Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1864-12-01
ReeonstructIOn In the Rebel Congress.

II INT lACBGA GDDr1L LCa4a
One ofthe most significant indications
of the approaching deeadenee, desOls-
tion and ruin which menace the South
ern Confederacy from within, even more
terribly than cur combined armies from
without, is the rece t resolution condemn
ing secession, and declaring willing
ness to return to the Uuited States under
the old constitution, introduced into the
Confederate Congress by Mr.. J. 7. Leach,
of South Carolina. 1t is true, that the
terms of that resolution are insulting to
the conscience and common sense Of the
whole Northern people, that they propose
terms of peace that our Government can
not consistently and honOrsbly accept,
and that they were summarily rejected by
the vote of a large majority Of the
rebel Congress They are nevertheless to
be considered as of no mean Importance
The very fact that in the centre snd heart
Of the Southern Confederacy, where its
power, both civil and military, is most strin-
gent and most vigorous, that any men
should dare to support q proposition de-
claring secession unwise, and looking to-
ward reconstruction, is pregnant with evil
to the rebel cause. The movers of this
resolution brsved the civil and military
power of JeiTerron Davis, in his own cspi-
tai, with all Lees veterans within call
They would not dare to do this were they
not conscious that they represent party
whose growing strength is too great to be
frowned or threatened down. This move
ment is like a crack in the wall, slight and
trivial to the casual observer, but which
will inevitably widen and spread until the
Yvbola adifiaa nrunnblas tn its fall This Is
the first fruit Of the recent declaration Of
the North, expressed in the reelection Of
Linccln, Of its unslterable discrimination
10 put down the rebellion. Other fruits
ere sure to follow. When Sherman'f
triumphaIt legions conquer their way tc
the Atlantic, when Grant, strengthened by
re-en nforcements from the armys Of Geor.
Ola, shall capture the rebel Capitol, and
our flag Ac ats over Richmond, the peopie
of the South will be resdy to abandon
their madness, and the civil as well as tbs
military strength of the ebelli9n will fal
PROSTATE before our arms.
Here are Mr.. Leach's
JOINT RESOLUTIONS IN FAVOR or LIBERTY
WHEREAS The unfriendlyi unjustifabl'
and unpatriotic interference of citizens o
the non-slsveholding States in their popu
lar assemblies, from the pulpit and by leg
islative enactments, with the reserved
rights of the States, provided in the Con
stitution of the United States, and by th'
laws of Congress, has been the prolific
cause of g cruel, bloody and relentless Wa
that has no parallel in point Of atrocity Il
the annals Of the world between q peopi'
protesting the Christian religion;
And whereas, the citizens of the SlaV'
| States, at an ungusrded moment unde
the influence OF unwise counsel, wlthou
mature deliberstion as to the fearful con
sequences, msde the election of Abraham
Lincoln to the Presidency of the United
States the occasion for precipitatlng tn
| Confederate States out of the Union, whlcl
has been followed by a train OF evils no
contemplated by those who advocated tn
measure:
And whereas, we the representative O
the people of the Confederate States, de
string. to place ourselves fairly before oui
constituents, our enemies and the civilizei
l world declare that it is our earnest deslr
that proper measures should be adopted b,
the respective governments to secure a
{ honorable, just and permanent peace, nc
incompatible with the principles lsi
down in the constitution of the Unite
States, nor with the inalienable rights c
freeman.
ResoEued, That the reserved rights {
the States should be guarded with watch
ful and jealous vigilance, and that any al
tempt to infringe upon those rights shoul
be resisted with all lawful and prope
MEANS
3 ResoZUed That whenever the govern
ment Of the United States shall signify i
+ willingness to recognize the reserve
rights of the States and guarantee to tt
citizens of the States their rights of prol
e | erty, as provided in the Constitution
t the United States, and the laws Of Coz
! gress-to the end that peace may be r
stored and our future happiness and pro
perity perpetusted-we will agree to tre'
J for peace; and that such terms Of peace
may be agreed TO by Commissioners a.
pointed by the respective governments,
by the States acting in their sovereign an
independent character, and ratified by
majority Of the people, shall constitute U
: bond of peace between the North and Il
K South.
! After brief speech by Mr.. Leach, NJ
\ Montague moved that the resolutions
rejected, and the motion was carried by s
/. overwhelming majority.