Clarksville weekly chronicle. [volume] (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1865-1867, 1865-11-17
! rhe Nav Work Netald sara the actiou Of south

ofGeorgia, IN advocating the payment OF the Rebel
debt; OF Mississippi, in refusing TO take up and
pass the constitutional amendment aboishing sldv-
sry ID believed to have seriously affected the future
policy Of the President concerning those States and
10 have endangered the admission Of their dele
gates in the uext Congress Had Mississippi cheer
fully passed the amendment general amnesty
would have been mt once declared in favor Of ell
Rebels as II is, but few amnestes viii In all prob
ability, be hereafter granted to citizens of those
States. The SAME is irne Of Georgia and South
Carolina, The action Of their conventions has not
justified Presidential confidence, and the rigor OF
military government and martial law will be the
consequence. . |
Either the UsraH has mistaken the views and
feelings of President johnson or the people of the
South have miscons,rued both his acts and expires
sed opinions in regard to restoration. We had
supposed and still believe, that the Presideut in
MS plan Tor the restoration OF the southern States
did not intend TO require, condition, that they
should repudiate their best men, and adopt meas
ares wholly at variance with all preconceved views
of States rights. The abolition of slavery by the
organic law of South Carolina, and the annulment
Of the secession ordinance by the Convention, were
the conditions imposed, and promptly accepted
and this being DONE had supposed THAT the cleo
ton CT an honorable and true to the Office Of
Governor could give no offense to the government
Of the United States, nor in any way compromise
the peace Of the country. 9.t
The Herald further informs as that the refusal
OF the failure of Mississippi to 'pass the consttu-
tioual amendment aholishing slavery" is an error
Of the same character and is likely to be punished
by 'the rigor Of military government and martial
law" And what is the amendment to the Federal
Constitution which Mississippi did not adopt7 Is
II simply an amendment abolsling slavery" as
the Herald informs us2 On the contrary, we ore
told by some leading Republicans that it confers
upon Congress the power to legislate FOR th negro
in the Southern States, and that such legislation
will be so directed Us to secure to the negro the
right Of suffrage. It is true, that Senator Wilson
denies this extent of power as conferred by the
amendment, tdt.says: ave can, under that Con-
Stitutonal provision declare null and void all the
black code legislation of any of the States of the
Union, and put the colored people just where your
old women and minor sons are tonight in the State
of New York" The fact that Mr.. Wilson felt
called upon to make this denial proves that diff
ferent construction is put upon the power sought
for ir that amendment by some of his own party
and that their construction is the true one gains adj
d:tional confirmation from the fact, that the action
Of the Southern States places the colored people
exactly where Mr.. Wilson says the amendment
will enable the radical Congress to place them
If this is already done by State action why seek
to give Congress the power TO do the same over
again. The game is deeper than this
But suppose Mr.. Wilson TO be right, he is, by his
own admission, seeking to infringe the right of the
States to regulate their own domestic affairs, and
place the South in the position of the District of
Columbia. And yet the Herald tells US that the
refusal of Mississippi to surrender its constitutional
rights, by an endorsement of this amendment, has
seriously affected the future policy of the Presi
dent" and endangered the admission of South
ern delegates in the next Congress. This may be
true but it is inconsistent with the earlier declar
atoms of the President, who has avowed his OPP
position 10 negro suffrage at this time, because it
would lead to war of races, and also his opposi-
ton to centralized government at Washington.
The proposed amendment of the Constitution tends
directly to the consumaton of both these radical
ohjects-frst, because the power, in Congress, to
legslato for the negro in the States, will eliminate
in negro suffrage and, secondly, because this pow
er cannot be granted without demolishing the land
marks of State rights. The President may de-
mand its adoption by the States, as one of the
preliminary steps towards restoration but such
demand cannot make the act constitutional, nor
permit it from being subversive Of reserved rights,
and antagonistc to the fundamental IDEA Of our
whole system of government. 4 simple PROPOSE
ton so to amend the Constitution as to abolish
slavery throughout the United States would we
believe be promptly accepted b every State in the
South; but, when to that amendment is appended
clause giving to Congress the power to "declare
null and void all the black code legislation of any
q the States" and constructive, if not absolute
power to confer the right of suffrage upon the ne
gro, we cannot believe, although Mr. Seward af-
firms it that President johnson viii insist npon
compliance with demand that the States shall
surrender the last stronghold of liberty as pro-
litiatory offering to the demons of Northern fanat-
cism. If the Southern States are not to be adj
mitted into the Union until they cede to Congress,
the right TO legislate for them, in matters purely
domestic, they may as Wen be out, as in, so far as
liberty is concerned; for, whether in out, they
will be the mere dependencies Of centralized gov
eminent. If Senator Wilson's Interpretation of the
proposed amendment Ike correct, its effect must be
10 obltsrate the respective limits of Federal and
State authority, and to erect consolidated power
al Washington. Srth was the intention of the
radical Congress that proposed it, and We cannot
believe that Andrew Johnson after all his profess
ions to the contrary, intends to become party to
snch scheme for the snbversion of popular liberty
md the erection of a practical monarcy upon the
ruins Of the Republic. The Southern States have
done enough TO satisfy all honorable men that they
earnestly desire reunion, and that they intend
honestly, TO observe the terms proposed the price
Of reconstruction To ask more, is to take an un-