The Hancock Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Ohio) 1857-1870, 1866-01-05

wil permit Jne discussion oil the
above topic in your columns; not
that l suppose that such discussion
will influence the action of Congress,
but that it may prepare the minds OF
our citizens for such action as Con.
gress will be compelled to take.
We have a right to demand such
guarantees from the late rebels, in
the construction of their local GOV.
ernments, as shall be sufficient to
guard us against all danger from
them in the future. TO them we can
not afford to be liberal in the con
cession of rights-we might as well
warm u viper in our bosom. We
may treat them with christian chari.
ty-may feed and clothe them-may
even forgive the crimes of most OF
them, that is very different
from giving them a seat in the Leg
islature of our country, and giving
them the absolute disposal of the 10y
al men Of the South,
They have no right whatever in
our government--no RIGHT TO control
the freedmen of the South, except
what we give them and, in fact, we
can give them no right over the
freedmen.
They have no LEGAL right even
to self-government, for by law death
is the penalty of treason. As, how
ever, we do not wish TO exact that
penalty of all, we may, with such
limitations rs shall secure us, allow
them to make their own local laws
To go further and allow them to leo
islate for others wouid be 30 put
weapons into the hands Of our enc
mics.
They must have some kind Of To-
cal government, for we cannot afford
to keep up military RUE among them.
They ought to he well satisfied to
take Il territorial position, with the
privilege of becoming States at such
time and on such just conditions as
/ shall he consistent with national hap
lpiuess AID safety.
SO far | have spoken rs though
our nation were body ct men ol
common sense, unfettercd by Consti-
tutional obligations, or by anything
else except justice and the duty OF
self protection. Let us now look at
our Constitutional obligations.
assume that we are under no consti.
tutional obligations TO rebels. Men
who, under the provisions of the Con
stitution, deserve death can have nc
just demands under it. They threw
it off, organized u government op.
l posed 10 lIs p.g--i-;---- ----a So 81
years tried to murder its supporters
If the forfeiture of Constitutions
rights is possible, the rebels hav,
made the forfeiture complete. Then
whatever Constitutional obligations
we are under to individuals, we are
under to the loyal people of the gov
ernment; and whatever Constitution
al obligations we are under to the
States, we are under to the loyal
States. Hence, all the provisions of
the Constitution prescribing the
rights or duties of States, we can
change without any reference what
ever to the rebel States. If the 10y
al people of the rebel States do not
like the changes it is their misfortune
but rs they are about all black, it is
not their first misfortune if it should
be one. If the rebels do not like
the changes, they need not organize
State governments until Il generation
arises that will like them.
!, When we come to our Constitu
tional obligations to individuals, hap
PLY we have no difficulty We are
bound to secure the private rights
of our loyal citizens, and we can and
should do that by requiring, by q
Constitutional provision, that the
rights of all loyal men should be
equal in our territories.
/ This disposes of the whole ques-
tion afiirmatively; for States could
be admitted as fast as our safety
would allow. | think that would bG
fast; for South Carolina would be
mainly represented by true, loyal
men, elected By negro votes, and
many othes States would be in part
represented thus. Besides, the only
cause of rebellion would he destroyed.
But rebels tell us we have no right
to force negro suffrage upon the
South unless we adopt it in The North.
l answer, we can enforce negro suf-
frage on no State without a Consti-
tutional amendment, and on this
point it Is not necessary. We need
only prescribe equal rights IN the
territories. We can safely trust the
loyal States with this question-who
: ever they let vote, or refuse to let
vote, they at least will not rebel, OF
in any way injurc the general Gov
ernment By rebellion, the rebel
States lost all state rights, and witt
them, of course, the right to confer
or limit the elective franchise. Tho
rights of the North, under the Con
stitution, are still intact, and can bC
obtained from them only by amend
ment, or, in other words, by theil
consent. Besides, it is better to en-
courage the colorcd man to emigrat'
South to a more con2enial cline anC
also to more eongenial company,
Let us look about us and see who
a are clamorous for rights for South
orn rebels. We shall find they are
u the men who, little while ago, sale
$ the rebels would succecd-the mel
who encouraged desertions, and gen