The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-11-03
A Warning Voice.
FFom Me Independent.

A Warming Voice.
From TIE Independent
at the grave of Abraham Lincoln the South
ern loyalists have issued an ad iress to the
people of the United States.
These noble men, since their Convention at
Philadelphia, have visited the chief Northern
cities, by whose citizens they have everywhere
been received with an enthusiasm commensu-
rate with their loyalty to the Union and their
sacrifices in its defense. tribute of popular
goodwill was eminently due 10 these cou-
rageous Southerners, who, in the days of the
nations trial, stood faithful among the faith
less. Their personal story, with its incidents of
persecution, threats, house-burnings, insults
all endured on account of their devotion to the
REPUBLICANS the interest of a romance of
knigh,hood. But, with modesty which char
acterizes the truest courage. they have re.
irained from making a parade of their suffer-
ingsIlest, perhaps, in so doing, they should too
closely intrench upon the peculiar prsrogative
alist, the President OF the United States. Omit.
ting from this address any mention of their
private grieis, they speak only of the public
What is the message? 1t is one which the
na5on ought TO heed one sbt FIJI OF be dsressrded
without jeopardizing the reconstruction of the
Union. "We return our sincere and hearty
thanks,n say they, ''for the uniform courtesy
and kindness everywhere shown us; but before
we separate desire to warn our countIymen OF
a new danger which appears to be looming up.r
This danger consists in putting forth the
pending Constitutional amendment as the final
basis OF reconstruction. The Southern loyalists
make no objection to the amendment, in itself
considered; but they declare it to be totally
inadequate as the ultmatum of readmlssion.
Read the following unanswerable passages from
their address,
"Untortunately, some Republican speakers and
writers, by the loose language they make Of and
their frequent declarations that, il the non-recoR-
stiucied states raufy the pending Constitutional
amendment. such OF their applicants can VIII
take the test oath will be admitted TO membership
rat6cailon OF that amendment Will render any fur.
thef legislation by Congress IN relation the non-
reconstructed States unnecessary. Ii this cOnvic-
tim is allowed to fasten itself upon the minds of
the people, 1t can only be removed by a long, acrl-
continue TO be affected with the evils which now
render life in third of the sta almost intolerabe
every one of the so called Governments ia the
constructed States Is in the hands OF and
O. ntrol ed by men who attempted to destroy tue
nation and are ostentatously used to make treason
States Impossible. If Congress legaiIzes them it
perpetuates these ex-Rebels in power indefait
They will continue to have absolute control Of tue
Governments OF all or nearly al of the late slave
o ding States, and will send solid delegations to
Congress of men whose sympathies were and are
ave loyal State Govern ments, and Congress cannot
thereafter interfere those States any than
II
| egaIze these bogus Governments, aud ex Rebels
Will thereafter have alb. olute political control of
nearly one-half the Union.
"Protection either of life or property with the
| State Governments controlled by those now in
power here, Is impossible. While loyal State Gov.
the people that the ratification of these bogus
Governments q sentence of death exile to every
| Union man IN the South whose position or ability
renders him at all obnoxious to the late Rebels
|
1--WE do not wish to have it understood that we
are finding lault with the present lCongress-that
our only protection thus far the war closed. 1t
has been, and is, expectation that most, If not
all, of The Union members intend TO adopt the mea-
sures necessary TO ave protection. Ihe Recon
| strucion Committee, IN addition to the COnstiIu-
tonal amendment reported bill providing for the
Organization of loyal Governments IN the seeded
States, and this bill has vet to be acted upon. II
Congress immediately apon OF, re mrsassembIng takes Il
been impeed to issue tnls address by the fact that
thls bill, which is immeasurably the most important
half of the Congressional plan of reconstruction as
we have understood It, is being apparently lost sight
of; and the further fact that some prominent pollu
clans have been using LANGUAGE which seems to com
nit them to an abandonment of It, We have aided
thus far IN the present canvass, and expect to
tinue with the distinct understanding that Congress-
viii not alter beng indorsed by the people, abandon
this the most impor ant feature oil lis plan. We dc
not believe tLat It is either necessary or right to
mystifcatiOn of he Issue, and feel confident that
such a course would certainly lead to embarrass
ment and might lead TO disaster; Jor although the
great majority Of the Union members OF Congress
will undoubtedly remain true, some are always
anxious TO obtain notorlety for being more 'cOnser
Vative' than their associates and such would claim
if we keep SILENT that the canvass was fought with
the implied pledge that the enaciing of the Const.
tuiionai amendment was all that CONGRESS proposed
doing, We have expressed 0uIs I'll strongly Ia this
paper because we feel deeply. The bones of our
dead in Southern graves. Our,homes are there
All the clustering collections OF our childhood are
connec ed with the soil from which we are called
upon to exile ourselves Men OF America we can.
not reconcile ourselves to the fate IN store for US
sL ould we be deserted by you and we viii not be.
Ieve that you are capable OF betraying vi"
We trust that no Northern patriot-no loyal
citizen who desires such a reconstruction as
shall make safe the lives, homes, and property
of the Southern 10y alists-will pass lightly over
these weighty statements. These have stood in
the hre, and been burned. Are they not right