The Weekly Perrysburg journal. [volume] (Perrysburg, O. [Ohio]) 1861-1???, 1866-09-28

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Of reconstruction proposed by Congress
and already accepted by the loyal Legisla-
ture Of Tennessee. Are they harsh or de-
grading2 Do you discern therein disposi-
tion TO trample on the PROSTATE or push
an advantage to the uttermost2 Do they
embody augbt Of vengeance, or any con-
fiscation but that Of Savery2 We solicit
your candid, impartial ju'g mont
What ia intended by the third section is
simply to give Loyalty fair start in the
reconstructed States. Under the Johnson
4. policy, the Rebels mouopolize power and
place even in communities where they are
decidedly outnumbered. Their Generals
are Governors and members elect of Con-
gross; their Colonels and Majors Gil the
legislatures, and offcate as Sheriifs. Not
only are the steadlastly loyal prescribed,
but even stayathome Rebels have little
chance in competition with those who
\ fought to subvert the Union. When this
! Rebel monopoly OF office shall have been
| Broken up, and loyalty to the Union shall
have become general and hearty Congress
may remove the disability, and will doubt
loss make haste to do SO.
We do not perceive that the justice or
\ fitness of the fourth section-prescribing
that the Union Public Debt shall be prompt.
! ly met, bnt that of the Rebel Confederacy
never--is seriously contested.
There remains, then, but tho I'd section,
which prescribes that political power
in the Union shall hencefOrth be base J only
on that portion of the people of each State
who are deemed by its constitution fit
dcpositOrles of such power. In other
words State which chooses to hold
part Of its population in ignorance and
vossalag lage-powerless, uneducated, unfran-
chsed-shall not count that portion to
balance the educated, intelligent, enfran
chsed citizens Of other States.
We do not purpose to argue the justice
of this provision. AS well argue the shape
of a cube or the correctness of the Multi
pication Table. lie who does not feel that
this is simply and mildly just, would not be
persuaded though one rose from the dead
to convince him. That there are those
among us who would not have it ratified
sadly demonstrates that the good work OF
Emancipatlon is not yet complete.
"But" say some. "this section is de-
signed to coerce the South into according
Suffrage to her Blacks" Not 80, we reply;
but only to notify her ruling caste
that we will no longer bribe them to
keep their Blacks in serfdom. An
aristocracy rarely surrenders its privileges,
no matter how oppressive, from abstract
devotion to justice and right. 1t must
have cOgent palpable reasons for so doing
We say, therefore, to South Carolina, "lf
you persistently restrict all power to your
100000 Whites, we must insist that those
no longer balance, in Congress and the
choice of President, 100000 Nothern White
reemen, but only 100000. If you keep
Blacks evermore il serfdom, it must not be
because we tempted you SO to do aud re.
ward you for so doing
Fellow citizens of every State, but
especially of those soon TO hold electo 8
we entreat your earnest, constant heed to
the grave questions now at issue. If those
who so wantonly plunged the Union into
Civil War shall bs allowed by yoI to dictate
the terms of Reconstruction, you wi | have
hecdlessly sown the bitter seeds of future
rebelliohs and bloody strife. Already, you
are Threatened with recognition by the
President of sham Congress made up of
the factions which recently confessed at
| Philadelphia on a platform of johnsonism
"a Congress constituted by multiplying and
overriding plan law of the land-a Con-
gress wholly inspired from the White House
and appealing to the sword alone for sup
port. SO glaring an attempt at usurpation
would be even more criminal than absurd.
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whelmng majority of thoroughly loyal
repres natives, are rendering its initiation
impossible
We cannot close withouta most deserved
tribute to the general fidelity wherewith
lr view of the Presidents detection, the
great body of the People. and even of the
Federal olfice.holdcrs stand fast by their
convictions and their principles. The
boundess patronage of the Executive,
though most unscruplously welded against
those to whose votes he owes it, has cor.
rupted very few, either Of those who shared
or of those who would gladly share in its
enjoyment. Not one of the % States which
voted to re-elect Abraham Lincoln has
given in its adhesion to the Presidents
policy; while New -Jerscy-the only Free
State that voted against him--has added
herself to their number.
Our great war has taught impressively
the peril of injustice aud the lesson has
sunk deep into millions of hearts. The
American people, chastened by suffering
are wiser and nobler than they were, Will
quicker and more open ear for every
generous suggestion. The fearful lessons
of Memphis and New-0rleans have moi
been lost on them, as is proved by the re
suit of tile recent elections in Vermont and
Maine. We cherish no shadow of doubt
that Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana and low;
first, then New-York, New.Jersoy, Illinois
Michigan, Wisconsin, Kansas and Min
nesota, will do likewise, and true restora
tion, genuine, abiding Peace, will thus
be secured to our country-a Peace tina
will endure because based on the ever
lasting foundations of Humanity, Justice
and Freedom. Yours,
MARCUS L. WARD, Chairman.
JOHN d. DEFREEs, Secretary.