The Ebensburg Alleghanian. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1865-1871, 1866-06-21

own act, have lost the right to take mart
in it. Suca proposition carries its own
refutation on its face.
9th. That the States lately in rebellion
were, at the close of the war, disoreaniEed
communities, without civil governments
and without constitutions or other forms
by virtue of which political relations
could legally exist between them and the
Federal Government. That Congress can
not be expected to recognize as valid the ell
ection of representatives from disorganized
| communities which, from the very nature
of the case, were unable to present their
| claims to representation under those es
| tablished and recognized rules, the obser-
vance of which has been hitherto REQUIRED
| That Congress would not be justified in
admitting such communities to partici
| patton in the government of the country,
without first providing such constitutional
| or other guarantees as will aid to secure
the civil rights Of all citizens of the Re-
public, just equality of representation,
protection against claims founded in
| rebellion and crime, temporary restric-
ton of the right Of suffrage to those who
have not actively participated in the effort
to destroy the Union and overthrow the
Government, and the exclusion from posi-
tiOns of public trust OF at least portion
OF those whose crimes have proved them
to be enemies to the Union and unworthy
of public confidence. The seats of the
Senators and Representatives of the So
called Confederate States became vacant
in 1861, during the second session of the
Ihirty-Sixth Congress, by the, voluntary
withdrawal of their incumbents with the
sanction and by the direction Of the
Legislatures or conventions of their re-
spectlve States. This was done as hostile
act against the Constitution and Govern
ment of the United States, with declared
Intent to overthrow the same by forming
Southern confederation.
10th. This act of declared hostility was
speedily followed by an organization of the
same States into a ConfeGeracy, which
levied and Waged war oy sea and land
against the United States This war con-
tinued more than four years, within which
period the rebel armies besieged the ma
tional capitol, invaded the loyal States,
burned their towns and cities, robbed
their citizens, destroyed moro than $780,
600 loyal soldiers, and imposed an in
creased national burden of not less than
4,5OO,OOO dollars, of which seven or
eight hundred millions have already been
met and paid. From the time these con-
federated States thus withdrew from their
representation in Congress and levied war
against the United States, the great mass
of their people became and were insur-
gents, rebels, traitors, and all of them as
sumed and occupied the political, legal
and practical relation of enemies of the
United States. This position is establish
ed ~ acts of Congress ard judicial decis-
IONS, and Is recognized repeatedly by the
President In public proclamations, docu-
ments and speeches. The States thus
contederated prosecuted their war against
the United States to final arbitrament. and
did not cesse until all their armies were
captured, their military power destroyed,
their civil officers, State and Confederate,
taken prisoners or put to fight, every YES
tlge OF State and Confederate government
obilterated, their territory overruu and
occupied by the Federal armies, and their
people reduced to the condition of enc
mics conquered In war, entitled only by
public law to such Eights, privileges and
conditions as might be vouchsafed by the
couqueTors.
This position is aIsc established by 'iu-
dicial decisions, and is recognized by The
President in public proclamations, docu-
ments, and speeches. Having voluntari-
ly deprived themselves of representation
IN Congress for the criminal purpose of
destroying the Federal Union, and having
reduced themselves, by the act of levying
war, to the condition of public enemies,
they have no right to complain of tempo
rary exclusion from Congress but, on the
contrary, having voluntarily renouuced
their right to representation, and disqual-
lhed themselves by crime from participa-
tlDg IN the Government, the burden now
rests upon them, before claiming to be re,
instated in their former condition, to show
that they are qualified to resume Federal
relations In order to do this they must
prove that they have established, with the
consent OF the people, republican forms of
government, IN harmony with the Consti
tuition and laws of the United States;
that all hostile purposes have ceased, and
should give adequate guarantees against
future treason and rebellion-guarantee
which will prove satisfactory to the Gov
ernment against which they rebeled. and
by whose arms they were subdued. Hav-
ing by this treason aud withdrawal from
Congress, and by fragrant rebellion and
war, forfeited all civil and political rights
and privileges under the Federal Consti-
tuition, they can only be restored thereto
by the permission and authority of that
constitutional power against which they
rebelled and by which they were subdued. |