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

al reasonable to suppose that liberty,
equality and fraternity could superlnduce
such result Who then will begin
it!-the white Rebels, the supporters
Of the Presidents policy! In that case
one might safely declare that the Presi.
dents argument bears heavily on his
friends, and in favor other opponents;
that it is an argument against white and |
not against black suffrage.
Beyond this what monstrous and |
abominable doctrine to PROFOUND and
sustain, that the United States can pre-
serve peace AMI maintain tranquility in
its borders only by ignoring the rights,
and trampling on the liberties of 4,OO0,.
900 OF It's loyal citizens a peace so
bought, at the expense of justice, would
DO more onerous than any war, A re-
public so saved would be moro unjust
and iniquitous than any despotic po yer.
"Ihberty," well says DR.. Gasparin, "im.
poses Obligations. Wrong under De.
mocracy is more infamous than under
an empire
Let us not forget while we question,
inspect, discuss, we ourselves are under
the eye of the world, and shall in turn
be discussed, he judged. W
Let us not forget that such course
would not merely dshonor us as q peo,.
pie, but would thrust iberty's mark back
on the dial, would make Democracy
lie, would check the course of humanity
everywhere, would strengthen the hands
OF despotic power, and weaken those of
its opponents by taking from their grasp
their most effective aud powerful wea>
pom.
Said a great + elchman when the Il
cannon thundered against Fort Sumpter,
"Ihe United States has lust been say
cd" The South saved us then it re,
mains to be seen if the North Is strong
enough to save itself now. The danger
OF yet further compromise between
liberty and oppression was selnmcd, not
through the justice OF the North, but
through the hatred of the South. Who
doubts that If these slave masters had
been pleased to remain, the North would
have contrlved to choke Itself with GOT !
ton dust, and flood itself with gold. that
1t should further give her spoils for those
in bondage and chains Experience is
hard schoolmaster, but it teaches As
none other. Has it taught the North
that rarest Of lessons common sense and
justice
On the fifth anniversary Of the Massa
chusctts dead i Baltimore. the fifth an.
nlversary or the day that usshorcd III the
most marvellous era in the history of,he
world. Andrew Johnson, in reterrinr t. |
the price paid down through the war.
exclaimed "For what have all these
lives been sacrificed, and all this treasure
expended a.! 1t was Tor the purnoso Of /!
preserving the States in the Ul.ion of our
tathers,"
=, Never were truer words spoken
never was cause more maigned. nor
its martyrs more dishonored The I'm
ion of to-day is not the Union Of five
years ago. The Government under
winch we live is not that which preced- |
ed the war. 1Aoi Union was cemcnlod
by the blood OF the slave and held 10.
gether with his chainsy That Govern,
ment was one that laid strohg ITS found,
atoms In oppression and lies. Cannot
Andrew johnson comprehend that HAYS
ing wrecked an old world, it becomes
necessary to shape n new one, and that
the first step toward construction must
be to destroy the destroycrs.
Seemingly not, for it is Just here tina.
he and Congress make issue. II de-
ho"nco as a traitor every man who is
opposed to my policy" the President
declares sand my policy is to dshonor
nine tcnths ofthc people who suffered
and fought for the republic, to crush
their allies OF the South, and to elevate
and strengthen their enemies Nv pol
icy is to thrust rebels Into Congress to
make the laws of the country, while by
my by own acts | am declaring them
publio enemies with whom we are still
at war"
A double question let me ask here -
Has the United States enemies? Does b..
the President of the United States ad,
here to them? The mere surrender of
the Confederate forces did not make l
peace, else would the war have ended !
with the disruption Of the armies OF Lee,
Johnston and Kirby Smith.
1t is everywhere allowed that war does
something more than subdue armed for-
ces ! it settles disputed questions and the
rights OF the two parties engaged Un-
III these settlements are embodied in law
there is not yet state ofpeace though ,,
hostilities have ceased.
Between beligerent powers that still ,,
exist, these laws are embodied IN treat. ;
les. In the present case, where there ,
are NO hostile armies remaining, these ,
questions settled by war. must be en-
bodied in the laws of the United States,
and tor greater stability in the Constltu, !
ton. No one, think, will dispute Mat !
proposition. Until this is done we arc. :
at war.
The President recognizes the fact that
the status Of tho country is still that Of {
war the status Of late rebels, still that {
Of enemles in that military possession is :
still held Of the South, the babeas corpus
hat most precious of all precious civil ,
rights, is still suspended. Some tens of ,
thousands of troops that enlisted Tor the ,
war are still held under command at the 5
South. Iftho war is ended, their term