American citizen. [volume] (Butler, Butler County, Pa.) 1863-1872, 1865-09-27

Douy OF men whose devotion TO the or
ganic law of their country was second to
no other similar body of men that ever
deliberatcd under its protection and
obligations,-it received the approving
signature of our Maftyred President,
Abraham Lincoln and not only was it
signed by him but its wisdom was after
wards re-afiirmed BIZ him in the issuing
of the proclamation provided for by one
of its provisions. Those considerations
should entitle it to respect and great con-
sideration at our hands. But says our
Copperhead neighbor The question of
franchise is Que for the States and not
for the Federal Government, and our
constitution provides that " all free white
citizens &C., are entitled TO vote. Does our
neighbor know what meaning the Judi
ciary would give to this worl .ti'ees Is
that man free who is a delinquent to the
Government? Ifthe Federal Government
has no power over the elective franchise,
then Wade Hampton, Joe Johnston and
kindred rebels can again return to Con
gress All admit that the Government
has a right to take the lives of all such
as we'll as of all deserters. Does not the
greater contain the less ? The right to
live is one of the greatest rights belong
ing to man. Well has it been said that
81 all that man hath viii he give for his
lite.' If the government, therefore, has
power to take life, has it not also power
to infict punishments of less @gree
upon those who prove to be unworthy OF
its iavors We have only time for an.
other remark, in this connection, that to
us it seems passing strange that in all
efforts made by the Democratic school OF
politicians to convince the people Of the
limited powers Of the Federal Consti-
tuition, not one has been made in the in
teres. of liberty and Unionl No mon
strosity, however great which was pro-
mulgated by Southern Statesman, in the
interest of caste or slavery, was ever objec-
ted to by them; but on the contrary am-
pie power was found for every aee doc.
trine that their Southern masters requir-
ed them to indorse Far otherwise how
ever, when all the great powers of the
constitution necessarily stretched to their
utmost tension in the suppression Of a
Democratic rebellion Mr.. Buclanap
had no power as President Of tie Nation
to 'coercc sovereign State )" neither
did he believe Congress had, aud labored
hard to prove it, His Attorney General
Black held the same opinion. With these
same democrats there was no power in
the constitution tor declaring blockade.
None to enforce or even pass conscrip-
ton Law none to authorize the Procla-
nation of Emancipation None to con-
fscato rebel property! And finally none
to prevent Southern rebels and Southern
traitors from coming again to the polls
aud uniting once more with their old
friends for the purpose of reinstating both
in power so that they may yet accomplish h
at the polls what they have failed to do
in the field.
1t is for the loyal people to say wheth-
er this will be done. Let one election be
carried by such combination, and we
will yet see the leading rebels swarming
round the National Capitol, in its halls
of Legislation aud its Executive Offices,
with the whole policy Of tho Government
revised--and rebel soldiers rather than
Union tn, recipients Of its favors. But
we will follow this subject no further
We have held them at bay when tens OF
thousands ofo brave Republican friends
were driving back to their last ditch, theiI
Southern brethren" and shall we falter
now with great reinforcemcnts to our, ranks!
certainly not. No considerable portion
of the union soldiory can ever be expcc-
ted to cast their votes with set OF men
who even W thout BLUSH would advise the
sworn officers of the law to disregard
their solemn obligations, and rcceivs lille,
gal votes from pack of cowardly deser,
ters and non-reporters who had fled ths
country in the hour of her need.
Finally we say to our Republican
friends to take the Citizens contain
ing this list to your election district
and challenge every vote, that appears on
it, that offers to vote, take his name also
so that he can be attended to hereafter
and if his vote is taken by any copper
head officer take his name, have two OF
three witnesses present. Perhaps Pro-
vost Marshal Kirker may have a repre-
sentative or two convenient. Don't get
into unnecessary trouble, but see to 1t
that the law is not traDpled upon, and
our word for it, those that attempt to DIS
ra.xard ;.s ,Sroyia;ope ahnIl snffer the con-