Mineral Point weekly tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1859-1868, 1865-09-13
MAJORITY REPORT

MAJORITY REPORT.
Resolued, That this Convention, in be-
half of those whom it represents, renders
devout thanks to Almighty God, that,
through His infinite goodness ara super
intending providence, our army and navy,
unier the lead of their great commanders,
have at last achieved the final and supreme
victory over the rebellion; that peace
reigns once more from the Lakes to the
Gulf from the rivers to the sea, and,
while they bear in sorrow all their great
and bloody sacrifices, among others, even
the assassination OF Abraham Lincoln,
their beloved President, the second Wash
ington of America, who led them through
the long and tre. eudous conflict So WISE
ly that at times he seemed almost inspired
Il ey rejoice that he was permitted to see
his great work so nearly done, the rebel
lion crushed at his feet, the flag OF the
Union floating over Richmond, and over
the soil of every State-not star obscur-
ed nor a stripe erased.
Resolred, That under God, and next TO
Him, we orc to tue brave officers and SOL
diers Of the urmy and navy, our deepest
! gratitude, for the preservation of our
national existence, for the maintenance Of
| the Union, and for the erthrow of Sla,e-
ry, which entities them to high consider
alton in appointment to civil Office, and
we heartily respond 10 the suggestions of
Lieutenant General Grant, lately made at
/ Mi waukee, and pledge ourselves to re-
member and cherish the Homes" estab-
Iished for disabled soldiers and their
orphan children.
Resolrcd, That the 1nimus, which
caused the late rebellion against the
United States, was born Of the pride and
ambition of an aristocrncy founded upon
slavery, which the war and the Emancipa-
ton Proclamation of President Lincoln
has rightfully destroyed bui we deem il
essential TO the regeneration Of the late
slave, but now free, States, that thew
should, in good faith, accept their new
situation, as free States, net ONLY by al,tl-
i-hing slavery IN their State Constitutions
but ly the ratification by their legislatures
Of the aMe ndment to the Constitution Of
the United States. submitted hy Conure,s
and now pending, which forerer aholi1b,s
slavery In every State, and empowers Con-
gress to pass laws necessary to secure
! berty to all the people black and white.
lBy lis adoption, the cause of the rebellion
will be remoged, slavery DESTROYED and
liberty established upon foundation
which neither State, nor President nor
Congress, nor court, nor change Of parties,
can shake-as enduring as the globe itself
/ Bv its adoption by the people of those
/ States, all the world will know that they
/ accept freedom as their situation, and give
| up slavery and all hope Of restoring slavery
/ forever.
/ ReSolred, That under the Constitution
/ Of the United States the pretended right
| Of secession by any State or the people
| of any State, by any act, resolve or pro-
/ ceeding whatever, Is a moustrous heresv.
/ which the rebels of the South sought To
realize by arms, and their sympathizers at
| the North hy cowardlv surrender But
the triumph of our cause has put an end
to all ideas South or North in any sane
mind. that any state can either peaceablv
or forcibly withdraw from the Union.
| Resoired, That we recognize in the ad-
ministration Of President johnson. SUBJ
stantialiy the same policy towards tho
people OF the Southern States as that in
| augurated bv President Lincoln: TINT
while he has offered terms Of recoustruc-
ton with the spirit of Iiberaiity and kind
ress, he nevertheless has evinced n de-
termination TO arrest the abuse of politi-
cal power whenever exercised for disIoyal
! purposes and that we believe be will so
control and direct the work of reconstruc-
ton as will eventually restore the Union
and secure to all The rights to which they
are entitled under free and cnlightend
government, and that we pledge TO him in
the great work cf restorin. civil govern
rnett in those States upon that basis, our
hearty and nnwavering support
ReS0lred, That while we welcome the
cessation Of war in the Southern States
we do not close our eyes To the fact that
a large portion Of the white population
are fresh from acts of hostility toward.
the Government and its free institutions
; are still unsettled in opinions and many
Of them unreconci:ed to the results of the
contest in which for more than four wear:
they have been engaged We rejoice b
be assured shat the government will no
Withdraw from those States the stron,
arm Of military power until it has full
: salts factory evidence Of srch q an
e true and permanent loyal spirit
them safe participant in tho nal
o government insure ohed;s .,eht of 90
u stitution and laws, p ,enee TO the co,
! emancipation of : -cfuiescence In u
ire slaves and 49,