The Greene County Republican. [volume] (Waynesburg, Pa.) 185?-1867, 1866-06-06

be fully restored to ths Union by the
action OF Congress"
But Andy Johnson, while he thus re-
cognizes these people as Rebels and enc.
mics in law, sufficient to clothe him
with despotic powers, demands for them
all the rights OF American citizens
against any actor or legislation OF Cons
gress.
He demands, in fact that while we
are at war, communities with which we
are at war shall send Representatives to
our Senate and House; and that Com
gress has no right to make laws for them
until their Il, presentatves haye seats
on the floor.
He demands that Rebels shall partici-
pate in the national councils in making
those laws which arc to constitute our
treaty of peace with the Rebellion.
Congress refusing to assent to so fools
ish and wicked proposition, the Presi-
dent hurls course threats at the Repre-
sentativcs Of the people, denounces
Them as traitors and usurpers, a central
and irresponsible directory. exercising
extraordinary and revolutionary powers
Has Andy Johnson so frail memory
| that he has forgotten his own declara-
tions while he sat as Senator in Wash
lnotoh, in speech made January 81,
1862, upon the expulsion Of Jesse d.
Bright for using reasonable language by
mouth and paper :--"lt we have not the
physical and moral courage to exclude
from our midst men whom we believe to
be unsafe depositarics Of public power
and public trust, we are not ehtitled to
sit here as Senator'S ourselves"
Congress and the people know full
well that by permitting these States to
come back with their old powers uubro>
ken, with treason UNPUBLISHED, and trai,
tors unsubdued, would be to fling away
the wholeprecivus harvest Of the sowings
ofthe war. On the 23d of last Febru>
AIRY | was travelling the great State of
Illinois, from Chicago to Davenport
Sitting by me was brown faced, whites
haired, kindly eyed, intelligent farmer
Of the Northwest, and falling into con,
verse, we talked-aud who does not
Of the war and the great question grow
ing out Of it, and as we talked, he said,
with Glutter in his lip and flush on
his cheek, II thank GDd, that being too
old TO 90 myselt'-his hair was as whlo
as the driven snow-"I had three boys
to send at the call OF my country." And
| thought as | looked at him, remember
ing that the war was ended, and hear
ing what sort of triumph sounded
through his tones as ha talked that he
had lis boys all safely about him once
more SO | said, "lIow glad and proud
you must be, with tho trouble over, TO
have your heroes at homo again -
"liome y he answered, sat home why
they have all gore home long ago. |
had my boys'to give uttcrly-my coun-
try needed them utterly-but | thank
God Tor their deaths, for from their
graves, and the graves Of such rs they,
spring the tree that will shelter the lie
anl liberty of the republic" As he so
spoke he opened the morning paper con.
talmngt the record Of the infamous speech
OF the day preceding, and | sat still,
Watching with a painful facnaton as his
gaze Travelled slowly over the sentencesi
watched the light die ont of his eye, the
color fade from his lace, till the very lips
grew ghastly and witheri"g; watched
till the last word was read. Never shall
| forget the face he lifted from that res
cord never forget the terrible voice
with which he cried out, as the paper
fell from his trembling hands, My God!
My God my boys have died in vain !"
My friends, permit this policy to sue.
ceed permit this Government to be re
established on It's old foundations Of
lalsehood and oppesSion permit these
traitors to logslate for themselves, for
us, and for the freedom of the South, and
this war will have been fought in vain,
this treasure spent IN vain, this precious
blood spilled, and noble lives sacrificed
IN vain.
A false move at this crisis, and we are
for the game.
A false policy in any way planned or
accepted, and wc arc destroyed One
single, one confident turn of the sculp
tors hand has annlhilatcd the idea cf a
ruined the marble which
he believed to be plastic as clay to his
tJurh.
For this reason l am glad that the
Senate has failed to pass the Recconstruc
ton bill of the House. 1t is not sutii-
cient merely TO disfranchise Rebels who
deserve the punishment, IL is equally
necessary to cnfranchiSe loyal men, who
have carved the right. 1t would bo
to leave them to the tender
mercies of their ex-masters 1t is fool
ishncss to suppose that the United States
can protect them IN such restoration,
even through the Civil Ri ghts bill.
Bayard Taylor tells us that when the
Russian peasant is wronged oroppressed,
he only says:-"God is high and the
Emperor is too far Off to hear" and
submits In such a condition Of restora-
ton the poor liberated slave may think |
that God is indeed high, and will be
TO understand that the central |
is too far of to hear, and
80 submit.
Who knows not the story of the slave
who, in the early and evil day of the war
came one day to tho headquarters Of n
camp and demanded to see It's general.
Slaves were scarcely the fit visitors ofan
officer brilliant in array ard mighty in