The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1865-12-23

Union
To prove that they are and have been ont
of the Union for all legal purposes. and are
now conquered subj cots to the absolute dis
possl of congress, will suggest Q few IDEAS
and adduoe q few authorities. If the So
sailed Confederate States of America were an
independent bsiligerent, and were 80 ac-
knowiedged by the United States and bJ Eu-
rope, or had assumed and maintained an at
titude which entitled them to be considered
and treated as bslligerent, then during
such time they were precisely in the condi-
ton of foreign nation with whom We were
at war, nor need their independence as . ma
ton be acknowledged by as to produce that
effect
Mr.. Stevens then quoted from Mr.. Justice
Grier In the prize cases all the law on these
points. After such clear and repeated deci.
| sions, he said. it is something worse than
ridiculous to hear men OF respectable stand
ing attempting to nullify the law OF nations,
and declare the supreme court of the United
States IN error, because, as the constitution
forbids II, the states could not 90 out OF the
Union de facto. After proceeding further in
his argument. he remarked: Ii is obvious
| that the first duty of congress is to pass u
law declaring the condition of these outside
or dsfunct states, and providing proper civil
governments for them. Since the conquest
they have been governed by martial law
Military rule necessarily despotic, and
ought not to exist longer than ia absolutely
necessary.
As there are no symptoms that the people
of these provinces will be prepared TO partic
| ipate in q constitutional government for
| some years, / know of no arrangement so
! proper for them territorial governments.
There they can learn the principles of free
| dom, and eat the fruit of foul rebellion under
such governments. While electing members
sh.at al Il,
sarily mingle with those to whom congress
shall extend the right of suffrage. In the
territories, congress likes the qualifications
/ OF electors, and i know of no better place or
better occasion for the conquered rebels and
| the cCnqueror to practice Justice to all men,
| and accustom themselves to make and TO
| obey all laws. AS to these famed rebels,
/ they cannot at their option reenter the heav
en- which they have disturbed nor the garden
! of Eden which they have deserted, as flaming
swords set st the gates 10 secure their
exclusion.
I Ii becomes important to the nation 90 in
! quire when the doors shall be- re-opened for
/ their admission. According 10 my Judge
ment they Ought never t. be recognized as
! capable OF acting il the Union or being cOun-
! ted valid States, until the constitution
! shall have been 40 amended rs to make IL
! What its trainers intended, to secure q
perpetual asneudency 20 the party Of the I'm
I ION, and go as 20 render republican govern
ment firm and stable forever. Tue irst of
/ these amendments IL 10 change the basis OF
membership to actual voters. Now all the
( col.red treemen Ia the slave states, and
three tfths ot the slaves, are represented,
, though none of them have votes. The rebel
! states have ~ representatives OF cOl0ra1
. slaves. II the slaves are now tree, then the.
can add tor the ntn6r two-tiths, - more.
making the slave representation .. | sup
pose the free blacks IN thOse states will give
| 1t ieast i've more, making the representation
of non voting people OF coior about 81. The
whole number OF representatives now fron
the slave states Is 20; add the other two
! htths aud i. will be s..
II the amendment prevails, and those
states withhold the right of suffrage from
persons OF color, IL will deduct about 81 leav-
ing them but 45. With abe apportioument
unchanged the So southern mem bers with
the democrats that will, In the bsss times be
elected froGi the north, will always give them
q maj ority IN congress and IN the electoral
college. They will, A. the very FIRST election,
take possession OF tue White House and the
halls of Congress. | need not depict the ruin
that would follow. The assumption of the
retel debs or repudiation of the federal debt
will be sure 20 follow. The oppression of the
freedmen, tue re amendment vi the state con-
situations. and the re establishment of slav-
. ery would Do the inevitable result That
they would scorn and disregard their present
constitutions forced upon them In the midst
( OF martial law, would be both natural and
just. No Que THAI has any regard for the
freedom of elections can look upon those gov
srnments, forced upon them in duress. with
I any favor.
If they should grant the right of suffrage
to persons of color, think there would al
ways be Union white meu enough in the
south, aided by the blacks, to divide the rep
resentulion, aud thus continue the republic.
, an ascandency. Ii they should refuse thus
! 10 alter their election laws. it would reduce
the representatives of the late slave states TO
about 10, and render them poweress for evil.
1t Is plain that the amendment must be con-
summated before the deiuncE states are ad-
mitted to be capable of state action, or il new
er eau be.
The proposed amendment to allow congress
! to lay duty on exports is precisely in the
same situation. It's importance cannot we'll
be overstated. 1t is very obvious that for
many years the south will not pay much un-
| der internal revenue laws. The only
| article on which We can raise any considera-
| bic amount is cotton. It will be grown large
ly at ouce. With ten cents per pound ex port
| duty it would be furnished cheaper to foreign
markets than they could obtain it from any
| other part OF the world. The late war has
| shown that. Two millions o. ales exported
at 500 pounds to the bale would yield 800
600. This seems to be the chief revenue We
shall ever derive from the south. Besides, 1t
would be protection to that amount tl our
domestic manufactures. Other proposed
amendments, to make all laws uniform, to
prohibit the assumption of the rebel debt, are
of vital Importance and the only thing that