The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-09-14

were told that the SAID ordnance OF secession
having been repealed, and the amendment
aboliEhing slavery having been adopted, with
out further acts or conditions these same
Rebels who had fought to obtain power outside
the Union had right to resume political
power inside the Union, increased by
the representation of two-6tths of their
emancipated population. Because, while
the negroes were slaves and had no votes,
their masters were allowed to pay taxes for
aud to represent three-ffths of them only, and
now that their slaves have become freemen,
although deprived of their votes because OF laws
made Tor slaves, still 1t Is claimed their masters
shall represent tive-6fths instead of three.hiths
of them, while the negroes must pay all the
taxes assessed upon themselves, SO that II thls
wrong obtains, the Rebellion will have acquired
for It's traitors exemption from three-nltns OF
their taxation, and an increase OF two-tfths OF
their representatlon-the exact reverse OF the
old political maxim, mo taxation without re-
presentation" ;" this being representation wltnout
taxation. This shocking injustice thus initiated
by the President struck the country with sur
prise, not less than 1t did the kindred CLAIM tnat
ii was for the Executive to determine under Wnat
guarantee and under what conditions States were
TO resume their forfeited governmental relations
in the Union. ,
The great Union party, through their repre-
sentatives in the House and Senate, with
a unanimity unparalleled, especially as the
Executive, at the beginning OF his term OF ONCE,
attempted the disruption OF his party by the
Establishments of power and the seductons OF
place, maintained that 1t was for Congress, as
the Legislative body comprising three branches,
to determine upon what terms aud at what time
rebellious States, conquered provinces, territory
of the United States occupied by dlsloyal in
hatitants, their State organization lost or abro
gated, should be allowed TO reorganize them
selves and come back as part OF the Government,
and that other guarantees OF fitness to exercise
political power must be given shan asking par.
dons TO obtain property or the taking unwilling
oaths by reluctant perjured lips. After
careful examination of the whole subject
by witnesses drawn from every portion
OF the country, Congress determined
that the inhablonts OF these revolted States
were not in such condition OF loyal feeling and
teaity to the Government and love Tor its insti-
tutlons as to entitle them to Sind representa-
tives to make laws for the loyal portion of the
country, until they mad given guarantees for
good behavior III the future and shown them
selves wiling TO adopt the principles OF equality
OF personal rights IN all citizens OF the United
States, anC thclr aDnorIence OF secession and all
its incidents by adopting certain Constitutional
amendments rendered necessary III consequence
OF the Rebellion, 10 wIt:-Ihat the debt incurred
in suppressng the Rebellion should never be
repudiated; thac debts incurred in the Rebellion
should never be paid; that equal personal rights
should be guaranteed to every citizen of the
United States in every State; and equal protec-
ton under the laws; and tnat, so long as any
class OF men IN the States were prob iblUed from
the exercise OF their political rights as citizens
they should not be counted in the quota OF
representation. To most of us-may l
not say all OF us?-thesc terms seemed too
easy, too mild, too lenient. (Applause.)
1t seemed TO us that Congress did not
go far enough in imbcddmg In the very founda-
tions Of the Government the true idea of Ameri-
can liberty-the great result OF the war-to all
men Justice, and equally OF political and per-
sonal rights. We were willing, however, If the
proposition of Congress hal been met in spirit
of love and kindness, or even cordial acqui-
escehce, by the South to have restored them
again to the seats they bad protaned and de-
they bad abused, and the right to which they
had forfeited. (Applause.) But Richmond,
Memphis Savannah, and New Orleans, by their
journals, their riots and the massacre OF Union
men, tell us that we have nothing to
hope from the love OF country, the
patriotism, the loyalty the fraternal feeling
OF the South. The President, cutting loose from
those who stood by him In his darkest hours,
has called together in convention at Philadel-
phia the representatives OF those who fought
against the Union in the South and the delegates
OF those who we're afraid to fight for it in the
North CHEERS and laughtcr), and at the head OF
personal party so formed, proposes by this
union OF every enemy OF the country, aided by
| their sympathlZers North and South, to force
| the rebellious States into positions as ruling
| Jower OF the Government, without any indem-
nifty for the past or security for the future. To
this, then, the issue is at once narrowed. Shall
| those who have betrayed the country, and tried
i to destroy it by force and by fraud, control its
| destnes in Its otherwise glorious future? Shall
| all the fruits of the war now be thrown away,
| and all good lost at the call of personal ambi-
ton and wilfulness? ! have said that we had
1
| political organization, one that has carried
| the country through this awful war against its
| enemies abroad and at home. which now stands
| concentrated and powerful to uphold the prln-
| ciples of its organization to make them tie law
| of the land, Notwithstanding treachery is in our
ranks and the union OF all our opponents and
| the opponents of the country to overthrow us,
| Without fear, without hesitation, without doubt,
| we will meet the issue between eternal right
ana unmeasured wrong. Certain that in the
end, whatever trouble, darkness, or difficulty
may compass us, our principles, If we are true
| to them, must triumph. We cannot go wrong.
There is no snch thing as missing ones path on
| q straight road. (CheeIs.) We spurn the
| dogma that this is whtte-iaced mans Govern
| ment. (Cheers.) We are now to look to the
| heart for color-not the face. (Cheers.) We
insist that this is the loyal mans Government,
whether he be white or black. We look to the
color of the heart and not to that OF the face to
determine our political friends or enemies. (Re.
| newed cheers) We hold all men who fought
with us to save the country our equals in right,
in governing the country, and we hold all men
who fought against the country unht to take
paIt in its government until they have shown
| due repentance for their sins and baVe
brought forth works meet for repentance. pro
loneed cheers.) Delegates of the Republican
| party OF Massachusetts, we here in the old Com
monwealth have substantially no contest. we
| stand on the vaptagegIound OF being pioneers
in the principles OF government We have nc
temptations to yield anything 10 eXpadiencY
| but 20 follow as our policy only the dictates o.
justice aud right, and thus exercise that in Huenct
for the true principles of government which has
been the pride and boast of our beloved Com
monwealth from the inception Of the Revolution
1t Is for us as the advanced guard, to vlndicate
to establish, to make certain forever, wherever
| floats the American flag, equality OF rights anC
| equality of protection under the laws, thest
great safeguards OF human freedom, as a birth
{ right and an inheritance indeteasibe and In
J alienable to manhood (chee1s); to engrave sucl
/ l,.k holl 4naf1