The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1865-09-14
Gov. Stone on Reconstruction.
Extract from the Governors
speech at Toledo. Tama COun-
tV. Sent 18th
Reported for the Chica 90 Tribune

sole object for which the war was prosecuted.
1t was prosecuted for the higher purpose OF
overthrowing rebellion and chrushing out
Southern treason, the prime element of civil
discord and war Until these purposes are
fully accomplished, the contest must go on,
and be fought through to its final results.
How far has the nation advanced in the at
tanment Of the object for which we have
sacrificed so many thousands Of valuable lives
a6d expended almost countless millions of
public treasure? We have succeeded after
four years Of terrible war, in overcoming
armed resistance to the exercise of Federal
authority the seeded States Practically
we have not advanced a single point beyond
that. The Union is not yet restored Not
one of these States is represented in either
branch of Congress not one has a Governor
elected by its own people, or a Legislature
for the enactment of its laws. Every civil
officer of these States is either appointed by
the President at Washington, or by a provis-
ional Governor sent there by him. They are
in condition OF military dependency upon
the government at Washington and have
neither civil authority nor political privileges.
except what is granted them as a matter of
favor from the President. They are as much
out OF their proper and practical relations. as
States to the Federal government as they
have been at any time since secession was
=
Union has yet to be performed. Not traitor
has yet been punished for his infamous crime.
and the spirit OF the rebellion, instead of be.
ing sabdued. is still rampant among them
Traitors without numberare upon their knees.
with lip loyalty, begging for pardon, but /
have yet to learn that these men have repent
ed of their treason, or abandoned the danger
Gus political heresies which eliminated in
the late attempt to dissolve the Union The
IL hof,, L.. J +
riots solemn and imperative. Shall it 20
down in history that after this mighty display
of military power. this development of 10y
atty. patriotism and courage in the prosecu-
ton OF this great war, we dare not to spring
the hempen moose around the necks of trai-
tors? Is JEFF. Davis, with his bloody record.
TO go unwhipped of justice? Are such men
rs Toombs Breckenridge Benjamin, Wise
and Wigtall. with their garments died in pat
rlohc blood, and their fingers covered with
rings Whitfield from the bones of Northern
soldiers starved at Andersonville and Libby.
to be restored to their political rights, and
resume their seats in the American Senate !?
Are the brave men, who left their homes in
the hour OF their country need, and endured
with more than Spartou firmness. those four
years of hardship and peril, to be informed
that treason against this Government is no
longer a crlme2 Are traitors to be TINS
purged pampered and honored. while the
men who fought aud snbdued them are vet
writing with unheaed wounds and broken
hmbs2 | have been taught that treason is
the highest crime a man could commit and
deserved the severest penalty known to the
law Its swift and sure punishment has been
regarded as the sheet-anchor ofnational safety
This IS the accepted theory under every form
of civil government. and has been throughout
all history.
When you shall have established the doc
trine that treason is no longer crime. not
even odious, that it may be perpetrated with
lmpunlty, what guaranty will Won longer have
for the safety and stability of your Govern
ment and its institutions what will there
be to deter the bold and reckless hand from
hauling down your flag, or piercing its folds
folds with traitor S bullet? In this hour of
danger it is well to seek light in the examnle
of the fathers. SO careful were they to
guard this vital point, that they described the
CRIME OF treason in the enduring form of n
constitutional provision, and required Con-
gress TO define Its nshment. In the Gght
OF history with the example and sad expert
ence of fifty generations before them. this
provision was adopted as the corner stone of
national safety. 1t stands there vet. a ner-
petual warning Of the sainted dead. Ignore
tins and your fundamental law is a delusion.
80 St2tt HSNtAC vi Ouf Government a
bed of sand.
do not know that we shall have the conr.
age to hang these traitors. but think a few
should he executed in vindication of this
principle, and as warning example to treas.
on IN the future If we cannot hang we can
at least refuse to pardon traitors. let the
work OF reconstruction go on while traitors
are repenting. There is no danger that thew
will repent too much or become too loyal. 4
little probation will not hurt them. We have
been four years in trying to whip them, and
have just succeeded. The basis of recon
structlon, rs security against future treason
and war, must be the obvious prncnles Of
Liberty, Loyalty and Equality A recon.
struction upon any other basis would be the
height OF National folly and madness. Upon
any other foundation this Governments cannot
stand for a single hour. These vital prjnci-
pies entered into the original structure. and
1t was because you departed from them. and
forgot the teachings of the fathers, that You
nave been wadlng in rivers of blood this
war was the logical and legitimate result of a
grave departure from the land marks which
they established BE careful now III puttine
on this new life of the nation We must have
no more war, no more precious blood. nor
widows and Orphans tears See to it that
the workmen employ none but sound and an
proved material. Secure for the snnnort IF
these recognized State governments loval
constituencies, however small thew may he N
start with. Use the loyal masses. Allow
them to help you. Don't be particular as to
the shade of their complexion You used
oiack bullets during the war, you need not
spurn black ballots now. Turn not your bacl,
upon the men who came to your rescue in the
hoqr of the nations peril There is vet a God
IN Israel, and He did not forget the two hun
ared years of wrong and outrage yol perpe-
lratea upon that unfortunate race nor will He
overlook your base ingratitute if YOU now cast
on these black defenders of YOUR iiap. Dnr;no
Inc progress of this war, many dnsky form
was stretched upon the field by rebel bpllats'
anu many black mother TO-DAY wae,,s a-ar
her orphan children. "eePs over
After the work of reconsirre,;,,, Inn,
been completed, and the Union fal $50 ga nave
ally restored, then perhaps it NAV do ', ~ 10Y
aon traitors IN limited numbers bnt nar a.,
should follow, not precede it. / shonld l Gun
to see lnmistakable evidence of their rs,,, ,ne
ing loyalty, before my name was affixed ~
single pardon. BY their fruits we NAV kno,s
them, better than their words. Th;s 1 1as,a,
whitewashing of unrcpentant traitors a;saa
no assurance of future fidelity. Let No con
1nue to hold them off at arms Length L.. :,
cnoks the last drop Of rebel blood Out Of them N.