The Portland daily press., 1865-09-18
MIR. SUMMER ArwoRoEsEgTlaRalRs:. &C.

L Inc massachusetts hepuDIlcan State Con-
ventioh, held at Worcester on the 18th inst,
was presided over by Hon, Charles Summer
who made heightened and very able speech
on the oblems and requir entsof the present
hour. Mr.. Summers position in relation to
these points is tolerably well understood, and
for that reason, as well as from our own lack
ofspaee, I'VE do not give the address in full;
thoughit will well repay perusal. It's main
points, briefly summed, are, that the Rebel
lion has been disarmed, only, not killed, and
that the work of emancipation is incomplete
so long as the Black Code exists, that there
is still quasi Rebellion as there quasi Slav-
cry; and the national security and the nation-1
al faith--both as regards its obligations in the
freedmen and the payment of its debt---re-'
quires that Eve should insist upon special
gasQrantees in the Organic laW.as-T The nature.
Of these guarantees is thus set forth:
1) AS the Rebellion began with the pre-
tension thata State might withdraw from the
Union, it is plain that the Unity Qfthe Repasb-
nc must be saffirmed-not Indirectly 1but
directly; not as in Mississippi by simply de-
claring the late act ofseeession null and void !:
but, lin Missouri, where the relations of the
State. to the Union are thus frankly stated ~
THAT this State shall ever remain a member
OF the American Union; that the people there
Of gre q part Of the american Notion: that
every citizen owes paramount allegiance to
the Constitution and Government of the Uni
ted States; and that no law or ordinance Of
this State, in contIaF ention5 or subyersion
thereof, can have any binding force.s Aees
t2y) As thesfebelli6n was wage1 in denial
of the EqadI Rights Of the leolored race, il is
essential not only that Slavery should be re-
nounced, but also that all men should be
hailed as equal before the laws, and this en-
REIMBURSEMENT must be both civil and political,
(3) As the NdtiQaul debt was ii1eiifred. for
the suppression of the Rebellion, this too must
be fixed beyond repeal. Unless this is done,
1t Is evident, from reason rs well as from testi-
mony, that the representatives of the rebel
States will coalesce with others for its repudi-
alton. No rebel State should be re-adnitted
unless bound iirrevocably to the support Of the
nationaLdebt and the payment OF the interest
thereon. ,5uTl y7aI - 00e
(4( The assumption ofthe rebel debt must
be positively forbidden. This debt, whether
at heme Tor abroad, has been incurred for the
support of the Rebellion and must be treated
accoFdngiy, 1t is "a part OF the crime. Here
too there must be guarantee.
(5( AS the national peace and tf'an0a;Iitu
depend essentially upon the overthrow of
monopoly and tyranny here is another or
caslon for a special guarantee against the
whole pretension of color. No rebel State can
be readmitted with this controversy still rag
ing, and ready to break FORTH SO long as it
continues the2land viii refuse its 4ncfease--
Agriculture and business of all kinds will be
uncertain, and the country will be handed over
to a fearful struggle with the terrors of ST.
Domingo to darken the prospect. In shutting
out the freedmenffom his equal rights at tile
ballot-box, you open the doors Of diseontent
and Instruction. I 1t is only impartial saf.i
so that there Shall be one equal rule for all
men. And this to must be placed under the
safeguard Of constitutional law.
(61 As the, EducGtso1l Of theipe0pte is essen
tial to the AhaiOnal welfare, and especially to
the deyelopment.of those principles of justice
and morality which constitute the. only sure
fOundatieh. of b srepubli Hear, government sad
las, according to The census, an Immense pro-
portion Of the people OF the rebel States, With
out distinction of color, cannot read and write
it is obvious that public schools must be estab
lished for the equal good efall. ~ & ite ag a7s
For the requirement. Of such qua rantees Mr..
Sumner finds sufficient authority in the war
power under which the government IS now
-acting--R the Injunction to guarantee are pub
lican term of government, which at once d
power and duty; aud, thirdly, from the
necessity of the case as with OUTLYING territoi-
les, which have no other government.
For the establishment Of their preliminary
Measures of security he looks to Congress as
alone having full Jurisdiction in the matter,
but ii closing his address makes an eloquent
appeal to the President, and other officers of
the governmentqto use with care the great
powers committed to their hands that through
no act of haste or fasllhess on their part the
cause of their country and ~of freedom may
come to harm. ilnsoI sFoa - ioedss smeii si0oa
The following is the concluding paragraph |
of Mr.. Summers speech :I1lIkW II
Equality, long postponed, shall become the |
master principle Of our system and the very |
frontispiece of our constitution. The rebellion |
was to beat down this principle, by founding a
governments on the alleged sinferiority Of o |
race Taking up the gauntlet. I now insist |
that the insolent assumption of the consnfra- /
tors shall not prevail. This is not the first /
time that I have battled with the barbarism of /
Slavery battle still, as the bloody menster
retreats to its last citadel, and, God willing, I
mean to fight it out on this line' if it takes +
what remains to me Of life" sa'
o