The weekly clarion., 1866-12-27
The TerrItorIaI PreIecl.

hAymonu Oh the Nch AOlh AAhSS
who crawled back to the Republican
ranks at the Washington caucus a few
weeks ago. threatens the South with
territorial existence unless she ac-
cepts the constitutional amendment,
After narrating the measures proposed
by Congress for the restoration of the
States, he continues The persistent
refusal of the Southern States TO ac-
cept the terms offered may impose
upon Congress the duty of reconsid-
ering the whole subject, and of adapt
ing legislation to the altered aspect of
affairs. The interests of the Republic
may justify the substitution Of a policy
of reconstruction for the proposed
policy of restoration"
And then he asks if the Southern
people are prepared for this alterna-
tive-this territorial policy Why
certainly they are The Southern
people are prepared for any ''irrepres-
sible" despotism that the enemies of
constitutional liberty may fasten upon
the nation. There was time when
we were anxious to regain representa-
ton in Congress, but Northern
| duplicity has rendered us
perfectly Indifferent as to the
kind of government we have.
Provisional governments have no
terror for our people. They can
stand them if the North is able to
hold out. To quote the language of
the popinjay politician of the Times
at the Philadelphia Convention "the
ten millions of Americans who live in
the South would be unworthy citizens
ofa free country, degenerate sons of
heroic ancestry, unfit ever to become
the guardians of tn, rights and liber-
ties bequeathed to us 10y the fathers
and founders of the republic, if they
could accept, with uncomplaining sub
missiveness, the humiliations thus
sought to be imposed upon them"
They have weighed the matter well,
and are resigned. We are. eady for
any fate, but will not aid in our own
degradation. Wewill wear the mana
cles of despotism with the best grace
possible, but will never veer and whine
and contribute, Of our own accord, to
the overthrow of the republican theory
Of government. We have seen enough
of the valley of humiliation, and must
stand aloof, no matter what the pains
and penalties of Congress may be.
What was denied 81 as a matter of prin-
ciple," will not be conceded as a
matter of expediency," even if the
" chance of repentance is lost" In the
language of the Louisville Courier,
the amendment makes the States the
of the central authority; de-
prives the Southern States Of one-third
Of their representative power, or com
pels them to elevate their ignorant ne
yroes to position of political equality
With themselves; disfranchises and de-
grades every man worthy of political
,-eferment, and gives Congress unre-
'tricted authority to legislate for the :
States. And for all these monstrous
what equivalent is prof
cred ? None, except halfway pro-
Mise that the States may possibly be
epresented in Congress by men who
an swear that they were in sympathy =
Vith the enemies of the South during y
be entire war. Well, in how much
Torse condition would the South be II
nder territorial governments than as "
tates with the amendment of a part of y
be Constitution and the infamous test a.
ath still standing upon the statute u
ooks p? For ourselves, we can see no ="
ifference, and we do not think we c'
euld have any preference. IN