The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1865-05-11
sTRoUDsBURG, MONROE COUNTY PA MAY ii, 1865

people of the South have been taught b,
their leaders that such right does ex
ist; so that many good and true men hav,
been led away by this heresy into Re
bellion from which they would otherwis,
have shrunk Let the maxim, eThert
are no rights of Secession," therefore
hereafter stand as the cornerstone of the
frame of government of each revolted
State, they owe SO much to the sacrifices
of the loyal States for the Union. The
third proposition, that the Confederate
debt shall never be recognized, is neces-
ry as preventive of grievous wrong.
The loyal States of the North, New
York for example, in addition to its share
of the burden of the national debt is bur-
dened with many millions of State debt,
all contracted in defense of the country
and in subduing the Rebellion. The
Southern States, when they return to
their practical relations with the Govern
ment will come back wholly free from
this class of debt with which New York
is burdened. Their debt, if any, will
have been contracted in fighting against
the Union and not in restoring it, and of
course will be at first repudiated. But
in time, when, as is just, New York and
the other loyal States call upon the Gen.
eral Government to assume this debt, con-
tracted in its own defense, such demand
will be opposed by the Southern States
which have no such debt or will be en-
numbered by the proposition to assume
tor the South some part of the Confeder-
ate debt; and such will be the power of
the pressure upon Congress of the i'm
mense amount of the consolidated debt,
unjust and iniquitous as it would be for
the nation to assume it, [ should fear for
the result. Therefore, I would have it as
part of the fundamental law of each
State that no part of such debt should ev-
er be assumed or paid by the State, or
any portion thereof. The assumption of
such debt by the General Government is
subject so fraught with danger, so aid
ed by the influence of money, that would
employ every means to keep it from the
National councils
The necessity of the fourth proposed a.
mendment of the Constitution of the sew
eral States, that no Rebel officers should
vote or hold Office, is obvious from their
Constitutions. This Rebellion was base
ly set on foot because political power was
was departing from the South and trav-
cling northward. To regain that
power which their enterprise, wealth, and
consequent increase of population brought
to the North, the leaders at the South
plunged the nation into this horrid war
Shall we not, therefure, teach coming
generations by living examples that po-
litical power is not gained, but irretriev-
ably lost by rebellion against the United
States :? Besides, the common mind at
the South has been heretofore so much
controlled by the leading men that such
deprivation of political power is absolute
ly necessary to deprive the leading class
here of that influence over the Southern
thought which has heretofore been and
and will hereafter be exerted against the
Union.
Being Democrat, I would break down
the landholding and slaveholding aristoc-
racy of the South, which has brought so
much of evil upon us. Is not the depri-
walton of political rights the appropriate
and mildest form of punishment of treas
on ? Is not this necessary measure of
precaution against future evils ? For
these reasons, therefore, which [ have
scarcely more than limited at, [ would in
sist, before any measures should be taken
to bring back revolted State, that the
inhabitants in their primary and funda-
mental law, as part of the frame of
Government, should solemnly provide
that there should be neither slavery nor
Secession in their State, and that Rebel
debts and Rebel notes should be alike re-
pudiated.
Thanking you for the patience with
which you have listened to me, shall be
more than repaid if by these remarks l
have brought before your minds for con-
consideration any of the momentous ques-
tions involved in the reconstruction of
the Rebel States.