The Carolina Spartan. [volume] (Spartanburg, S.C.) 1852-1896, 1866-11-15

st,tutional amendment is more revolving to
an honorable mind than either of the 9th
crs. 1t is, in the true seuse of the word.
Bill of attainder and &c post focto law, so
repugnant to the sentiments and feelings
OF the trainers Of the Federal Constitution
that they declared no such law should ever
be passed. 1t punishes for past offences,
/ by one fell swoop, tens of thousands of
honorable men. The conception of such a
Bill was never before, probably, thought
OF by an Englishman, OF the defendant OF
an Englishman. 1t certainly was not at
tempted by the Engi n Parliament in the
darkest and ooodicst days of English tyr
amy. The only incident in history anal.
agous to it, is the wish of Nero, that all
men had but one neck so that he could cut
them off at one blow. 1t proposes to os
tracise aud disgrace forever, not only all
the leading men of the South, but all,
however humble they may tie, who have
ever filed any civil Office in any of the
Southern States. This section declares
that no one who has taken an oath to sup
port the Constitution OF the United States
and WAS afterwards aiding and abetting in
the war, shall hereafter hold any office un
der the State or United States.
The Governors OF the States, the Judg-
| es, members of the Legislature. magis
tratcs, constables, State and District oil
| GERS, are all, forever excluded by this pro
vision 10 suppose that any Southern
man would voluntarily adopt such pro.
7ision 's indeed placing very low esti-
mate on Southern character. The soldier
| who gal!antly fought under the lead of his
General, and who would have sacrificed his
own life, at any time, for the protection
IT his commander, IS required to dishonor
and disgrace him i'll peace. The son Is
required to vote the iniamy of his father
The people are asked to repudiate and
disgrace those whom they have, throu. h
| life, honorcd and gloutied in honoring
Every southern State is required to expel
:To;n their couucii,, her Legislature. and
from all public Offices, her wisest, best and
most experienced servants Was ever
such proposition before Submitted to an
| Intelligent, virtuous and Christian people
How any honorable man, who reflects ON
| this section of the pro, rsed amendment,
aud sees Its bearing am consequences, can
| expect or counsel its adoption is, to my
mind, incomprehcnsible That any South
"rn mat should vote for it or favor its
| adoption Is confession of his own disbon.
or and iniamy. Such a man would will.
Iingiy bctray his country, his own house
| hold and his God.
Ii the Southern States were so lost to
all shame as to adopt this section. il is
| possible that young men might be iounu
90 fill all the State offices; but they could
not represent their State in Congress or
hold any office under the United States,
on .ccount OF their having aided and abet
ted in the war. The tates would still he
unrepreseuted in Congress as long as the
test oath is continued
The Constitution of the United States
provides that amendments may be propos
cd by vote OF two.thirds OF both Houses
OF Congress, and when adopted by three
iourths OF the State Legislature, shall be
come part of the Federal Constitution
his clause OF the Constitution evidently
contemplated a full Congress when such
amendments should be proposed. 1t was
supposed that all Of the States would be
represented in Congress This was the
security against the injudicious amend
inents. But the proposed amendment was
adopted whilst ten States were excluded
from all representation in Congress. 1t
never could ha e been proposed to the
State Legislatures by full Congress, and
consequently should not now be regarded
by them IS constitutionaly submitted to
the Legislatures for adoption. 1t should
be, and will be, rejected unanimously by
ten or eleven of the Southern States, and
never can become u part OF the Federal
Constitutions
What will be the consequence Of this
rejection, is wholly immatcria to the
Southern States. You say that worse terms
will be enforced on US. This may be S, :;
but we shall have the consolation OF know
ing that we did not voluntarily adopt them
and that amidst all the tyranny and op
preston which may be hcaped on us, we
have maintained our honor unSullicd, and
ne'er can lose our sci.rcspcct.
The Southern States may be KEEP: out
of Congress. Who cares for that! We
have been out for the last tw, I've mouths,
and during all that time have been iInpro
wing our condition, and rapidly restoring
the prosperity OF our country The North
ern people are nearly equally divided.
One-hat of them are our friends, who