Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1869-07-08
Number "a.

son.eiarendon treaty. They under
: TOOK to settle the American claims
against England on account of the AL
> aDama outrage by the award of Com
!, mission, one-half of whose members
we're to be chosen by England and the
: other half BY the United States. and IN
case OF disagreement an umpire was
to be chosen by lot. That is to say a
/ great National controversy involving
great questions ofinternationallaw and
claims of undoubted validity amount
ing to millions of money, was to be de-
cided by the toss ofa copperl The ad-
ministration of General Grant crushed
the disgraceful treaty and proposes to
deal with England on the principle laid
down in Gen. Grants Inaugural. The
United Sts tes viii treat ali other Ma
tions .tas equitable law requires indi-
viduals to deal with each other" but
eff others depart from this rule in their
dealings with us we may be compelled
to follow their precedent
On the great question of reconstruc-
ton, in what a mastery way, and with
what marked success has General
Grants administration begun. Con-
gress had fixed its day of adjournment,
and all plans for reconstructing the
three unrepresented States had been
postponed until next December. At
this juncture Gen. Grant, on the 7th of
April last, sent to Congress special
message recommending that before its
adjournment it take the necessary
steps for the restoration of the State of
Virginia to its proper relations to the
Union. As the ground of his recon-
mendation he said: 81 am led to make
this Recommendation from the confident
hope and belief that the people of that
State are now ready to cooperate with
the National Government in bringing it
again into such relations to the Union
as 1t ought as soon as possible to estab-
lish and maintain, and to give to all its
people those equal rights under the law
which were asserted in the Declaration
of Independence in the words of one of
the most illustrious of its sons"
The message of the President was
referred, in the House of Representa-
tlves, to the committee on Reconstruc-
ton. That committee the next day re-
ported bill for the reconstruction of
Virginia, and also of Mississippi and
Texas. The character of the bill suffi.
ciently appears by the first two sec
tions relating to Virginia
Be IL enacted by tie Senate and House
Of Representatives. of tie United States
Of America in Congress assembled.
That the President of the United States.
at such time as he may deem best for
the public interest may submit the
constitution which was framed by the
convention which met in Richmond.
Virginia, on Tuesday, the Sd day of
December, 1867, to the registered vo-
ters of said State, for ratification or re-
lection; and may also submit to sep
arate vote such provisions of said con-
stitution as he may deem best.
SEC. 2. And Be IL further enacted,
That at the same election the voters of
said State may uote for and elect mem
bers of the General Assembly of said
State, and all the officers of said State
provided for by the said constitution,
and for members of Congress; and the
officer commanding the district of Vir-
ginia shall cause the lists of registered
voters of said State to be revised and
corrected prior to such election, and for
that purpose may appoint such regis
trars as he may deem necessary. And
said election shall be held and returns
thereof made in the manner provided
by the election ordinance adopted by
the convention which framed said con-
stitution."
1t will be seen that by this bill the
people of Virginia were to proceed in
the work of reconstruction at such
time as the President might deem best,
and that such reconstruction in all its
parts was to be on the basis of equal
political rights. The Constitution to
be submitted was framed by Conven-
ton, in the election of which colored
citizens participated, and of which col
ored men were members. The "regis-
tered voters" who are to vote on its
ratification or rejection, and also for
members of the General Assembly, for
State officers and for members of Con-
gress, include the colored men of Vir-
ginia; and if the Constitution is adopt
ed, it secures to them equal political
rights in that State. The remaining
sections of the bill provide for the re-
construction of Mississippi and Texas
on the same principles. and left the
time and manner to the discretion OF
the President.
This bill was reported to the House
of Representatives, and unanimously
agreed upon, by committee, of which
four members we're Democrats. The
most distinguished Democratic Repre-
of the States of New York
md Pennsylvania advocated its pas
sage. Out of about seventy Demo-
cratic members of the House, only
voted against it, and the
,nly Democratic members from Ohio
who voted on the passage of the bill,
voted for it.
1t thus appears that upon the recon-
nendation of Gen. Grant even the DEM
'cratic Party Of Ohio, by their repre-
in Congress, voted for equal
POLITICAL rights in Virginia, Mississippi
md Texas! And to-day the great
,ody of the people of those States,
Democrats and Conservatives as well
ls Republicans. have yielded assent to
hat great principle. In view of these
acts, l submit that l mfully warrant
d in saying that Gen. Grant has be- :
run the work Of reconstruction in
,nasterly way and with marked sue
,ess.
Again thanking you for the honor
,ou have done me, repeat, in conclu-
ion, what 1 said two years ago. The
'eople represented in this Convention