The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1866-12-29

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80 a sscsashscaies,a
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! E1uur1n H. vsr, ass en-
lsEaaion. The views
- = Unionists have doubt
I1rr3Soe e "A in the Address and Ne
~ Southern Republican Associa-
e Washington, dated ps6smber 18th,
~ s;gusd BY HdA. T. DuRAxr Of Louisi-
ma, . President, end Hon. D. b. BngHAA
sfAlabams, = Secretary.
We qsse1A few psl:ages from the Memo
rial, shsVlsg its tenor It refers to the con-
ditisf9f the country IN 1860, when the South
. err slave ptopasandists were seeking the dis
.-me6berment of tha Union and preparing for
ws. @Theyeonsrast that time With the pres
emit, and probably do not over-paint the stu
alton in Dixie when they say
i've declare to-day that the nation is
standing upon the same precipice, threatened
with the sAme dangers from the same men,
holding the same principles and Offices, and
de6anty INDUCING IN the same evil practices,
relying again for support upon, the Federal
ner Of men Who controlled the States, in ths.
secession movement, and during the suti1e]
war; who. filed every State ofice, and eves1
maRistrscy under the new government Of
their creation, and who led the cohorts Of
treason and rebellion, now 6ll almost every
State Office from Governor to constable; and
they have selected as Senators and Repre-
sentatives in the Federal Congress a number
of their chiefs and leaders, few of whom can
take the oath which under q law made for
self-preservation every member of your hon
orable body is obliged to take. The pro-
scriptlon Of Union men is as marked and as
cruel as at any period during the war. The
test oath law, the civil rights bill, which was
rendered necessary by revolution which1
gave new status to one eighth of the popu
lation Of the United States, and Ne law for
the protection of these people, are recklesSiy
disregarded Or shamelessly eraded Freed
men and Union men are murdered with i'm
punity judicial districts abolished to get rid
Of loyal magistrates chosen by the people
the greatest atrocites openly protected wher
ever they we're Committed in the name and
s.the pretense OF Confederate authority con.
,ventions Of peaceable citizens who had i'm
periled their lives to establish loyal Gov
eminent during the n4tion' darkest hour bru-
tally massacred by returned rebel soldiers,
directed and led by notorious traitors; q con-
/, stitutional amendment necessary for the ma
tion's life openly and de6antly rejected the
constitutional and legal existence of the Con
gress chosen by the great masses who, at 80
vast q cost Of blood and treasure, saved the
nation from destruction, REASONABLY denied !;
resistance to Its laws openly threatened; the
people daily taught BY lying rebel press
that the most lenient Government the world
ever saw has not kept faith with traitors !;
trae, loyafs and devoted patriots deprived Of
business and driSAn from their. homes; the
reasonable cause sancti6ed BY monuments,
pageantry, pensions, legislative resolves. po-
etry, literature, and buu1ens upon an impov-
erished constituency in favor of rebel he
roes.N
For this depIorable' state of affairs the me-
morialists have remedy which they urge up.
on Congress for adoption. 1t is not neces-
sary to discuss it now, for there is no doubt
that Congress, for the present, will not change
its policy or depart from the terms embodied
in the Congressional Amendment. If these
are persistently refused by the ex>rebel States,
then another policy will be adopted. That
policy will be one which will not so much
punish ex-rebels as prevent ex-rebels from
Furnishing loyalty. 1t will not be sanguinary
vengeance, but a care for genuine Republi-
canism that will control that reconstruction
1t will not SO much say that the man who
sym pathized with the Southern Confederscy
shall not vote, as be explicit in saying that
such a man shall not prevent the loyal man,
of whatever color, from voting. 1t will not be
steeled against forgiveness to those that were
hurried into crime against the life and sever
elgnty of the Government, but while it give.
mercy it will claim justice, and in perfecting
q Republican Government it will everywhere
establish the universal suffrage that is the
genius of Republicanism.
Here is the conclusion of the memorial,
the proposed policy of these Southern Union
lists.
"The nations valor, with the blessings OF
Heaven, has conquered those who voluntari-
ly, willingly, and persistently made them
States in all the consequences of conquered
insurgents. If traitors, they forfeited their
rights of life, liberty, and property. If, as
they claim, they were nation of public enc
mies, the territories and districts which have
been conquered are subject to the law max
ing power, which alone can decide, accept,
and iegalize war and peace. In every light,
therefore, the power exists, and the necessi-
ties of the case demand immediate and
prompt action. A long line of presidents,
both Of the United States and of these same
rebels, as Confederate States, have establish
ed that whatever authority in q State is rec
ognized by the political or law making power
of the nation is the lawful government of the
State, and there is no appeal from this de-
cision but by the bayonet.'
The memorialists ask Congress, az couser-
vators of the public peace, to set aside the
hostile State organizations, illegally and I'M
constitutionally created, and that the loyal
and true men, regardless of race or color,
be authorized to found governments giving
suffrage to loyal voters only, and disfranchis-
ing unrepentant rebels. The plan which they
propose, with the reasons for setting aside
the State Governments in the Southern
States, are embodied in the following pream-
BILE and resolutions;
WHEREAS, In the war carried on against the
United States by the States of Texas, Louis
lana, Arkansas, Alabama, Mississippi, Geor>
gia, North Carolina, Virginia, South Carroll
ma, and Florida, the said States were subjuga.
ted, compelled to lay down their arms and
submit TO the power of the nation;
Resolred, That the Governments of those
States, framed in a spirit hostile to the na>
ton. and repugnant to the Constitution, were
overthrow by the result of the rebellion,
and ceased to exist.
RESOLVED, That at the moment of the sur
render of said States, no form Of govern.
ment having been provided for them bF Con.
gress, their population passed under the au.
thority of the President only in his character
of Commander>in>Chef Of the army and
navy of the United States,
Resolaed, That in his military control OF
the inhabitants of said States the Command
er-in>Chief had no other right or lawful pow.
or than to hold them in control and maintain
order until the will of Congress could be
made known.
Resolred, That in calling together bodie.
Of men in SAID 1ates for the purpose O.