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


ratified BY the Legislatures of three-fourths
of the states that acted on its passage BY con-
gress, which had Legislatures, or which were
states capable of acting or required to act on /
that question. l take no account Of the ag
gregations of whitewashed rebels, who, with
out any legal authority, have assembled in
the capitals of the late rebel states and simu. |
lated legislative bodies. Nor do / regard |
with any respect the cunning by-plsy into |
which they deluded the secretary of state by /
frequent telegraphic announcements that |
South Carolina has adopted the amend !
ment," Alabama has adopted the amend |
ment, being the 9th state" &c, DC This |
was intended to delude the people and accus-
tom congress to hear the names of these ex-
tinct states rs il they were alive, when, in
truth, they have no more existence than the
revolted cities of Latium, two-thirds of whose
people were cOlOnized and their propertycon-
fscated and their right of citizenship with
drawn by conquering and avenging Rome.
Il Is equally important TO the stability of
this republic that ii should n(w be solemn
ly decided what power can revive, recreate,
and relnstate these provinces into the family
Of states, and invest them with the right of
mercan citizens. Ii is time that congress
should assert it's sovereignty and assume
something OF the dignity OF a Renan senate.
lt is fortunate that the president invites con-
gress to take this manly attitude. After
stating with great frankness, in his able mes
sage, his theory, which, however, Is found TO
be impracticable, and which | believe very
few now consider tenable, he refers the whole
matter to the Judgment of congress. Ii cOu-
gress should tail firmly and wisely to dis
charge that high duty. it is not the fault of
the president. The congress owes il to its
own character 10 set the seal of Reproduction
upon n doctrine which is becoming too fash
Ionable, and unless rebuked, will become the
recognized principle of our government.
Gov. Perry and other provisional governors
aud orators proclaim that this is the white
mans government. The whole cOpperhead
party, pandering to the lowest prejudices Of
the ignorant, repeat the coockoo cry, This is
the white mans government" Demagogues
of all parties, even some high in authority,
grovelling, shouting, This Is the white
mans government"
What is implied by tins? That one race of
men is to have the exclusive right forever to rule
this naton and to exercise all acts of sovereign
", while all other races, aud nations, and colors
TO be their subjects, and have voice in
making the laws and choosing the rulers by whom
they TO be governed. Wherein does this diff
fer from slavery except IN name Does not
this contradict all the distinctive principles of
the declaration Of independence When he
great and good men promulgated that iustru-
ment and pledged their lives and sacred honors
to defend il, it supposed To form an epoch in
civil government Before that time il heid
that the right TO rule vested in families,
dynasties, or races-not because of superior intel
ligence or vrtuTc, but because o. a divine right
to enjoy exclusive privileges. Our fathers re-
pudatsd the whole doctrine Of the legal supe-
rioritv of families races, and proclaimed the
equality of all men before the law upon that
they created revolution aud bui the republic.
Taey were prevented BY slavery from pertecJiUg
the superstructure whose foundation they had
ri lly laid E,r no aak. ,T fba Uni,
they scented TO wait, but never Teiinquished
the idea of final completion. The tine 20 which
they looked forward with anxiety has come. Ii
is our duty to complete their work. If this
public is not now made to stand their great
principles, u has no honest foundation, aud the
Father Of all men will still shake it TO it's centre
II we have not yet been sufficiently scourged for
oar national sin 70 teach Us to do justice to all
cd creatures, without distinction of
color, must expect the still more heavy ven
geance of an offended Father, still increasing His
infections, lie increased the severity Of the
plaques of Egypt, until the tyrant consented TO
do justice aud when that tyrant repented of his
reluctant consent, aud attempted TO re-ensave
the people, as our southern tyrants attempt
ing TO do now, he filled the Red sea with broken
chariOts and drowned horses, aud strewed the
shore with dead carcasses.
Mr. SPEAEEE-t trust that the republican par
ty will not be alarmed at what am saving |
do not profess TO speak their sentiments, nor
must they De heId responsible Tor them. |
speak for myself and take responsibility, and will
settle with my intelligent constituents This is
not a white mans government in the exclusive
sense i'll which it is used. TO say so is political
plasphemy, for il violates the fundamental prin-
ciples of our gospel of liberty. This is mans
government, che government of all men alike
Not that all men will have equal power and sway
within it accidental circumstances natural aud
acquired endowment and ability, will vary their
fortunes-but equal right to all the privileges
OF the government Is innate in every immortal
being, matter what the q: ape or color of the
tabernacle which it inhabits. If equal privileges
granted 20 all | shoald not expect any but
white men TO tie elected to office for long ages to
come. The prejudice engendered by slavery
would not soon permit merit to be preferred to
color. But it would still be beneficial to the
weaker races.
In a country where political divisions will al
ways exist, their power, joined with Just white
men, would greatly modify, if it did not entirely
prevent, the injustice of majOrities without the
right of suffrage in the late slave states do
not speak of the free state1. The slaves had far
better been left in bondage. see it stated that
very distinguished advocates of the right of suf-
frage declared in this city that they do expect
to obtain it by congressional legislation, but only
by administrative action; because, "a one gallant
gentleman said, that state had not been out of
the Union; then they will never get it.. The
president Is far sounder than they. He sees that
administrative action has nothing to do with it,
II il ever is tO.come it must be in congressional
amendments, congressional action in the ter
ritorial and enacling acts How shameful that these
men OF influence should mislead and misedacate
the public mind. They proclaim this is the white
mans government, and the whOls coil of copper
leads reecho the sentiment, and up
start, jealous republicans join the cry. Is il any
wonder ignorant Foreigners and illiterate natives
should learn this doctrine, and be led to despise
and maltreat a whole race of their fellow-men