Delaware State journal and statesman., 1866-09-11

PAAhSABAOp WIN lHlubIb VI lut lAepuDll
designed for all America-are now maxim
determined battle with the oligarichal enc
mics OF free constitutional government an
by the blessing of God these States will 500
range themselves in line with the forme
Tree States, and illustrate the wisdom AM
benehcence OF the great charity ofAmerioal
liberty by their increasing population, wealtl
and prosperity.
In the remaining ten States, the seeds o
oligarchy planted in the Constitution by it
slavery features have grown to be monster
power. Recognition thus wrung from thI
reluctant trainers of that great instrument
enabled these States to intrench themselves
behind the perverted doctrine of StateI
rights, and sheltered by claim of constitu
tlonal obligation to maintain slavery in the
States, presented to the American Govern
ment the alternatives of oligarchy with
slavery or, democratic republican Govern
ments without slavery.
A forbearing Government, bowling to O
supposed constitutional behest, acquiesced in
the former alternative.
for eighty years. The principles of consti-
tutional liberty languished for want of gov.
ernmental support. Oligarchy matured it's
power with subtle design. Its history for
eighty years, is replete with unparalleled
injuries and usurpations." 1t developed
only the agricultural ocalities-geographi-
cally distinct from the free-labor localities,
and less than one-third the whole-with
African slaves. 1t held four millions of
human beings as ehattels, yet made them the
basis OF unjust representative power for
themselves in Federal and State Govern
ments to maintain their enslavement
] 1t excluded millions of free white laborers
from the richest agricultural lands of the
world. Forced them to remain, inactive and
unproductive, onthe mineral, manufacturing
and lumber ocalities-comprising two-thirds
oil the whole South, in square miles, and
real undeveloped wealth-simply because
The localities were agriculturally too poor
for slave labor.
Condemned them to agriculture, on this
unagricultural territory, and consigned them
To unwilling Ignorance and poverty, by
denying capital and strangling enterprise.
IL repelled the capital, energy, will and
skill of the free States, from the free-labor
localities, by unmitigated intolerance and
proscription-thusg guarding the approaches
OF their slave domain against democracy,
Statute books groaned under despotic
lawsagainst unlawful and insurrectionary as
semblies; aimed at the constitution guran-
tees Of the right TO peaceably assemble and
petition for redress of grievances.
1t prescribed democratic literature as in
cendiary.
1t nullifed the constitutional guarantees Of
freedom of speech and the press.
1t deprived citizens of the other States of
the privileges and immunities" in these
states, an injury and usurpation alike unjust
to Northern citizens, and destructive to the
best interests of the States themselves.
Alarmed at the progress of democracy in
the face of every encouragement, at last it
sought immunity by secession and war.
The heart sickens with the contemplation
Of the four years that followed-forced loans,
lmpressments, CONSUMPTION, with blood
hounds and bayonets, murder of aged Union
men, who had long laid aside the imple-
ments of labor, but had been summoned
anew tothe field, by the conscription of their
sons, to support children and grandchildren,
reduced from comfort to the verge Of starva-
tion, the slaughter of noble youths, types of
physical manhood, forced into an unholy
war against those with whomthey were iden-
titled by their interest long months of in
carceration in rebel bastiles, Punishment
from homes and hearthstones, are but a
partial recital of the long catalogue of
horrors.
But democracy, North and South COM
bined defeated them. They lost. What did
they lose 2 The cause of oligarchy? They
lost African slaves by name only. Soon as
the tocsin of war ceased-soon as the clang
Of arms was hushed-they raise the cry Of
Immediate admission" and with that
watchword seek to organize, under new
forms, contest to perpetuate their unbridled
sway. They rehabilitate their sweeping con-
troll OF all local and State organizations.
The Federal Executive, easily seduced,
yields a willing obedience to his old masters.
Aided by his unscrupulous disregard of Con-
stitution and laws, by his merciless proscrip-
ton of true democratic opinion, and by all
hfc anYlionrau nf daofOffc fl,at
def1antly enter the lists in the loyal North,
and seek to wiring from freemen an endorse
ment Of their wicked designs.
Every foul agency is at work to accom-
plish the result. Falsely protesting TO as
sent to the abolition of slavery, they are con.
triving to continue its detestable power by
legislative acts against pretended vagrants.
They know that any form Of servitude will
answer ther unholy purpose. They pro.
nounce the four years. war brilliant sword
scene in the great revolutionary drama.
Proscriptive public sentiment holds high
carnival, and profting by the example of the
Presidential pilgrim, breathes out threaten
ings and slaughter against loyalty, ignores
and denounces all legal restaints, and as
sails with the tongue of malignant SANDER
the constitutionally-ch representatives
of the people.
To still the voice of liberty-dangerou
assassinations and murders in open day are
called to their aid. A reign pfterror through
all these ten States makes loyalty stand
silent in the presence of treason, or whisper
in bated breath. Strong men hesitate openly
to speak for liberty, and decline to attend
Convention at Philadelphia for fear Of des-
truction.
But all Southern men are not yet awed
into submission TO treason and we have as
sembled from all these States, determined
that liberty, when endangered, shall find a
mouth-piece, and that "the Government of
the people, for the people, shall not perish
from the earth" We are here to consult
together how best to provide for Union of
truly republican States to seek to relume
thirty-six stars on the old flag. We are here
TO see that ten of these stars are not opdQue
bodies, paling their Intellectual fires beneath
the gloom and darkness of oliRarchical
tyranny and oppression. We wish them to
be brilliant stars emblems of constitutional
liberty glittering orbs, sparkling with the
life-giving principles of the model Republicl
fitting adornments Of the glorious banner
of freedom.
Our last and only hope is in the unity and
fortitude of tho loyal people of America, in
the support and Vindication of the Thirty
ninth Congress, and in the election of a con.
trolling Union majority in the succeeding or
Fortieth Congress.
While tho new article amending the Ma.
tional Constitution offers the most liberal
conditions to the authors of the rebellion,
and does not come up TO the measure of our
expectations, we believe its ratification would
| be the commencement of complete and
lasting protection 10 all our people and
therefore we accept it as the best present
remedy, and appeal to our brothers and
1 do L.. H. 4 aa.- VI.