Urbana union. [volume] (Urbana, Ohio) 1862-1872, 1865-08-30
WHOLE NUMBER III.


Instruction. But have they not been terri
bly, punished for this fault? In their slayes
alone they have lost two thousand million
dollars. Their lands have been ravaged =
their houses have been burned, and the re-
gion in which the war was Waged has been
converted into a charred wilderness. Can
justice nay not justice, but can human VEN.
geance demand more than this? And where
let US ask, is the provision in the Constitu-
| ton, which declares that State shall forfeit
its political existenee-its rights under the
Constitution, because a portion of all its citi-
zens have been insurgents? Nosuch power
exists, and it would be absurd to suppose
that the Constitution would provide for its
own overthrow by authorizing the disinte-
grafton of the Union, but IL does provide for
the suppression of insurrection and domestic
violence. Where individual persons have
done wrong they are amenable to the civil
laws, but the acts of individuals cannot for
felt the existence Of States, nor confer pow
ers upon the Federal Government unknown
to the Constitution
By what process is the Union to be restor-
ed? By what means are we again to become
countrymen in heart, as wells in name ? If
we continue to treat the Southern people as
enemies, can we expect them to become
friends2 Would it not be well to remember
that civil wars are ike family feuds, and
when, after strife has ceased and the cause OF
the difficulty has been calmly considered,
that both parties are generally found to be
more or less in fault
Unseiish patriotism can restore the Union,
while selfish ambition may involve the coun-
try in new horrors, and our institutions in
total ruin. Tt requires no art, no mystery
no diplomacy 20 restore the Union We
have but to say to our countrymen of the
South, Come, let Us again be friends If in
aught we have both erred, then let US both
profit by the terrible lesson Of the past four
years, and if only one has been wrong,
then let one be generously forgiven. 9 g
Had our civil authorities been inhuencedby
the same spirit Of generosity and wise con-
citation which inspired our armies or had
soldiers like Sherman and Mcclellan been
authorized to treat for peace, the war would
not have survived the second year, and the
Union would have been restored with senti-
ments of cordial admiration and affection,
warming the hearts our countrynten North
and South for generous manhood begets
respect.
Our country can only be brought back to
the happy and prosperous condition which
existed prior 10 the war, by returning to the
fundamental principles upon which our insti-
tutions were based, and those great doctrinaI
truths Taught by jefferson and Madison, and
the other early fathers of the Republic
The NEGRO PROBLEM.
+ General Cox proposes to- create negro
dependency" to the United States, from
contiguous territory of the States of Ala
baina, Georgia, Florida and South Carolina,
"without breaking m the State organiza-
tions.s dissent froin this solution, because
Congress has no authority under the Con-
stitution, to convert one or more States into
"a negro dependency ;" because if such q
d" dependency" were created, war of ex-
termination between the hostile races wo1ld
be the inevitable result; and lastly because
the dependency" could only be established
after having obtained the lands Of the white
inhabitants by first exterminating them; or
by the Government purchasing the lands on
; the condition that the white citizens would
) abandon their homes that the negro might
possess them.
: The plan Of purchase is impracticable, even
: ware it Constitutional. The area of the pro-
r posed negro dependency would contain
nearly. thirty million acres ofthe best land in
America, which, at an average cost Of twenty
, dollars per acre, would amount to about si5;
= hundred million dollars. Six hundred million
Z dollars where is that enormous sum to
r. come from? Is it to be added to our present
debt Of four thousand millions or does
; General Cox propose that an additional six
d hundred million dollars shall be added to the
tax assessment for the year 1865?
This question cannot be solved by the ap-
plication of the remedy proposed, and its
true solution is the National one,
In most civilized''countries, there are in
: habitants who are not citizens, but they are
fully protected by the laws Of the land in
which they reside. There IS no hardship in
limiting the negro to the rights Of an in
habitants,' and still less 50, when it is con-
sidered that for such services Is he may have
: rendered in the field, he has been rewarded
with freedom.
= Il the negroes. so desire, they can remain
as perpetual inhabitants, who, says Vat
tel, are a kind Of citizens Of an inferior
order, and are united to the society without
participating in al its advantages" That
e is, they woald be protected in life, liberty
and property, without having the right to
. vote, or the exercise Of other rights which
q q are incident to Suffrage.
10 EtGRo EQUALITY Is OHIO.
= The "Oberlin Committee said to General
- Cox, in their letter ofJuly "a, 1865, eve
: want to know directly from you your views
on the following subjects: Ist, A-e y9u IN
=, favor ofn1odjyinq our Constitution sods 10 gir'
~ The e7eciirs franchise to colgre3 n7ea2'
To this question, thus plainly put, fene7'-
le al Car made no rrPlg and every reader o
7e his letter is left to draw his own inference
" as TO his views as to Negro Suffrage III Ohio