The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-12-21
SPIRIT OF THE rRrss,
Editorial Opinions Of the Leading Journals
Upon Ourrent Topics Compiled Every
Day for the Evening Telegraph.
PERFIDY OF CONGRESS TO THE STATE
OF GEORGIA.

it to the Congress of the United States.
Congress passed certain acts, known by the
name of the Reconstruction acts, requiring
various specified conditions of the Southern
States as prerequisites to their readmission.
Georgia, among other States, complied with
those conditions; and now Congress turns
upon her and makes additional demands
quite in excess of the Reconstruction acts in
accordance with which seven States had been
admitted to representation. We say Congress
makes these additional demands, for although
the bill has, as yet only passed the Senate,
there is every reason to believe that it will
also pass the House before the holiday ad-
iournment
The chief ground of inculpation against
Georgia is that her Legislature, elected in
accordance with the Reconstruction acts, de-
cded that, under the new State Constitution,
negroes were not eligible to Office, and ex-
PEELED the negro members who had been
elected to seats. There is not line nor a
syllable in any of the Reconstruction acts, nor
in any of the amendments to the Constitution
proposed by the radicals, requiring the eligi-
bility of negroes to any office. All those acts
and those amendments leave Georgia. and
every other State, as free to exclude negroes
from Office as to admit them. The utmost
that they require is universal negro Suffrage
not negro office-holding. Congress, therefore,
is going entirely beyond the conditions on
which it promised to readmit Georgia into
the Union, when it superadds to negro saf-
frage demand for the eligibility of negroes
TO Office. 1t not only violates pledge, but
introduces an invidious distinction by requir-
ing of this particular State something which
it has not required of any of the others. The
following is one of the sections of the bill
which has just passed the Senate
"Section g. And be it further enacted That it is
hereby declared that the exclusion Of any person or
persons elected as aforesaid, and being otherwise
said Senate or House of Representatives, upon the
ground OF race color or previous condition OF servi
tudc, would be Illegal and revolutionary, and Is
hereby prohibited"
This requires of Georgia what has been
required of no other of the reconstructed
States; and being in excess of the acts under
which they are reorganized, it is plain vio-
laton of the pledge of Congress that they
should all be readmitted if they complied
with the prescribed conditions, which in
cluded negro suffrage but not negro Office
holding.
Whether, under the Constitution of Geor-
gia. negroes are entitled to seats in the Legis-
lature, is question which at least admitted
of doubt, inasmuch as leading and infuen-
tial radicals, in advocating the adoption of
the Constitution while it was pending before
the people, contended that it did not permit
negroes to hold Office When the Legislature
and the negro members were accordingly ex-
PEELED from their seats. After their expul-
sion, both branches of the Legislature passed
the following resolution, which was vetoed by
Governor Bullock
"WheTeaS, 1t is believed that judicial decision OF
the question of the coored mans right 70 hold ofce
Georgia under the constitution now in force would
restore the State 10 her proper position in the Union
and give quiet throughout the State and whereas
said question s one which the courts OF the State
can properly take cognizance of; and whereas We
the representatives of the people of Georgia, are
unwilling that any effort should be spared on our
part to bring about OF peace and happiness to
lhe people and settlement or that important ques-
lion; be 1t therefore
ResOved by the Senate and House of Representatives
4fthe State of Georgia in General Assembly conpened
That case involving the right OF the colored man
bO hold office SHALL as the same can be pro-
pery brought before the Supreme Court OF the State
be heard and determined by said court, and we
believe that the people OF the State WILL as they have
heretofore always DONE in good faith abide the deci
sion OF the highest tribunal OF the State whenever so
declared"
The veto of this reasonable resolution by
Governor Bullock is of little account, as no
action of his could deprive it of its signif-
canoe as attesting the law-abiding spirit Of
the Legislature. Nothing could be more
fair, considerate, and loyal than this offer to
submit the question to the decision of the
highest judicial tribunal of the State, and to
be bound by its judgment The Chief-Jus-
tice of Georgia is noted and active Radical,
anu his DldS, IL uc udu any, WAS dS5dlhob tuo
Conservative majority of the Legislature. 1t
was really of no Importance whether Cover
NOR Bullock signed this resolution or not,
since it's only object was to remove an impu-
tation on the good faith and loyalty of the
Legislature, and it equally expressed their
sentiments whether it was signed or vetoed In
spite of the veto, a case was actually made
and carried before the Supreme Court of the
State; the decision being that negroes are
entitled to hold office under the State consti-
tuition. This settled the question and re-
moved every pretext for the interference OF
Congress, even if Congress had right to
interfere in matter of that kind When
ever the present Legislature reassembles, OF
new one is elected, the right of negroes to
their seats will not be contested. President
Grant in his message, recommended Con
gress to require little more than the Legisla-
ture would voluntarily do without any con
straint The following is the part of the
message relating to Georgia.
"Seyen States which passed ordinances OF seces
sion have been fully restored to their places
election, Fat which she ratified her constitution
republican in form, elected Governor
members Of Congress, State Legslatnre ana ana a.
stalled and the Legislature met and performed al
the acts then required OF them by the Reconstruction
attsof Congress. Subsequently, however in viola
ton OF the Constitution which tney had just ratified
as since decided by the Supreme Court OF the State
they unseated the colored members OF the Legisla
ture and admitted to seats some members who ar
disqualified by the third clause OF the fourteenth
amendment TO the Constitution, an article whic
they themselves had contributed TO ratify Uhde
these circumstances would submit to you whethe
il would not be wise without delay to enact q lay
authorizing the Governor OF Georgia 10 convene th
nnirin0 each member to take the oath prescribed b
fbe Reconstruction acts, and none to be admitted VIII
are ineligible under the thrd clause oi tne loul