Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1865-07-13

: therefore, to Mr.. Dana's position
= that we may rightfully impose upo
the Southern States any require
ments which we may deem essentis
to the public safety" That is t
, say, the Government of the Unite
States must submit to any measure
which "the Southern States" ma
choose to adopt in their reorganiza
E ton, even if it considers them to b
destructive of the public safety.
Fortunately for the country this i
! not the ground taken by the Presi
dent of the United States. Slavery
be said to the South Carolina delega
ltion, composed of citizens who hav,
F! teen rebels for four years and more
Eslsvery is dead Whatever you may
think about it-whateyer your Stat,
| Constitution may say about it, it il
still true, sand President Andrew
johnson, speaking in the name oi
the United States, that ''there is nc
hope that the people of South Caro-
lima can be admitted into the Senate
or the House of Representatives until
they afford evidence by their con
duct of this TRUTH
The President imposes the condi-
ton of emancipation on the State re-
organization because the public safe
ty requires it. Upon what other
| grounds than the public safety re-
quires it. Upon what other ground
than the public safety has the Gov
ernment waged war? What was the
war but the maintenance of the ma
tional authority agaist local action,
which was incompatible with public
safety? And in that part of the
country which was the seat Of war
what political authority exists at this
moment but that of the nation? fit
be asserted that States can not cease
to be States, we should like to know
in the present situation who is to de
eide that point? If it be assumed
that certain loyal citizens constitute
the States, we should like to know
who settles that question: Clearly
the people of the United States
through their lawful Government;
and while undoubtedly those people
desire that State governments may
be organized as speedily as the pub
safety will permit, they are received
with equal unanimity that no local
government shall be established any
where in the country except upon
conditions which they may deem es-
sential to the public safety.
If the. political authority of the
United States be not at this moment
absolute over every square inch of
South Carolina, then some other
authority is paramount there If 30,
what is it2 Is it the State authority?
If that be the case, then the State
Constitution regulates it,and regulate
it independently of all other. But if
there be another authority which re-
fuses to recognize any validity in the
State Constitution except upon pre-
scribed conditions, then that au-
thority is paramount, and it may
prescribe reformation in parts or
altog, ther of that Constitution. II
the Times be correct, the. proclama-
tons of President johnson are un-
constitutional, because he has i'm
posed upon the Southern States re-
quirements which be deems essen
tial to the public safety-a course
which seems to US to be both that of
the Constitution and of common
sense. ufs.. -
Suppose that certain number Of
persons living in the State of South
Carolina should call a convention,
reaffirm the Constitution, take an
oath of fidelity to the Union, and
claim to be recognized as the State
of South Carolina. The whole coun-
try would laugh at them for their
pains Before the total ruin of the
rebellion this was the kind of ad-
vice given to the rebels by the New
York World Summon your Legis-
latures," it said, "repeal the act of
secession, lay down your arms, and
Lincoln can do nothing. Elect your
Senators and Representatives; send
them to Washington; and as the
House is not organized they. will
have 4 voice in the organization.
If the Times be correct, this was
sound advice, If the, country can
not impose upon the reorganization
of rebel States such conditions as the
GpG55iile safety may require, then the
public safety is at the mercy of those
rebel States. !, = .l.-' .-. = .;,'le =, q
If, again, it be alleged that al
though all the people in the State
have by the State attitude of REBEL
ion forfeited their political rights,
and that they are restored by the
pardoning power under certain con-
ditiens, the whole argument falls to
the ground by its own terms. For
manifestly, if all the people in State
have forfeited their political rights
there is nobody which can rlghtfully
exercise political power, except by
the will of the national authority, and
under, such conditions as il may I'M
poseJwith view. to national peace
and security. y, ei65 ) y : al
! That's precisely the cardinalpoint
in the labor of reorganization, which
is now plainly apparent, The United
States having overthrown the armed
resistance to its authorltv ia now To