The Lansing state Republican. [volume] (Lansing, Mich.) 1855-1874, 1866-04-11
The Proclamation of Peace.

liz i lt-lifuA JUS l--Af'A al- lflDLllAA4aA-
ton declaring the rebellion at an end.
This il DO news TO the nation The rebel
lion, so far as armed resistance 10 our
forces in the field was concerned. was
closed six months agO- The effect Of tho
present missivc does away with martial
law, and restores the act OF ha5eas corpus,
placing the late rebellious States in pre-
cisely the same position as the loyal States,
so far as the President has the power 10 do
il. II il an attempt 10 carry out the doc
trine he instituted and sustains, that not
only is the President the Executive, but
also the Legislative power of the nation
Now that peace Il legally proclaimed, Con
gress has clearly the jurisdiction over al
Questions growing out Of the rebellion. oI
10 such jurisdiction exists.
II is 10 DO regretted that the President
should, in face OF all the testimony that ha.
been taken by the Committee on Recon
structon, assert that " the people OF sal,
States are well and Loyalty disposed" Gen
Thomas says they are not, and that even 10
Tennessee, if the military forces are with
drawn, known loyal citizens would be com
PEELED 10 leave the State 10 protect then
lives and property. Gen. Custer cOuoOOr
ates his testimony, and says 800 Union meI
have been shot down in Texas, and not one
Of the murdcrers has been executed or ever
arrested. John Coyode, Gen. Terry, Car
Schurz and others, all give testimony Of &
similar character Either the President
believesIhese men all liars, or he intention
ally asserts an untruth. This Official dOcu
ment OF the President has some interior Oh
ject not apparent OH its face.
If tho rebellion has ceased it follows thai
there IL no call Tor armed forces longer il
those States. II tho late lordly slave own
er is forbidden by the command.nt OF the
nearest military post to hog the freedmen
and even fined and punished when he NAL
treats them, why should he no. be iree'
from the hated military surveillance.
the Freedmen, from the child to the decrip
ia grandsire. alike, with all the eagernes-
and zeal OF their natures are learning tC
read and write, that they may study tho
word OF God so long to them a sealed book,
why should not the protecting power that
is their only ark Of safety be withdrawn,
and these poor oppressed children OF Ham,
nan, be left once more to the love and
kindness of those whose tender mercies are
cruel.
II tie President sees tit, why should he
not withdraw all the troops from States
where bali Of the citizens are incompetent
to testify in the courts, who when made
the victims Of foul wrong and crime, are
not legally able TO point out the christian
and civilized white man who wrOnged
them. II Alexander II. Stephens desires to
represent Georgia in the United States
senate, why should not the poor, ill-used
statesman have the privilege, Ii the
Southern aristOcrats Will only give from
three to five dollars per month for the best
field hands, why should they refuse. and il
they do refuse, why should they not be-
compelled TO work Tor the state without
wages, as under tho existing laws OF South
Carolina. That is what Andrew Johnson
would like to know, and Seward agrees
with him; tor, like master like man. \
reliable gentleman informs Us, that Seward,
years ago stated, that no man should con
tinue in public life after sixty, for he be-
came IN a measure imbecie after that AGE,
and was too apt to he Influenced by others
views, and by outside considerations.
1t is probably the outside consideration
that controls the conduct OF Johnson and
Seward This accounts for the acrobatic
feats, the ground and lofty tumbling, which
has been gszed upon by the people with
more establishment than appreciation By
the blessings Of a kind Providence. the
people will see that they are kept forever
outside OF that consideration the next
Presidency. Congress is by no means over
awed or discouraged, and are meeting the
President on his own ground. Now, will
the President dare to disobey laws that are
constituionally passed over his veto II
ne does, the same Congress has the power
10 impeach that it has TO pass laws. Let
us see how we'll the President will cause
laws TO be respected and obeyed, which are
made valid and binding without his sigma
ture.