The Union flag. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1865-187?, 1866-05-11
ONCE under the Government OF ahs Uni-
ted SiAtsa.

4
Bs1 enacted a., That no person shall 3,
eligible to any office under tho Government oil
the United States who 10 included iAAny ol
the following classes, namely:
First. The President and Vice President Oi
the Confederate State Of America, so called
and the heads Of departments thereof
Second. Those who in other countries &C.
ted as agents Ofths Co nfsderats States Oi
America, so-called.
Third. Heads Of departments Of thO Uni.
ted States, officers Of the army and navy Of
he United States, and all persons educated
at the military or naval aerdemy Of the Uni
ted States, judges Of the courts Of the Uni
ted States, and members OF either House OF
the Thirty-SiIth Congress Of tho United
States who gsvesid or comfort to the rSpsl-
lion.
Fourth. Those who acted as officers Of the
Confederate States Of America, so-callsdd
above the grade of colonel ia the army or
master in the navy, and any one who, as Gov
Srnor of either Of the so-callsd Confederate
States, gave aid or comfort to the late rebel
lion.
Fifth. Those who have treated officers or
soldiers or sailors lof the army Tor navy Of
the United States, captured during the late
war, otherwise than lawfully as prisoners Of
war.
The united vote Of the Union Republicans
on this committee is an assurance ofharmony
and victory in the coming civic strife, and
that the new amendment has been consider
ed by the master intellects OF our country.
We thus assume a compact front upon q COM
manding platform. No cause for dispute or
division is left to the ambitious or design
ing and he who attempts to resist what he
has carefully prepared will only secure his
own discontinue. The article, which, when
adopted, will be the XIVth article Of the
Constitution Of the United States, limits the
future balsiS of representation to citissnS
who are voters. The question OF suffrage 10
neither denied to Congress nor left exclusive
ly to the States; but the latter are Bubstan-
TALLY invited to Snfranehise all their people,
as the best way to increase their power in
the national councils and In the Electoral
College, and as the sure preventive Of that
Congressional interference, which, in case Of
failure, will undoubtedly supply the remedy.
Section first smbodies the greatest princi-
Piles and securities Of the civil rights bill into
the framework Of the Constitution.
All motive for delays is removed BY remoV-
ing all temptation to the formation Of parties
on the hope Of being able to secure cOmpen-
sation for slaves, or payment.Of the rebel war
debt. That this hope exist need no; be doubt.
ed by the calm reviewer Of passing events.
Removed from the minds of men by such
guarantees in the fundamental law, tho pro-
lection becomes rs lasting as the Government
itself, and there nothing left for the Southern
people to do but to siren gthen themselves by
republicanizing their constitutions. In com.
plying with these plain yet positive eOndi-
tions they will not bs embarrassed By the
politicians who led them into ruin, but can
do the work with their own hands, in tho
shortest way. The sections preventing GER
tain classes from voting until 1870, and cut
ting OF from the enjoyment Of all Offices Of
trust and emolument certain other classes,
who were voluntary authors andagen!G ofihs
rebellion, In civil and military life, are not
more stringent than the existing status OF
Maryland, West Virginia, and Missouri, un-
der which these States have prospered and
been held to the Union. The frE State hat
can be July r.prIntsd IN COIgrG', under hsH'
juIt and eomprthtnnss 0uarGatsG, 10 TtHHG''ss.
She has already complied with nearly all ihS
requirements above set forth. Indeed, In
view Of the stern fact that this report win
probably be ratified by the constitutional
votes Of the two houses Of Congress within
very short time, there 10 not an insuTgsni
State that cannot have Senators and Repre-
sentativeS here before the close Of the pres
ent Congress. The hope Of faction has been
in discord and delay Of action among the
Republicans. That dream always dsluSiTS,
must now be forever dismissed. Only mad
men will maintain . bootlesS and fruillsSI
resistance 10 what 10 already inevitable. AI-
pecially should the South hasten to accept
what is so frankly and so generously offered.
There is scarcely proposition laid down or
q protection demanded in this joint rsSolu-
ton that has not received the approval Of
President johnson. Some Of the conditions
are In fact his own, made in repeated speech
Is and letters before and since he became
President Neither himself nor bis friends,
therefore, have a motive lsn, no, even that
Of snTy, to refuse their aid to this noblS plat
form. II ihsy should recognise and fulAl
their obligations, they mar secure Ious Of
the character they have lost, But the work
Is already more than half accomplished, and
those who halt, like those who oppose, will
bo forever sacrificed - Warrington CArOnisls,
- An old proverb says that "a
man is alion in his own cause" but