American citizen. [volume] (Butler, Butler County, Pa.) 1863-1872, 1865-09-20
Massachusetts.


passed at the recent State Convention Of
he Bay State. They have the true ring
in them.
Res1!red, That Massachusetts, went ON
fur her than political necessity and Ma
iona safety required, when in 1864, in
eommon with the Republicans ofall States
she declared in National Convention that
Slavery was the cause aud strength oi the
Rebellion, it must be always and every
where hosti 10 to the lr.ncples of Repub-
lean Government aud justice, and the
National safety demanded It's utter and
complete extirpaton from the soil of the
Republic and now in accord with these
declarations, she only asks that there shall
be on the part of Congress and the ad-
ministration no relaxation whatever IF
vigor or vigilance in the government of
the revolted States, which put at hazard
the rights of the people to whom the Ma
tional faith is pledged, or which leaves
in Southern society the seeds of the Ma
tional crime, which brought upon us the
Rebellion which has involved us in debt
$4,000, 600, 900, for thepayment ofwhich
the honor and property Of the country is
pledged, or which has slain by the bullet
and by starvation and cruelty 10000 Of
the best men of the loyal States.
Resotced, That the entire pacification
of the country and the restoration Of or
der is an object Of the first importance,
and on which requires the execise of the
most deliberate and cautious wisdom, in
order that there may be no necessity of
retracing our steps; and we agree with
the Republicans Of Pennsylvania, who,
in theirrecent State Convention, xpressed
the conviction that tho people lately in
rebellion cannot be safely intrusted with
the political rights which they forfeited
by their treason until they have proved
their acceptance of the results of the war
by Incorporating into their constitutional
provisions, and securing to all msn with
in their borders the inalicnable right to
liberty aud the pursuit ofhappness and
VIC call upon Congress, before whom must
speedily come ths whole question of re-
I organizing the Southern com munity to
see to it that the loyal people, white and
black, shall have the most perfect guar.
antecs for their safety before any final
/ steps are taken toward restoring the re-
volted people of the South to their for
feited rights.
Res0tced, That 50 long as any import
ant political questions growing out of the
war remain unadjusted, no part of the
/ powers of the Government can be safely
committed to any political party compos-
cd Of tho Southern men, who were lately
in Rebellion and arms, or of the North
men, who, in National Convention only
year ago, declared that after four years
OF failure to restore the Union by the ex-
pertinent Of war, during which, under the
pretense Of military necessity, the war
power had been placed higher than the
Constitution. The G, institution itself had
heen disregarded in every part public and
private rights alike troddcn down, and tho
material prosperity of the country essen
italy impaired, aud that justice, human-
ity, liberty, and tho public welfare de-
mandcd that immediate efforts be made
for cessation of hostilities.
Aad further reooloca, That no conf
denee ought to be placed in the profes-
sons Of an organization that declared the
necessary protection of the polls from the
assaults Of ruflians and traitors to be a
shameful violation Of the Constitution
which ought to be held as revolutionary
and resisted and that now seeks to re-
instate itself in power by The nomination
OF soldiers and provost-marshals for Office
and by passing resolutions Of confidence
III Republican administration.