Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1865-08-03
Georgia and Her Provisional Gov.
eYnOr.

The more we learn of Governor Johnson, of
Georgia, the more fully are we convinced OF the
wisdom of his appointment by the President to the
position he holds. His proclamation to the people
of that State is the best document of the kind that
has been issued. and his speeches to the people
models of good sense sincerity, and enlarged pat
riotism. We have received the Macon Daily Tel
egraph OF July lS which contains a report of a
speech delivered by Governor Johnson to the cit
iZens of Macon, upon the questions of reconstruc-
ton, slavery, the the future OF the black populI
ton, the treatment due to them from their former
masters the duties and responsibilities of the cti
Of Georgia, and the Lessons and results Of the
war, which must have benefcient and harmo-
nizing effect upon the popular mind. not only of
thatgState but of all the States similarly situated.
OF the fate of slavery the Governor says:
now feel bound to declare to yOn one thing
which YOU must recognize rs accomplished; and
the sooner you know it and conform to il, the
sooner will you be relieved from military rule
Siauery erists no more. This is decreed. Its res
toration, under any form, is utterly out OF the
question. Those who indulge hopes to the con-
trary are laboring under delusion. In order to
convince you of this | will call your attention TO
certain facts which have already transpired.
Twenty five States in the Union have already
accepted the proposed amendment TO the CoCstitu-
ton of the United States, by which amendment
i, is declared that slavery involuntary servitude
shall no longer exist in the United States, and that
Congress NAV make laws t. carry this into effect.
TWENTY-FIVE States have ratified and adopted this
proposed amendment; only two are wanting to pass
it by constitutional majority, and when it is so
passed il will be the law OF the land. These two
will be obtained. There is no possibility of de-
feating il. And when il shall be done, the Consti
tuition will declare that slavery, in the United
States. no longer exists.
He does not, however. rest the extinction of
= al. 81 a,1, at t1,o
amendment by the requisite number of States, but
takes the ground that it is already legally destroy
cd by the proclamation of President Lincoln,
VIII ch he holds to h1ve been within his con-
stitutOnal power as Commlnderin-C Chief of the
Army.
This argument was also used BY him in for
mcr addres, To the people Of Savannah, 4 portion
of which we repubiished. His language to the
people cf Macon, on that pint, was as follows:
But. furthermore, slavery has been extinguished
bv the operations OF the late do not propose
i'm this connection to enter upon a lengthy argu
ment to prove il. simply state what's universally
acknowledged by all writers Oh national law,
that bcligcrants have the right to make captures
of persons and property, and that they may make
w Il disposition they please ofthc property clptur-
cd. The vanquishcd are at the disposition OF the
corqucrors, and NAV be disposed OF as they think
proper Such is war, and it is sin against God
and humlnit; that it should be waged. We must
submit 20 the result of the war. Congress, by the
Constitution of the United States hls the power 10
give TO the President The regulation of captures
by sea and lan and the President in the exercise
of this power. given to him by the Constitution
and bv Congrcs issued his proclamation disposing
of their captures, declaring q at all the negroes
who were slaves in the revOlted States, should BY
virtue of that proc.mr.,n n, become emancipated.
Such Is, in INV judgement, the law, and believe
the Supreme Court will so decide.
Those friends of the Administrator who have
feared that the Prcsiden; yielding up all con-
troll over the political action OF the late seeded
States, by tkir, ntiatory measures for the estab-
I>hment of civil government therein, and for their
ultimate rcs.oration to full political privileges rs
Stats, should be re-assured. Governor Johnson
understands and gives the people of Georgia to
understand, that the State cannot resume Der place
in the Union until she is placed in hIrmony with
the policy OF the Nation. on the great questions
which have been decided by the war, and by the
aval masses who sustained the government
through the war. He says to them:
al come 10 another point. The constitution
Which tie people OfGeorgiI shall adopt in conven-
tioi will be required to recognize this fact. The
convention will he called upon to agree TO this
amendment to the constitution that slavery shill
M longer exist in these States. They will be
called upon to decide this before their restoration
10 the Union. in order that this quarrel about
siNetN, WHICH HAS cAl>1- VI iloin l'c VI r'u"'o vi
the government to the present time shall never be
revived, aud in order that there be no disputes
an ong tie people of this State on the subject
They must provide for its extinction now, and so
tell YOU to-day; ii YOU Wish to be admitted into
the Union. this convention of the people of Ceor
.ia mus Be composed of such mtterial as will rec
osnizc the fact of the extinction of -lavery in
Georgia, and agree to the amendment to the con-
stituton of The United States, which will extin-
gush slavery throughout the country.
So. then, say to YOU again. under whatever
view you rI,y take OF the subject, slavery is ex
tinsgis,ed. Ii is gone--it is gone forever"