Year: 1866

serfdom or lnferiorty at the penalty of rebellion.
Nor should it be asked to accede to terms OF this
nature. Punish the rebel leaders, if necessary
by banishment or otherwise But to propose to
punish whole people to suit the partigan conVe-
nience of those who dictate the penalty is an out
rage upon justice ard common humanity. With
all their errors and faults the Southern people
have shown that they are not towards. They will
not belle their nature by writing themselves down
slaves at the bidding of committee appointed to
consider the question Of reconstruction.


From the Cincinnati Commercial, (Ind. Rep)


The proposed amendment equalzing represen-
tation was defeated because it recognized the dis
reimbursement of the negroes; and, now that the
pal nfuly iabored report is out, there is nothing
looking TO the enforced enfranchisement of the
Africans. Therefore. the hostility Of Mr.. Sumner
may be counted upon. His great and irreversble
guaranty is not i'll the report.


Evidently the committee presume that the States
without representation in Congress are not to be
counted " hen the vote of the States on proposed
amendment of the Constitution is taken.


This is a dangerous doctrine, however. The
Secretary of State, in proclaiming the constitu-
tional amendment abolishing slavery, named
South Carolina. Georgia, and other States that
had been OF the Suuthern CoDfederacy, as voting
for the amendment. This was distinct and SOL
emn recognition of those States within the Union;
and the amendment of the Constitution adopted





not wish to see unsettled, for there should be no
mistake as to that which Is the Constitution.


From the Buffalo Commercial, (Bep.)


The whole plan, as reported, is artfully drawn
with reference to the Radical plan of keeping the
South out OF the Union and retaining the political
control OF the country in the North until after the
next Presidential election. 1t will DE noticed, in
the first place, that the adoption OF the proposed
constitutional amendment IS a condition precedent
Tn ofin Ia - of 10 o1d
re-admissi0n, and that upon the adoption Of that
amendment the States lately in rebellion may send
representatives to Congress. who shall he elected
sole y by those Southern citizens who have been
thoroughly loyal during the war. The full force
aud effect OF this provision is apparent when we
reflect that it would dsirancise nine out of ten OF
the entire population of the South.


The adoption of such amendment by any of the
Southern States is not for moment to be hoped
tol, and we are confident that even the committee
of fifteen do not imagine it to be possible We
have no doubt but that the plan was purposely
concocted to prevent any permanent reconstruc-
tion until after the next Presidential election. Its
effect will certainly be to perpetuate the present
dead lock- and to array Congress still mure strong
ly against the President. The issue which has
for five months been slowly forming, and which
now seems destined to control the future political
action of the people, will be fairly and squarely
made If the report OF the committee of fifteen
shall be made the basis OF the policy of Congress.


From the n Y Commercial Advertiser, (Rep)


1t is in reality scheme to postpone the restora.
tion OF the late rebel States to 1870 Or in other
words. to point of time subsequent to the next
Presidential election. 1t holds these States as
Territories" by debating terms to them. It
holds them as States" by calling them so, and by
giving them vote upon the constitutional amend.
ment. 1t mixes things up in the most absurd
manner and ali for the sake not of peace and har.
mony, but of controlling the observation-disclosures
OF 1868. For more than year the Commercial
Advertiser has continued to point out the wrong
OF the Presidents plan and the evils that must
necessarily follow it, Until the meeting of Con-
gress, this plan was the plan of the Republican
party, and those who doubted its genuine inspira-
tion were held to be cooper heads" "disoyal, -
&C., &c. Then followed the Congressional mud
dle' and the Republican change of 'front.' Now
we have this new plan, which is a lame attempt
to ratfy what is good that the President has done:
to ameliorate that which is specially evil; to
thwart the Presidents plan for the future, and
to substitute tor it scheme fathered by no par
ticular person, but "a good enough Morgan till
after election


1t is, perhaps, too late to start right now. The
doing of one wrong makes necessary the doing of
others. As for this plan" of the
committee, it may or it may not pass. 1t must
run the gauntletof long and wearisome debate,
aud then receive tWo.third vote. 1t must then
go to the States, who may act one after another
Tor the space OF year or more. 1t may or may
amendment received and it will require, if Colo.
RADIO is admitted, the vote of twenty eight States
to insure its adoption.