The Ashland union. [volume] (Ashland, Ashland County, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1864-08-24

consideration"
BY what authority of the constitution
In what forms? The result to be de
clared by whom With what effect wher
ascertainedI 1-L - Il
Is it to be law by the approval of the
people without the approval of Congress
of the will of the President
Will the President, on his opinion OF
the popular approval, execute it as law
Or is this merely device to avoid the
serious responsibility of defeating law
on which so many loyal hearts reposed
for security? -.....-
But the reason now assigned for not
approving the bill are full. of ominous
significance ~. -.....-
The President proceeds:
"Now, therefore, I, Abraham Lincoln,
President of the United States, do pro-
claim, declare, and make known, that,
while I am Gas in December last, when
by proclamation L propounded plan for
rcstoration) urp-epared, by formal ap-
proval of this bill, to be infexibly COM
mitted to any single plan of restoration" ="
That is to say, the President is resolved
that the people shall not Iy ldao take ohy
securities from the rebel States against a
renewal of the rebellion, before restoring
their power to govern US.
His wisdom and prudence are to be our
sufficient guarantees
He further says:
"And, while l am also unprepared to
declare that the free State constitutions
and governments already adopted and in
stalled in Arkansas and Louisiana shall
be set aside and held for naught, thereby
rcpelling and discouraging the loyal ci:i
zens who have set up the same as to fur
ther effort" ---- ..
That is to say, the President persists in
those shadows OF governments
in Arkansas and Louisiana, which Con-
gress formally declared should not be re-
cognized; whose Representatives and Sen
ators we're repelled by formal votes Of
both houses Of CoDgress-which it was
declared formally should have no elector
al vote for President and Vice Prs dent.
They are the mere creatures of his
will They cannot live day without his
support. They are mere olicarchies i'm
posed on the people By military orders
u der the forms cf election, at which
Generals, Provost Marshals, soldiers, and
camp followers were the chief actors, as
sociated by a handful of resident citizens
and urged on to premature action by pri-
vate letters from the President.
In neither louisiana nor Arkansas he
fore Banks defeat, did the United States
control half the territory or half the rop-
llation. In Louisiana, General Banks
proclamation candidly declares "The
fundamental law of the State is martial
aw" ID ---
On the foundation of freedom, he erect
ID Ehat the President calls "the free con-
'titution and the government Of Louisiana
But of this State. whose fundamental
aw is martial law, only sixteen parishes
,ut of forty-eight parishes were held by
he United States; and in five Of these
ixteen we held only our camps.
The eleven parishes we substan TALLY
leld had 233 ,1S5 inhabitants; the resi-
lue of the State not held by US, SIS, ,617.
At the farce called an election, the Off
,ers of General Banks returid that H.
'46 ballots were cast; but whether any |
II by whom the people of the Uni'ed
States have no-leeal assurance; but it is |
probable that 1000 were cast by soldiers
II employees of the United States militia
V or municipal, but none according to
ny law, state or national, and 1000 bal
OTIS represent the State of Louisiana.
Such is the free constitution and gov
rnment of Louisiana ; and like it is that
f Arkansas Nothing but the failure Of
military expedition deprived us of
ike one in the swamps of Florida and
efore the Presidential election, like ones
nay be organized in every rebel State
there the United States have camp.
The President, by preventing this bill
rom becoming q law, holds the electoral
otes for the rebel States at the dsctation
f his personal ambition.
If those votes turn the balance i'll his
lvor, is it to be supposed that his compe-
tor, defeated by such means, will fsIui-
see ?
If the rebel majority assert thei su
in these States, and send votes
'hich elect an enemy of the government,
ill we not repeal his claims
And is not that civil war for the Presi-
ency, inaugurated by the votes of rebel
tatcs ---' --- I'D
Seriously expressed with these dangers,
congress, "the proper constitutional au-
hority," formerly declared that there are
D state governments in the rebel States,
nd provided for their erection at prop
r time ; and both the Senate and the
louise of Representatives rejected the
enators and Representatives chosen un-
er the authority of what the President
alls the free constitution and government
Arkansas. t -.r
The Presidents proclamation 'holds
,r naught" this judgment, and discards
authority of the Supreme Court, and
rides hsadlong towards the anarchy. his
of the Sth December inau-
urated. -a f BE-
If electors for President be allowed to
. chosen in either of these States, sim
ter light will be cast ON the motives
hich induced the President to s'hold for
lught" the viii of Congress rather than
IS government in Louisiana and Ar
lnsaS. .-. ... .