Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1866-11-15

a hundred thousand more negroes than
white persons. If universal suffrage pre-
vailed, the entire political power of the
State would be in the hands of the negroes.
They could elect to every Office in the
State one of their own caste; and send
Senator'S and Representatives to Congress.
The same state of affairs, deplorable as it
would be, must likewise take place in Mis-
sissippi. And in all of the Southern States
there would be many counties in similar
condition-negroes elected to the Legisla-
ture and filing all country offices.
TO suppose that any Southern State
would voluntarily adopted such position
in the National Constitution, is to presume
that she is insensible to her own honor,
and reckless of her own safety Tt may be
said that Tennessee has already done So
Never was there greater mistake. IF the
constitutional amendment had been sub
mitted to the people of Tennessee, it would
have been rejected by nine-tenths of them.
1t was adopted only by a minority of her
Legislature, unfairly and corfuptly elected,
and thoroughly debased and degraded 10y
Northern influence. In all communities
there are unprincipled and Infamous men,
who seek power and notoriety by sacriic
ing honor and the interests of their country.
Unfortunately for Tennessee, the scum and
dregs of society have been thrown up by
the horrible cival war through which she
has passed. Men have got into power in
that State, accidentally and fraudulently,
who are disgrace to human nature, and
who will ever remain infamous in history.
The same thing cannot again occur in any
other Southern State.
The third section of the proposed con-
stitutiOnal amendment is more revolving to
an honorable mind than either of the
others. It is, in the true sense of the word,
Bill Of attainder and &c post fact0 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. It Furnishes for past offences,
by one fell swoop, tens of thousands of hon
orable men. The conception of such q
Bill was never before, probably, thought
of by an Englishman, or the descendant
of an Englishman. It certainly was
not attempted by the English Parliament
in the darkest and bloodiest days of Eng
fish tyranny. The only incident in history
analogous 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 and disgrace forever, not only all
the leading men o. the South, but all, how
ever humble they may be, who have ever
filled any civil Office III any of the Southern
States. This section declar es that no one
who has taken an oath to support the Con
stitution of the United States and was af-
forwards aiding and abetting in the War,
shall hereafter hold any Office under the
State or United States.
The Governors of the States, the Judges,
members of the Legislature, magistrates
constables, State and District officers, are
all, forever, excluded by this provision. To
suppose that any Southern man would vol
unfairly adopt such provision is indeed
placing a very low estimate on Southern
character. The soldier who gallantly fought
under the lead of his General, and who
would have sacrificed his own life, at any
time, for the protection of his commander,
is required to dishonor and disgrace him in
peace. The son is required to vote the in
fanny of his father. The people are asked
to repudiate and disgrace those whom they
have, through life, honorel and glorited in
honoring Every Southern State is requir-
ed to eXpel from her councils, her Legisla-
ture, and from all public offices, her wisest,
best and most experienced public servants.
Was ever such proposition before submit
ted to an intelligent, virtuous and Christian
people? How any honorable man, WHO re-
fleets onthissection of the proposed amend
ment, and seesits bearing and consequences,
can expect or counsel its adoption is, to my
ern man should vote for it or favor its
or and infamy. Such a man would will
ingly betray his country, his own house
hold and his God.
If the Southern States were SO lost to all
shame as to adopt this section. it is posi-
BILE that young men might be found to fill
all the State offices but they could not re-
present their State in Congress or hold any
office under the United States, on account
of their having aided and abetted in the
war. The States would still be unrepre-
sented in Congress as long as the test oath
is continued.
The Constitution of the United States
provides that amendments may be prOpOs-
ed by a vote of two-thirds of both Houses
of Congress, and when adopted by three
fourths of the State Legislatures, shall be-
come part of the Federal Constitution. -
This clause of the Constitution evidently
contemplated full Congress when such
amendments should be proposed. 1t was
presented in Congress. This was the Sc
curity against I'M udicious amendments
But the proposed amendment was adopted
whilst ten States were excluded from all
representation in Congress. 1t never could
have been proposed to the State Legisla-
lures by full Congress, and consequently
should not now be regarded by them as
constitutionally submitted to the Legisla-
lures for adoption. It should be, and will
be, rejected unanimously by ten or eleven
of the Southern States, and never can be-
come a part of the Federal Constitution.
What will be the consequences of this re-
lection, is wholly immaterial to the South
ern States. You say that worse terms will
be enforced on us. This may be so but
we shall have the consolation of knowing
that we did not voluntarily adopt them,
and that amidst all the tyranny and oppres-
sion which may be heaped on us, we have
aintained our honor unsulled, and never
can lose our self-respect.
The Southern States may be kept out of
Congress. Who cares for that We have
been out for the last twelve months, and
during all that time have been improving
our condition, and rapidly restoring the
prosperity of our country. The Northern
people are nearly equally divided. One
half of them are our friends, who deeply
sympathize with us in our misfortunes.-
With this half, we constitute large ma
iority of the people of the United States
It will be passing strange, indeed, If one
third Of the DeODle of this Republic should