The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1869-12-09
The Horace Greeley Doctrine.

The Horace Greeley Doctrine.
We say"the Horace Greeley doctrine" be-
cause the impartial suffrage and universal
amnesty theory has been more ably and per-
sistently advocated By the senior editor of the
New York Tribune than by anyone else. This
doctrine has come at length to be subject
for immediate con sideratiop, two bills having
been introduced in Congress Tuesday for the
removal OF !rebel disabilities.
Let us see exactly what this doctrine is.
In the first place it should be understood thet
there are only three or four States where reb.
els may not now vote. Dsfranchiscment
was an incident Of the ante reconstruction
period, but most Of the Southern conventions
that framed the new free constitutions omit
ted it from the organic law of their States.
In the late elections, in Virginia, Mississippi
and Texas, the DISTINGUISHING clauses of the
constitutions were submitted separately from
the rest of the instrument and were in all
cases rejected. The only disability under
which Rebels in most of the States are now
suffering is that prescribed in the fourteenth
amendment to the constitution in the follow
ing terms:
DEC. .. NO person shall be a Senator or
representative to Congress, Or elector of
PRESIDENT and Vice President, or hold anv Of
hca, civil or military, under the United States
or under any State, who, having previously
ttshe9 an cain as a member OF Congress, or as
IN ofhcer of the United States, or as mem
Der OF any State Legislature, or as an execu-
tive or judicial officer of any State. to snn-
port the Constitution OF the United States
snail nave engaged in insurrection or rebellion
against the same, or given aid or comfort to
the enemies thereof But Congress may, by a
vote of two-thifds Of each House. remove
such disability.
1t is the object of the bills to which we have
referred to make leading rebels once more eli
sible to office by the method pointed out in
the last clause or the above amendment. Mr..
stevenson of Ohio would cucumber this act
OF amnesty with condition, meant to be a
very useful one. His bill limits tie benefi,
OF the act to such States as ratify the 18th
amendment. 1t may be doubted whether
the orloe held out to the Southern States to
r'ltlfy the fifteenth amendment will prove of
much avail. 1t will be remembered that the
fourteenth amendment embraced a threat of
loss Oh representation in Congress to such
States as refused to concede impartial suf-
hage, and that neither Maryland, Delaware
nor Kentucky, the three States meant to he
reached, was moved by it.
Dut Waat snail we say Of the safety and
justice OF restoring all Rebels to all their
former rights, as proposed? They are an un-
rege-erate race-these Rebels. Unoratefnl
cruel, unprogressive, unteachable Bourbons
II would take two or three mpre wars n
oflng them into harmony with the shirt of
Tie age. In another column will be found
extracts from the reports of Southern mill.
tary commanders showing what manner of
men they are. Gen. Terry says that the on
~ possible way to keep them within bounds
IN Georgia is to place the State under military
rule again. Gen. Ames's report shows that
the Rebel spirit is still rampant in Mississippi,
and Gen. Reynolds grimly and concisely de.
cares That the murders in Texas during the
last year have averaged one and a half a
day." Tennessee affords a conspicuous in.
stance OF the untrustworthiness of those who
nave committed the great sin AGAINST the;r
country and been forgiven. Through the
ambition OF Mr.. Senter, who wished TO con-
tlnue Governor, and who had the control of
su the ballot-boxes in the State throuoh the
appointing power, a Rebel Democratic Leeis-
!ature has been elected. 1t rejects the fit.
teentn amendment, it disregards the proyis
ions OF the fourteenth amendment and the
civil rights bill, it prohibits negroes from sit
ing Oh Jures, it re-enacts the apprentice and
Vagrant laws SO as to remand many freedmen
TO state OF virtual slavery, and it has be.
come necessary to appeal to Congress for pre-
lection against the outrageous conduct of
Esitors once more invested with power.
IL is not perhaps quite fair to attribute all
tbs misdoing to the men who are to be bene-
lifted ty the proposed amnesty, but they are
responsible for at least portion of it. 1t will
be glad day for the country when none of
Its citizens are under the ban Of constitution
al or legal disfranchisement or exclusion from
ot1ce, but it does seem as if the least that
traitors ought to be required to do to secure
indemnity for their crimes is to abstain from
'nrther wrongdoing in the same direction. In |
ule case OF individuals who repent Congress
never has and never will be backward in
granting dissolution, so that it is not necessa-
~ TO 60 into the wholesale pardon business to |
seacn specific cases ofrestored patriotism and |
loyalty.