Abbeville press. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1860-1869, 1869-04-16
Friday, April Is, 1869.
Southern Reconstruction in Congress.

action with regard to Virginia,
Mississippi, and Texas, and its non
action as to Georgia promises to
complete the work Of Southern
Reconstruction.
The infamous bill. of Mr.. But
Ter with regard to Georgia, after
receiving the unmcasurcI condem-
nation of men of all parties, was
luid aside us it deserved to be, and
probably will never be resurrected.
That bill proposed to Congress to
stull fly itself; by repudiating its
own past action i'll reconstructing
the State, and to remand it to the
dominion Of the Reconstruction
Acts with their tests and penalties.
The fourth section went even farther,
and visited with disfranchisement
all persons who having taken an
oath to support the Constitution
had rendered voluntary or unvol-
untarv aid to the rebellion. So
mani1estly unjust were the provis-
ions Of the bill, and SO inconsistent
was the action proposed, that it
evoked the strong opposition Of
suoh extreme Radicals as B;nghams
and Schencl1. It proposed to COM
nit "something worse than blum
der" Congress had already rec
oganized. the existence of the State
of Georgia, by ratifying its. Con-
etitution, aud the representatives
had been sworn in as members Of
the Lower House; and now it was
proposed to repudiate this action
and to divest the State of its pre-
negatives, on the ground that col
ored members had been excluded
from the Legislature which had
elected Senators from their State.
This proceeding of the Legislature
may have justified the course Of
the Senate in Investigating the
validity of the election and passing
upon the credentials of it's mem bcrs
but it certainly warranted GO action
on, the part of Congress which
would bring in question the exis-
tence of the State, or justify any
measure which might not be en-
forced with equal prop:iety against
Ohio, Pennsylvania, or Massachu-
sets.
The State Convention of Vir-
ginia, it will be recollectcd adopted
Constitution, which provided for
it's submission to the people, and an
election under it in June last, but
Congress having made no owls
ion to dcfray the expenses of an
election, Gen. Scofeld issued an
order suspendingit. In Mississippi,
the Constitution was submitted to
popular vote and was rejected in
June last. The Texas Constitution
has never been submitted to the peo.
pie for ratification, and we suppose
for. fear Of the same result which
was anticipated in Virginia, and
realized in Misslssippi-its rejec-
ton on account Of its odious pros
.crlptive features. At the instance
Of Gen. Grant, Congress has nov
provided that these Constitutions
shall be submitted to the people
and popular revision is secured.
BY allowing the vote to be taken
upon their several parts separately.
Thef'llowihgis is the full text Of
the Act authorizing the submission
of the Constitutions Of Virginia,
Mississippi and Texas to o vote o.
the people and authorizing the cleo.
: ton of State officers provided fo,
by said Constitutions and members
OF Congress, is approved and sign.
ed by the President. .u,4.r : !
BE 1t eaacted, etc., That the Pfreesi- ii
dent Of the United States, at. such
time as be may deem BEST / fol. 81 The
public interest, may i submis the Con
stitution = which met. in Richmond 1,d
Va, on Wednesday, tie Sd day d
Decepmbss - 1887, TO the. registered
voters Of said State, registered at, the
q date Of; Of; said Submissions, for satifca-
ton OF rejection, and may. also sabrai'
to separate vote such provisions iol
said Constitution as he may'aeem
best; such vote to 0beitaken either
upon, eaeh of|ythe eaidssprosisions
alone, or I'M connection wish the other
portions Of said Censtitationnass the
Rresidentm direct q :'.ats,'' sGas1s' /
sssc.2. That 1T the thtS same AMI election pa;
ah. voters AZ S,oo; "a; ~ ~, -, - t III