
and unrefecting partisans who really think
this thing will be done. They think they see
this very hour the complete failure of the
Congressional policy, and expect to see the
representatives OF Andrew Johnson's arbitra-
ry and unlawful constituencies file into the
House OF Representatives and the Senate
Chamber, the peers of the patriots of the
fortieth Congress.
1t can't be done. Certainly the fortietb
Congress cannot do it. By as solemn pledges
as ever bound peoples representatives, it
has promised to insure to the loyal inhabi
tants of the South security for the future
should 1t, from motives of timidity or for the
accomplishment of some partisan purpose.
now deliver the true and good men of ten
States over to the tender mercies of the par
" so long and so wickedly dominant in the
southland that would be the exact thing.
done in acknowledging the validity of the
Johnson coDstitutions-it would Justly mer-
It and inevitably receive curses more bitter
than the Rump" which is tauntingly called
its prototype ever received from the maddest
partisan OF the Stuarts. Not only Thaddeus
Stevens, but the people of the United States.
want to see the man who " dores" to break
the phghted faith of the nation.
Suppose the forty-first or the tortv.second
congress should be Democratic, and the ten
states now denied representation should still
De IN their present disorganized condition,
what course would be taken? If Demo-
cratic Congress should pursue the line of con-
duct indicated by the press, the public men
ana the platforms of that party, and admit
southern representatives, under the provi-
slonal constitutions, it would commit crimes
and follles of which the following are the
more gross and palpable:
II would rob several hundred people of a
vested right, which they have not forfeited bv
any crime. 1t is an axiom alike of morals
ana politics that civil or political right once
vested becomes indefeasible. Give man the
ballot once, and, If he commit no sin against
tne State, he is entitled to hold It so long as he
hVes. This principle is recognized in States
Where an educational qualification is prescrib-
ed Tor voters. In such cases the limitation of
'ne franchise has reference only to those per-
sons who may become of age or become citi-
zens subsequent to the amendment of the
constitution.
second, 1t would contradict in the most hyp-
ocrltlcal manner its own theory with respect
TO States. That theory is that the people
nave right to the absolute control of the
franchise in their own States. The qualifics-
t'ons OF voters are to be fixed independently
Oh dlctation from any exterior source. How
then can it recognize constitutions and con-
stltuencies created by the fiat of the Execu-
tive?
Third, it would introduce into the national
legislature and ultimately into the electoral
college, an element still unmistakably hostile
10 the institutions of our common country
= Iwn , Sfates of the MARYLAND and Keptuckv
stamp, where my Maryland" and the bon,
ME Blue Flag" are still the popular music, and
the "Stars and Bars" is still a sacred emblem,
are enough.
No Democratic power will hold sway under
the statue of Freedom that crowns the dome
OF the capitol, until the consummation of the
great work of establishing democratic insttu-
tions, committed to the Republican party, has
been accomplished. There remained then
to possibly unrepentant South-nilitary
government. This is not, though the words
strike unpleasantly on the ear, as matter of
fact, a terrible calamity, but rather for the
time merciful providence. Gen. Meade is
not at all ones ideal of a cruel and unscrupu-
lous military satrap-nor Schofeld, Candy, or
Gillem. Instead of spilling the blood of inno-
cent citizens, they protect the weak and un-
fortunate from wrong and oppression; they
preserve the peace; they sustain the Freed
mems Bureau in its charitable dispensations to
black and white alike, and in the establish
ment and maintenance of schools; they
guard the civil rights of all classes of citizens.
Their rule has SO fer been utterly stranger
to those high-handed acts of tyranny which
are popularity supposed to be the inevitable
concomitants of military government. Their
sway has been characterized by the best quail
tiles of civil authority, with en- infusion of
greater energy and efficiency than has hither-
to marked civil governments in the South
We would not by any means be understood
to underrate the Importance of speedy res
toration of civil authority. The genius of
our institutions demands such restoration at
the earliest moment it becomes consistent
with justice; but until then military govern
ment is the only alternative. Till return of
sanity to the minds of the late rebels it is the
least Of two evils, and must be continued
whatever party is in power.