The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1866-09-29

Presbyterian clergymen-make mock pray.
ers with such irresistible humor that no man
could resist the temptation to laugh at the
wit and drollery of the thing, but my friends
at is not the way to treat the subject on which
depends the welfare and safety, perpetuty
and endurance of the Institutions of our gov
eminent. 1t is the way to bring into dis.
grace our institutions. i
No principle, however sound, is impervious
if it be assailed by the same weapons which |
were used by Tom Paine and others against
the faith upon which the pious people of this |
nation rest their brightest hopes in future |
state. |
The platform of General Logan and his |
friends says they approve the policy of con- |
gross in regard to the restoration of the state
governments destroyed by the rebellion" p
Do you inquire what that policy was He
assumes that that policy is that this constitu-
tional amendment must be adopted by these
excluded states, and then they can be reoeiv-
ed and admitted into the Union. Congress
has shown no such policy. Examine the rec.
ord and you can find no such policy there
They appointed committee to inquire wheth-
or these states OF any of them were entitled to
representation. The committee reported that
they were not 80 entitled, and congress adopt
ed a resolution prohibiting either house from
admitting, from any of the rejected states, 81
Their senators or representatives until con-
gress should declare such state entitled to
representation. The committee recommend
ed the passage of bill, that when the de-
sired constitutional amendment should be-
come part of the constitution, then such of
| said states as should ratify the same should
| be entitled to representation. But congress
| took good care not to pass that bill In truth,
| congress has utterly failed to prescribe any
| terms on which the excluded states may ever
| be admitted. Their policy" has been to
preoeat restoration and not to provide for re-
storation. They spent eight months In try
| ing to find out how to do 1t.
They spend eight months in trying to find
some plan to establish republican govern
ment, in which minority should permanently
rule. The thing is Gs impossible IN It's ma
| ture as to create perpetual motion. Gen.
Logan talks as though he supposed we want
| to admit disloyal members to congress. No
such thing, my friends. l would expel a
disIoysl member if found in his seat. What
we claim is that each house shall examine
the case of each, and pass upon it, and 1t the
man is not ri hit send him home, and let the
people send man who Is loyal.
| The constitution of the United States says
that each house shall be the judge of the cleo
tons, returns and qualifications OF Its mem
bers. Congress has no right to make any
such provision that states shall not be repre-
scented until congress choose to let them ln.-
Now that is the policy which they advocate.
| do not believe the people Of the United
States have reached that pass, that they are
not to be trusted with the powers of self gov
! eminent, anywhere and everywhere. L tell
you the people for q time may abuse theIr
| powers in some particular. but the foundation
and theory of the American government Is,
that the maj Ority, restained by the constitu-
tional regulations, will perpetually represent
the government. And it is an absurditY for
US to say that this is g purely Representative
government, and yet that we are not willing
to trust the people to appoint their represen-
tatives. tell you this proposition is reYo-
lut0Uary. The rebels IN 1860 talked IN the
same way; they were going 10 violate the
constitution because the elections threw the
power into the hands of the balance OF the
| states; therefore they violated the constltu-
| tod aud broke Up this government by taking
these states cut, and now these leaders IN
congress are trying to keep them out because
they are afraid the power Will 60 into the
hands of the men down south, whom they
hate. They will try to keep those states out,
audit is just such dissolution OF the Union
by congressional compulsion rs 1t would have
been for the government south.
Feliow-eitizens | have talked TO you hal
an hour longer than | expected, and must
say to you before | part with you, that, con
/, sideriug the fact that the people around this
section of country are moro than four to one
against me. | must peg to return my sincere
thanks for the courteous, respectful hearing
you have given me.
| ask you to give your earnest atten
| ton TO the records of which have made
statements. Reason both sides carefully and
impartialiy; lay aside PASSION lay aside, i
you can, the feelings OF party. then vote a.
you believe, in accordance with the constitu
ton, and so the best interests of your coun
try. -<