The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1866-09-24

scribed, but even stay-at-home rebels have lit
tie chance in composition with those who
fought to subvert the Union When this rebel
monopoly of Office shall have been broken up,
and loyalty to the Union shall have become
general and hearty, Congress may remove tne
disability, and will doubtless make haste 10
do SO.
We do not perceive that the justice or n'ness
of the fourth section-prescribing that tie
Union public debt shall be promptly ne'' pu'
that of the rebel confederacy never 10
ly contested. o,,d section
There remains, then, but the seconu ,...'
which prescrbes in substance tha' p'n'ioa,
mower in the Union shall henceforth De pased
ONLY on that portion of the people OF each ota1e
who are deemed by its constitution mt deposlta-
rios of such power In other words: A State
which chooses to hold part of its population in
ignorance and vassalage- powerless uneducat-
ed unenfranchised-shalln not count that pOrtion
to balance the educated, intelligent, enfranchis-
ed citizens of other States.
We do not propose to argue the justice OF
this provision. As well argue the shape OF
cube or the correctness of the multiplication
table. He who does not feel that thisis simply
and mildly just, would not be persuaded though
one rose from the dead to convince him. That
there are those among us who would not nave
it ratified, sadly demonstrates that the good
work of emancipation is not yet complete.
"But," say some, "this section is designed TO
coerce the South into according suffrage to her
blacks" Not So we reply; but only to notify
her ruling caste that we will no longer bride
them to keep their blacks in serfdem. An
aristocracy rarely surrenders its privileges, no
matter how oppressive, from abstract devotion
to justice and right 1t must have cogent, pal
pable reasons for SO doing. We say, therefore,
to South Carolina, eff you persistently restrict
all power to your 100000 whites, we must insist
that these no longer balance in Congress and
the choice of President, 5000 Northern white
freemen, but only 100000. If you keep your
blacks evermore in serfdom, it must not be be-
cause we tempted you so to do and rewarded
you for so doing" ...--...... .-.--.
Fellow citizens of every State, but especial
| ly of those soon to hold elections! we entreat
your earnest, constant heed to the grave ques-
tions now at ISSUE IF those who so wantonly
plunged the Union into civil war shall be al
lowed by you to dictate the terms of recon-
struction, you will have heedlessly sown the
bitter seeds of future rebellions and bloody
strife. Already you are threatened with a
recognition by the President of sham Con-
gress made up of the factions which recently
coalesced at Philadelphia on platform of
Johnsonism- Congress constituted by multi
flying and overriding plain law of the land-a
Congress wholly inspired from the White
House, and appealing to the sword alone for
support So glazing an attempt at usurpaton
would be even more criminal than absurd
Happily, the people, by electing an overwhelm-
ing majority of thoroughly loyal representa-
tives, are rendering its initiation impossible.
We cannot close without a most deserved
tribute to the general fidelity wherewith, in
view of the Presidents detection, the great
body of the people, and even of the Federal
ofice-holders, stand fast by their convictions
and their principles. The boundless patronage
of the Executive, though most unscrupulously
welded against those to whose votes he owes
it, has corrupted very few, either of those who
shared or those who would gladly share in its
enjoyment. Not one of the % States which
voted to re-elect Abraham Lincoln has given in
its adhesion to the Presidents policy; while
New Jersey-the only free State that voted
against him-has added herself to their num-
Der.
Our great war has taught impressively the
peril of injustice; and the lesson has sunk deep
into millions of hearts. The American people,
cnasUonosa ny -rrsape-4.s,, wiser anu nuU1cr
than they were, with quicker and more open
ear for every generous suggestion. The fearful
lessons of Memphis and New Orleans have not
been lost on them, as is proved by the result of
the recent elections in Vermont and Maine
We cherish no shadow of doubt that Pennsyl-
vania, Ohio, Indiana and Iowa first, then New
York, New Jersey, Illinois, Michigan, Wiscon-
sin, Kansas and Minnesota, will do likewise,
and that true restoration, genuine, abiding
peace, will thus be secured to our country-a
peace that will endure, because based on the
everlasting foundations of humanity, Justice
and freedom. Yours,
MARCUS L. WARD, New Jersey, Chairman
JOHN ID. DEGREES, Indiana, Secretary.
HORACE GREELEY, New York.
s. A. PURv1ANCE, Pennsylvania.
WILLIAM CLAFLIN, Massachusetts
N. B. SMITHERs, Delaware.
ID. w. HOFFMAN, Maryland.
III. ID. STARKwEAEHER, Connecticut
r.. b. CowEN, Ohio,
JOHN b. CLARKE, New Hampshire,
SAMUEL F. HUssEY, Maine,
ABRAHAM B. GARDINER, Vermont,
j. s. FOWLER Tennessee,
BURTON G. Cook, Illinois, as
MARSH GIDDINGs, Michigan,
d. p. ~STUBBs. Iowa. i9
A. w. CAMPBELL, West Virginia,
3. JUDD. Wisconsin,
D. II. GooDLoE, North Carolina,
s. III. BOYD, Missouri,
7f w. j. CORNING, Virginia,
THos. SIMPSON, Minnesota,
~ CT. ROBINSON, Florida,