Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1865-10-13
DURBORR0W LUFE Editors and ProprietOrs.

through the dreadful events of the last four
years-their institutions being not merely
unharmed, but, on the contrary, purified
and perfected. The chart is the constitution
of the United States, and the special pfovis-
ion which governs the question Of recon
struction is found in article fourth, section
fourth: THE United States shall guaranty
to every state in the Union arepublican form
of government.
Now, it is Of comparatively little eonse-
quenee, from practical point Of view,
whether we consider the late rebel states as
alien enemies, and therefore outside of the
Constitution, OF as still component parts of
the Union, and therefore entitled to all the
rights and privileges of states under the
Constitution. One thing is clear; one fact
is indisputable; il meets us at the threshold
of our inquiries, and we show true wisdomHin
fairly examining the significance and bearing
of it. That fact is the one already referred to,
to, namely, the misrepresentation of theate
rebel states in the government.
The question Immediately suggested is,
How to restore that voluntarily forfeited
representation? There is but Que way.
The states lately in rebellion must, by some
method or other, proceed to the business of
electlng the proper representatives, and the
latter must present themselves with their
credentials at the national capital. 1t will
then become the duty of Congress to salts
fy itself as to the compliance, on the part of
those who may thus ask readmission, with
the requirements of the organic law In
other words, the Constitutions Of the late
rebel states, in virtue of which representa-
tives may have been elected, will be then
before the people of the United States for
their consideration. If they, acting through
their representatives In Congress, shall be
satisfied that those constitutions accord with
the spirit Of our laws and are not repugnant
to the principles of the organic law, it viii
remain simply to admit the repentant states
into full fellowship Till they are so salts
fed no power ON earth can change the pres
ent fact of the misrepresentation of those
states IN our government.
Now, we understand the President pres
ent course in dealing with the late rebel
states to be entirely in accordance with the
views here set forth. 1t could not well be
any other, without exciting the apprehen-
slons of the American people. 1t is an at
tempt to put the demoralized inhabitants
OF the southern states in the way of recoy-
erlng their forfeited privileges. The Pres
ldent seeks, by means of provisional
governors, 70 effect a beginning in the
political organization of the southern states.
They were stripped Of all government by
the despotism and anarchy Of the Confeder-
ate rebellion, and he properly, as the Chief
Magistrate OF the nation, and charged with
the duty of caring for the protection of its
inhabitants, extends to them helping hand
toward the restoration of political order and
civil society. He can do nothing more, as
he could nothing less.
1t the southern people are ready to resume
their relations with the Union, they will as
semble in their various state conventions, as
they are now doing, under the call Of the
United States provisional governors, and
will act in the premises with such wisdom
and good sense as experience and reflection
may have taught them Ii their eyes are
still blinded to the results which have been
wrought by the revolution of the last four
years, they need not expect a speedy resto-
ration to the rights and privileges of citizens
OF the United States Governor Hamilton
has correctly and well advised the people of
Texas IN this point. In such an unfortu-
nate event the people of any Southern State
must expect to be remanded to whatever
government Congress may see st
to prescribe.
The people of the loyal states are anxious
for speedy restoration of the others to the
Union. They will not regard with favor any
policy that may be proposed, which looks to
delaying this good work. But
on the other hand, let not the southern peo-
pie be deluded into the belief that, in their
anxiety to accomplish such restoration, the
people who have been loyal to the Union
will consent to ignore any OF the principles
which were at issue between North and
South before the war, and which the event
of the war has only rendered more dear to
every loyal heart. Let not the southern
people be deceived as formerly with any
such absurd idea as that the people of the
northern states fear the consequences of war
and that they now fear to hold firmly to the
institutions of the republic, which they be-
lleye the war has confirmed and made sure
forever. Above all, let the southern people !
in It's full significance, that the
motto of the nation is henceforth contained
in those memorable words of Webster
which could be no more than prophecy
when he uttered them Liberty and Union
Il L