Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1866-09-26

dition Of the Freedmen is snch that
they must be put under the control
and guardianship of the Frecdmen's
Bureau, TO make bargains for them
and attend to their affairs generally.
And these are the free and indepen-
dent voters whose virtue and intelli-
gence are relied upon to maintain and
perpetuate our institutions ,. Is it
possible that human folly can 90 be-
yond this / remember when il was
the universal sentiment with us, that
WE, the people OF the Uniled Btatrsy
were the only people with whom a
republic like ours was possible. IL had
failed in England, in France, and in
deed everywhere, but here we could
maintain it. Now, it is proposed to
put itat the mercy of the negrocs-the
wards Of the Freedmen's Bureau y
have said thai the power OF a
State depended upon the number of
its people, and not upon the number
of voters. How many men can It
bring into the field TO defend the
country How many heads has II
upon whom taxes can be levied .
What share of the public burdens can
i. bear. These are the true tests ofthe
share it ought to have in the govern
ment Of the Union; but this amend
ment ignores all these, and while II
proposes to diminish the political
power of some States, vet IL does not
propose to diminish their political bur
dens in the same proportion. When
draft is ordered to NIL up the ranks
Of our armies, the people will still re
main the basis, and not The voters; 81
when direct and capitation taxes art
levied. they viii count the whole
population, and not a part oft Thu
YOU see a Southern State viii havl
10 bear as many governmental bur
i dens as she now does, and yet she ma,
DC deprived Of half her governmental
power. which changes the whole na
lture of our system. 1t may be saiS
that this can all be avowed by givinl
the negroes suffrage. True, but tha
is Just what the State thinks il canno
do without ruin. Why then sh0ul'
we, outside the State, seek 10 compe
II to ran any ruch risk, or encounte
any sneh dangery
THIRD SECTION.
The next and third section is equa
fllv a violation Of the whole spirit {
our Constitution. According 10 it n
man could be punished for any ofene'
! no matter what-bv the legislativ
4 department Of the Government, b
cause ..bills Of fattainder7 aud "bilis
Z pains and penalties are forbidden
5 it. Nay, Il even goes further an
r declares that "no ox post facto' La
l. shall be passed. SO that no man coui
c be made 10 suffer any penalty ns
D prescribed By law as due to his offend
I before Il was committed This Is u
e Constitution as il now stands, and
view of the barrier tpresents, the Co'
e gress propose TO override its prlnt
1 pies and nullify its provisions by pa
= fishing all those in the South, wh
= after having at any previous tau
!. taken an oath to support the Cons
= tuition ofthe United States, u0hAfari
/ engaged in rebellion, by declarir
them ineligible to Office under eithl
"A the Federal or State governments.
,f other words, this section Is q ~bill
IS pains and penalties, and cr post IA
rs iaw-both in one-which is intend
e. 10 infiict 4 new punishment on all {
IN principal men Of the the South for
Al parr they took in the Rebellion, q
te that without providing any moue
te trial or means OF escape, except by
h. two-thirds vote OF Congress removI
er the disability
al 1t is impossible for one not well
cs auaintcd with the result OF mcasul
O. similar TO this in other countries,
q estimate the probable ameant OF m
u chief it might do in this instance.
as ostracisc and prescribe the leadi
Nv men Of a population numbering n
&c ilOI>. Illrl a. TIT tttAN "H~- - y
of TO reconcile and unite them with Us
re the bonds Of loyal citizenship, is sur
be one OF the most rash aud dager'
I'D proceedings imaginable, and wou
Is beyond any doubt, SOW tho seeds
Ia another and much more fOrmida
or rebellion than the one which we b.
OF lust suppressed. Not only those
nd der the ban would resent 1t, but
ne connected with them in any way,
Is blood or friendship, would become
in implacablc enemies, and seek the .
nd opportunity for vengeance in
ID cvcr-shifting condition Of parties. {
nd any one believe that in time, tn
nc men. bound together by the ties o
Int common indigniiy, would not 10
M themselves into party which wo
not never tire or sleep until they
in wiped away the stigma, and m
,re those who inflicted It, repent that q
nst desire for punishment had overcC