Brownlow's Knoxville Whig, and rebel ventilator. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1863-1866, 1865-11-22
The Secession Spirit Soulful Must
be Cast Aside.
W v. D. " HIPPLE,
Assistant Adjutant General

We have been watching with great interest the
proceedings of the different conventions and Legs-
atuTes of the late rebeious States engaged in the
important work of Southern reconstruction. We
have been graihed with the evidences thus fu nsh-
ed Of prevailing disposition to recognize the over
throw of slavery with the confederacy of which it
the corner stone, and to return as posi-
bic to the benefits, rights and privileges of the gen
eral government Of the Union. TherGare however
two sides to every bargain; and the equivalents re-
CURED Of the States concerned for their full resora-
ton 70 the benefits Of the Union they seem to be
very reluctant to fulfil There is considerable ac-
tivity in securing the offices involved, but suspi-
cOuS delay in meeting the conditions annexed Pres
ident Johnson's pardons and concessions are Landed
TO the skies but his indispensable conditions are
evadei.
As an Illustration we will take the case of Nissis-
sippi There was a ready response in that State to
the initial provisions Of President johnson in the
way Of re construction. \ State Convention was
elected which framed a new State constitution on
the basis Of the abolition of slavery and provided
for the election Of a Governor State officers Leg
islatUre and members Of the lower house of Con-
gress. These elections were next held, and the
Legislature so chosen has met and elected two Uni
ted States Senators so that a complete DELEGATION
from the State to both houses of Congress stands
ready for admission. So far il has been plain sail
ing But the essential conditions laid down BY
President johnson in view ofthc future security and
harmony Of the Union have been strangely ever
looked by both the Mississippi Convention and the
Legislature. Among these conditions precedent 10
admission, with his consent, into Congress- Off
cally made known by the president
l5t--A declaration in the new State constitution
that slavery is dead and that secession and the late
rebellion, and their doings null and void.
2d-The reputation of State debts of the rebel
lion in every shape and form.
3d-Thc ratification by the legislature of the
great constitutional amendment prohibiting for all
time to come the revival of slavery within the
limits and jurisdiction Of the United States.
With the fuIflment of these conditions another
necessarily follOws-the recognition of the national
debt Of the United States and provisions to meet
its obligations.
Now what have the reorganizing bodies Of Mis-
sssippi done in regard to these essentials Her
State Convention partially repudated secession ana
its financial liabilities but only partially The State
Legislature in session for sometime and still sitting
has not touched the constitutional amendment pro-
hIbItlng slavery, nor has the Legislature of any
other State involved in thelate rebellion. Nor does
there appear to be any inclination in any one of
them to act upon said amendment. On the other
hand there appears to be among them unanimous
purpose to evade it. The inference is strongly sug
Seted that this evasion can only be for the purpose if
possible of securing the restoration OF all the South
States to Congress before the ratification of said
amendment and then, in default OF Its ratification,
TO re-cstablish slavery by State authority.
IEeDOSleIOuS as JulS SChCnC may dppCt'lf HOW are
we to know that it is not entertained by the pOlit
clans managing these Southern Legislatures, when
of all things they seem least inclined to touch this
constitutional amendment? If they have no dream
of the revival of slavery, why should they hesitate
TO nut its revival beyond the power of any State
any FIVE. ten or twenty-five State? The truth is
that the old spirit Of secession still lives and flour
ishes too largely in these recognizing Southern
conventions and Legislatures and among their news
papcr organs There has been remarkable silence
~, feI,, Al III.
ton of the Presidents instructions to the Provision
al Governor of Florida we are beginning to hear
something from the secession expounders Of South
rights.
The Mobile Register and Advertiser, for instance,
whose editor has Just been transferred from the SER
vice of JEFF Davis to the blessings of loyalty, says
in his issue of the 3Ist ult that his next Legsa-
ture will be called upon to pass upon the so-caled
constitutional amendment" that 'it ought to be !
called constitutional abrogationn that 1T is a
cunning and covert attack Of the radicals upon the
essence of the State rights principle that sit is
sham that st stinks rank heresy IN the nOstris
of every democrat and State rights man " that "Lhe /
amendmedt, as expounded by the Summers and the /
Wilson's, clothes Congress with power over the .
black code in the States; that the war; GOD KNOWS,
has made inroadz enough upon the constitution OF
the fathers and that "theTe must BE- It stop some
where and Soon Here we have IL. state rights
the old secession cry of state rights This
gentleman evidently forgets his position lie thinks
that he is in .the Union as it was in the good old
times of Pierce and Buchanan. He forgets that he
remains in Mobile by the saving grace of Andy
johnson that this amendment is one Of his inhexi-
bic conditions of Southern restoration and that the
Legislature of Alabama must ratfy it before she can
be readmitted TO Congress upon his recommends
ton.
The rule applies to all the late rebellious States
seeking restoration to the Federal Congress-
Their rebellion and its consequences, including the
war powers II the President, have placed the re-
construction Of those States to great extent under
his discretion. His conditions Of reconstruction
therefore be avoided. They must be met
He has made them as easy possible in view of the
interests of the Union If the states
concerned are wise they will cast aside the secession
pirit and fulfil President Johnson's reasonable con-
iitions, and make haste to do it. so that thew NAV
ONE before the new Congress backed by the moral
'ower OF his endorsement. Without it they en- do
lothing at Washington but face about. and return
ome-N J. Herald.