Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1866-07-13

3 That such security be taken as can
| be to prevent the recurrence Of future re-
beliions, and to prevent those who have,
been in rebellion, but are restored to their
political rights, from defeating necessary
legislation, or bringing about legislation
that would be- reasonable or dishonarable,
and thus accomplishing in the Government
what they had failed to do by force Of
arms If it should be deemed essential
to the safety of the Government that SEN,
ators and Representatives from the States
lately in rebellion should not be admitted
to seats in Congress until the representa-
/ tive power of those States had been so re-
duced that they could not, by uniting with,
reasonable faction in the North, control
the Government, and perhaps destroy Il,
Congress would have the right to exclude
the members from such States until such,
time as the measure of reduction had been
/ accomplished, provided such measure Of
! reduction is not in violation Of the general
| theory and scheme of the Government,
and is within the essential powers of Con-
gress. In this case the measure Of teduS-
ton would be an amendment to the Com
stitutiony equalizing the representatives in
Congress and in the election of President
and Vice President by taking from the
white, people fof the Southern States the
right to represent and act for four millions
and a half Of negroes whom they deprive of
political rights This measure, SO far from
violating the general theory, or scheme of
! the Government is in accordance with it.
because it gives to the same number of pee-
pie in the North an equal power with a
like number in the South. 1t deprives the
people Of the South of no Just right, be-
cause it leaves to them the enjoyment of
the same power that-is possessed by an
equal number in the North, and surely
they ought not by reason or justice to ask
for more. This measure would be accom-
plished by an amendment to the Constitu-
ton, which is always in order and proper.
There is nothing revolutionary in amend
ing the Constitution; on the contrary, it
is the ,safety-valve,a provided by ITSELF by
which revolutions are avoided by making
the instrument conform to the changed
conditions and circumstances Of a great
nation. But if it be said that as soon as
the rebellion was concluded, the Senators
and Representatives from the rebellious
States had animmediate right, without con-
dition, to resume their seats in Congress,
how could any amendment to the Gonsti-
tuition be adopted to guard against future
, rebellion or the consequences of the one
t from which we have just escaped Twen-
ty Senators from the rebel States, added
. to the present number of Democratic mem
bers, would constitute considerably more
: than ope-third of that body. and would
effectually prevent the adoption of any
c amendment, and thus secure to the South
. ern States, perhaps for all time, the grosI
1 and wicked inequality of representation
which they now possess. If it. shall b
n said that upon the conclusion of a rebel
4 lion, rebels shall have right to run from
d the battle field, Or from the foor Of a reb
d el Congress back to seats in the Congress
: of the, United States, in time to preyen
: the adoption of any amendments to th'
t Constitution which have been rendered
+ necessary by the changed condition of tn
il country, or the enactment Of such laws a
s are required to preserve the future peac'
n of the country, IL is but to repeat in an
/ other form that rebellion Is no offense, aft
J IEthat the Government has no right to pro
d tect itself from destruction by Legislation
: or arms. -blhnas1 Gaai ssg ilrj 'i1ai adi 10
l q II, when the Government was trying t,
! borrow money to prosecute the war, it hRt
$ been announced that as soon as the wa
f was over the question of making appropri
ations to pay the interest on the none.
q borrowed would be referred to the votes 0
frebel congressman, / ask how much mon
ey would have been borrowed All, whel
we were calling for volunteers to fill vi
! the loyal armies, it had been claimed tina
i the first effect of putting down the rebel
lion would be to fill up Congress withIreb
IeI members, who would have a right Il
vote on, all questions growing out Of th'
war, on all questions ofreconstruetion, bout
ties, pensions and military honors, | asl
! how many volunteers we could have OBJ
/ tained. 5,.I - ...l-r ,5.t ,-.,..,,l
J f.. And submit az a general proposition
! that rebellion cannot be discouraged, trea
, SON made -odious, loyalty encouraged anC
] patriotism rewarded if, when a rebellion
/ has been suppressed, rebels are admitted
to make laws for the loyal, and administe
the affairs of a Government they hav'
/ just failed to destroy. 59@i'g os.-sl =. ID. y
The position ! am combating is abhor
rent to the common sense of every man
i and violative of every principle Of justice
:. and yet it is that upon which the Demo
! cratic leaders of Indiana have planted
] themselves, and from which they are go
ing forth to do battle against the country
1 II am for amending the Constitution, so a
] to eqaalize the representation, for thre
j re asons. i.-. ri. -l..l.-..-..., d..
First-Because it is p measure of sbso
lutte Justice in itself, and removes an inc
quality which will be oppressive and in
: ttolerable. 3 80. ,,-- l.... b,,s 1,..,..,
I Il rSecond--Because it would so reduce tn
!, power in the Government of those VIII
! have been in rebellion, that they could no
I by uniting with disloyal faction in tn
! North work mischief and dishonor to tn
: nation. ~ foq,i Is .,Tt 3, '''= Ii DsTill ~
! Third-Beeause It would present to th
people of the Southern States an induce
Y ment to confer political rights in due tim
:, upon a large negru population in thei
: midst which otherwise they might no
! eoncede for many generations. - yfb
: DEMOCRATIC PURPOSES AND PoLICy,aT
/ And let us inquire what measures tn
\ Democratic party are for affirmatiyely.--
e 1t is and has been opposed to whatever tn
), Union party is in favor Of, but it has also,
L positive and affirmative policy, which ii
IS important that the people should under
e stand. The great and leading measure 9
y tits policy is the Immediate and uhcondi
e tional admission Of q full representation i
I both Houses of Congress from the rebe
h States: that the test oath shall be repealed