Year: 1868

From the Springfield (Mass.) Rep. Jan Is,


The only d,ienSible reason for reconstruct.
ing the Southern State Governments was
the purpose to confer suffrage on the freed
men, in order to the protection of their
rights. Those governments are well enough
in every other resrect. fthis single pur,
pose had cortrned in the matter, the pros
cess would have been comparatively simple
unnhjec,ionable. Bnt party objects were
allowed to be mlxedin If was thought it
would be CORD thing so to manipulate the
Southern governments as to secure the votes
of reconstructed States for a Republican
President. To accomplish this the right to
Southern whites who had held flee requir-
ing an oath to support the Constitution of
the United States This excluded at once
from political iie the most intelligent class
cs in the South, and those at the time best
disposed to accept any terms OF reconcllia-
tion that should be ohrred. This made re-
construction by th white population of the
South impossible, for they naturally felt
that it would be dishonorable to abandon
the leaders who shared with them in the
guilt of the rebellion Reconstruction was
thus thrown into the hands of the negr oes,
led by few Northern white men ard South
erners who did not scruple to take any oath
required of them. That they seek to retain
power by the same policy.vhich gave it to
them is matter of course, and the first
new constitution framed virtually excludes
nearly every white man from suffrage and
office. 1t is so utterly indeiensible on any
principle Of justice and equality that it's fra
mtrs fear its rejection by the registered vo>
tiers, and are begging them to accept it in
the hope that Congress will strike out its
OIL cIiouable provisions.


The course Of things in Congress just
now does not tend to sustain any such hope.
1t is essential to the programme that the
whites Of the South shall be in the minor
ity, and he determination seems to be to
put it through at all hazards. The last re-
mains OF civil government in the S"uth are
TO be swept away upon the declaration that
they are not ''repr blican in FORM though
the forms are jus. what they always have
been. The false reason has some value,
however, as showing at least an appearance
of respect for the phases of the Constitu
ton. But we have not come to the end OF
this business; we can not even see to it
The governments Of the minority in the
Oulti, anu lbdt uiuuIilI UldCh, Will IL
necessary to be more and more repressive
and will need a strong military force to
maintain them. Is any body so insane as
to predict reconciliation of races, true re-
publican or even moderately just govern
mcnt and restore peace and loyalty as the
resvlt Of such systenl2 If so, about how
soon? No, the system is fundamentally
wrong, and will inevitably wax worse and
worse. Aud men are already asking how
soon political necessity may lead Con
grpss to interfere with certain Northern
States and compel them TO take the ''re>
publican form of negro suffrage and white
disfrauchisement.


The restoration of Secretary Stanton is
doubtless consistent with the Tenure.of Of
flee Act A special provision was inserted
in it, indeed, to meet his case. But the
discussion has made it clear that the ldW cun
not 6edefended upon general principles. 10
compel President to retain 10 his Cabinet
man with whom friendly or respectful res
lations are impossible, every body feels to
be an outrage. Having had its way and
protected Mr.. Stanton, the Senate would
do well to repeal at once the provision made
for his case. in behalf of which as a per>
man mt rule not word can be said


The proposition to get rid of General
Hancock by the indirect and cowardly dodge
Of reducing the number of Major generals,
is Of piece with the scheme for prevent.
ing decision against the constitutionali'y
of reconstruction by ,hampering the Su
preme Court. They both illustrate our
theme, aud show how one wrong act makes
another necessary, and so legislation inevit,
ably goes from bad to worse. There is YET
hope that the Senate will arrest these meas
ures. The same party exigency which
makes the two thirds rule necessary for the
Supreme Court may soon require that the
Court shall be forbidden to pronounce any
act OF Congress unconstitutional, even il
unanimous in that opinion. There is abso
lutely no stopping place in legislation ol
this kind. The descent to hell is easy, tC
be cure; but how are we to get back, if W.
ever wish to stand on terra frma? Genera
Grant can carry pretty heavy load tor us
but there are weights that even he can mo-


lift, and CULTS too broad even for him t.
cross. A step too far may make return i'm


possible.


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