East Saginaw courier. (East Saginaw, Mich.) 1859-18??, 1864-01-13

represent not the interests Of their cit
liens, but the wills and interests Of the
power that creates and sustains them.
The nine statos thus controlled would
balance in the House of Representa-
tives in tho choice Of President, and
at oil times in the Senate. New York,
Pennsylvania, Ohio, Illinois, Indiana,
Massachusetts,, Missouri, Kentucky and
Wisconsin, with united population
of is, 533, 1888; which is more than one
half of that Of our whole country
The ono-tenth who would accept the
proclamation for tho price of power
would not only govern tho state made
by executive DEGREES, but they would
also govern the north. While the
plan is harsh to the body of the south
orn people, it is still moro unjust to-
words the north. Fourteen hundred
men in Florida would balance in the
Senate Of the United States the pow
er of New York. Less than 10000
voters in the nine states named in the
Presidents proclamation would WELD
power sufficient to weigh down that
of the nino most populous states Of
the Union.
We should thus have, with the nom
inal states of Eastern and Western
Virginia, a system Of rotton boroughs
which would govern tho Union and
destroy the representative nature of
our government. This, in connection
with existing inequalities in state rep
resentation, would be dangerous in
vasion of the rights of majority Of
tho American people 1t would ena-
ble an administration to perpetuate
its power.
1t is fact fun Of significance that
every measure to convert tho war
against armed rebellion into one
against private property and personal
rights at the South, has been accom-
panied by claims to exercise military
power in the loyal statos of the North.
The proclamation of emancipation
at the South, and the suspension of
the writ Of haJeaS corpus at the North
the confiscation of private property in
the seceeded states, and the arbitrary
arrests, Imprisonment and Punishment
of the citizens of loyal states; the
claim to destroy political organiza-
tons at the South, and the armed in
terferance Of government i'll local cleo
tons have been contemporaneous
events.
These acts at first were justified
upon tho ground that they were nee
essary to save the national existence.
We now find that new and more ex-
treme claims to arbitrary power are
put forth when it is declared that the
strength of tho rebellion is broken
and that our armies are aboutto tram
pie out every vestage Of its incendiary
fires. More prerogatives are asserted
in the hour Of triumph than were
claimed as a necessity in days Of dis
aster and Of danger.
The doctrine of Southern disorgan-
ization and revolution is a doctrine of
national bankruptcy, and of national
ruin it is q measure for lasting mill
tary despotism over one-third of our
country, which viii be the basis for
military dcspotism over the whole
land. 1t does not contemplate the re-
turn Of our soldiers to their families,
or relief from the cost and sacrifices of
war. 1t will make an enduring drain
upon our homes, and impose chrush-
ing burthens upon our labor and in
dustry. 1t will open wide and last
ing field for speculation and fraud
1t tends to perpetuato power by max
ing and unmaking states, as the inter-
ests and factions may dictate. 1t will
be a source of internal disorder and
disquitude, and national weakness in
our external relations. 1t will give
dangerous allies to invaders of our
soil.
If this war is to make social revo-
luton and structural changes in great
states, we have seen only its begin
ming. Such changes are the work of
time. If they are to be made by mil
itary power, it must be exerted through
periods. Whether white or black
troops are used, the diversion from la
Dor and the cost Of war will be equal
~ prolonged, and we have just enter
ed upon q course Of certain cost and
uncertain results. No such changes
as are now urged have ever in the
worlds history been without strug-
giles lasting through more than one
tencration of men.
What has government accomplished
in the territories wrested from rebel
lion by the valor eff our armies? Has
it pacified them ? Has it revived tho
arts of peace? Has quiet and conf
dence been restored ? Is commerce re-
newed? Are they not held as they
were conquered, at the expense of
northern blood and treasure Are
not our armies wasted by holding un-
der armed cantrol those who, under a
wise and generous policy, would have
been friends? The spirit which prompts
the harsh measure of subjugation has
driven off many in the border states,
who, at the crisis Of our countrys fate,
DTOhe uWuy lIOli thclI uHClcHt ~ ulpb-
thies with the soceeded states and
chung to the Union. States which, by
the elections of the people, ranged
themselves upon the side of the Con-
stitution, are not allowed the free OK
ercise of the elective franchise. In
some quarters discomfort has been i'm
creased: in no place has the wisdom
of government gained us allies.
There is but one course Which will
save us from national ruin. We must
adhere to the solemn pledges made by
our government at the outset of the
war.
We must seek to restore the Union
and to uphold the Constitution. TO
this end, while we put forth every ex-