The Sequel of Appomattox: A Chronicle of the Reunion of the StatesFleming, Walter L. (Walter Lynwood)
History
The Sequel of Appomattox: A Chronicle of the Reunion of the States
Fleming, Walter L. (Walter Lynwood)
Reconstruction (U.S. history, 1865-1877); United States -- History -- 1865-1898
When Johnson's term ended and he gave place to President Grant, four
States were still unreconstructed--Virginia, Texas, and Mississippi, in
which the reconstruction had failed, and Georgia, which, after
accomplishing reconstruction, had again been placed under military rule
by Congress. In Virginia, which was too near the capital for such rough
work as readmitted Arkansas and Alabama into the Union, the new
constitution was so severe in its provisions for disfranchisement that
the disgusted district commander would not authorize the expenditure
necessary to have it voted on. In Mississippi a similar constitution had
failed of adoption, and in Texas the strife of party factions, radical
and moderate Republican, had so delayed the framing of the constitution
that it had not come to a vote.
The Republican politicians, however, wanted the offices in these States,
and Congress by its resolution of February 18, 1869 directed the
district commanders to remove all civil officers who could not take the
"ironclad" oath and to appoint those who could subscribe to it. An
exception, however, was made in favor of the scalawags who had supported
reconstruction and whose disabilities had been removed by Congress.
President Grant was anxious to complete the reconstruction and
recommended to Congress that the constitutions of Virginia and
Mississippi be re-submitted to the people with a separate vote on the
disfranchising sections. Congress, now in harmony with the Executive,
responded by placing the reconstruction of the three States in the hands
of the President, but with the proviso that each State must ratify the
Fifteenth Amendment. Grant thereupon fixed a time for voting in each
State and directed that in Virginia and Mississippi the disfranchising
clauses be submitted separately. As a result, the constitutions were
ratified but proscription was voted down. The radicals secured control
of Mississippi and Texas, but a conservative combination carried
Virginia and thus came near keeping the State out of the Union. Finally,
during the early months of 1870 the three States were readmitted.
With respect to Georgia a peculiar condition of affairs existed. In
June, 1868, Georgia had been readmitted with the first of the
reconstructed States. The state legislature at once expelled the
twenty-seven negro members, on the ground that the recent legislation
and the state constitution gave the negroes the right to vote but not to
hold office. Congress, which had already admitted the Georgia
representatives, refused to receive the senators and turned the State
back to military control. In 1869-70 Georgia was again reconstructed
after a drastic purging of the Legislature by the military commander,
the reseating of the negro members, and the ratification of both the
Fourteenth and Fifteenth Amendments. The State was readmitted to
representation in July, 1870, after the failure of a strong effort to
extend for two years the carpetbag government of the State.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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