The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1866-08-16

Judges for itself whether the person clalning " /
be admitted as member has been properly eleet'
Cd or has been elected by people who nave ,
right 10 be represented in Congress. or whether ne
i man OF such character as would be entitled 10
st In thciy body as a man end equal; for II be ue
convicted felon or traitor who has shed the ploou
of loval men In efforts to destroy the G0vernment,
they have right to say they will not give nun lei
Rnt beyoDd and above these rights, which il |
may he soid arc special and technical there Is the
broad and comprehensive right essentially inhe- |
rent in al governments, TO protect Itself against |
tha Tpaligutty and future Vaccinations OF van. |
nnIshed rebels In this work of reconstruction, |
SO called two leading purposes should be kept in
view. .,
/. That nothing shall be done TO injnre or des-
troy the general theory or scheme oi govern |
nlent ss beauealhcd 10 lis by our fathers.
2. That such security be taken as can be TO
prevent the recurrence OF future erebellions, ana
10 prevent those who Lave been in rebellion but
arc restored to their political rights, from defeat
ING necessary legislation, or bringing about legls-
lsaIon which would be reasonable or dishonorable
and thus accomplishing In the Government what
they had failed to do BY force of arms. II II
rhould be deemed essential to the safety Oh the
Government that Senators and Representatives !
from the States lately in rebellion should not be
admitted TO seats in Congress until the represen:
tative po,yer of those States had been so reduced
that they could not by uniting with reasonable
faction in the North control the Government and
perhans destroy It, Congress would have the rignt
TO exclude tue members from sucn eutes untli
such time as the measure Of reduction bad been
secomplIshed provided such measure OF reduc-
tion ia not In violation OF the general theory and
scheme of the Government, and Is within the es-
sential powers of Congress. In this case, the
measpre of reduction would be an amendment to
the Constitution equalizlng the representation III
Congress and In the election OF President and Vice
President, by taking from the white people Of the
Southern States the right to represent and act for
fnnr millions and half of negroes whom they de-
priye Of political rights. This measure, 80 for
from violating the general theory or scheme oi
the government is IN accordance with 1t, because
II giyes 10 the same number Of people In the
North an equal power with like number in the
South. Itdepriycs the people Of the South OF no
lust right, because 1t leaves to them the enjoy
nent Of the same power that Is possessed BY an
equal number In the North, aud surely they ought
mot, by reason or justice, to ask for more. Ihls
measure would be accomplished by an amendment
20 the Constitution, which is always In order and
proper. There Is nothing revolutionary In
amending the Copat tuition, on the contrary 1t Is
the safety.valve provided by itself, by which rev.
olutions are avoided by making the instrument
conform 10 the changed conditions and circum-
stances Of great nation. But If 1t be said that as
soon as the rebellion was concluded, the Senators
and Representatives from the rebellous States had
an immediate right, without condition, to resume
their seats in Congress, how could any amendment
TO the Constitution be adopted TO guard against
future rebelons or the consequences OF the one
from which we have just escaped2 Twenty Sen
atoss from the rebel States, added to the present
number Of Democratic members, would constitute
Considerably more than one-third of that body,
and would effectually prevent the adoption OF any
amendment, and would thus secure 10 the South.
ern States, perhaps for all time, the gross and
wicked inequality OF representation which they
now possess II II shall be said that upon the con-
clusion of rebellion, rebels shall have right To
run from the battlefield, or from the floor OF
rebel Congress back to seats In the Congress o
the United States in time prevent the adoption
of any amendments TO the Constitution whicl
have been rendered necessary by the changed con
dition Of the country or the enactment OF suct
laws as are required toprescrye the future peace
the country, II is but 10 repeat In another iorn
that rebellion Is no ofiense, and that the Govern
ment has no right TO protect itself from destruc
tlon by legislation orNrms.
III when the Government was trying TO borrow
money to prosecute the war, II had been announ
ccd that as soon as the war was over--the ques
tion Of making appropriations to pay the interes
on the money borrowed would be referred to I'M
votes of rebel Coneressmen, | ask how muel
money could have been borrowed2 If when w
were calling for volunteers 10 Oil up the loyal ar
mics it had been proclaimed that the first effect o
putting down the rebellion would be TO I'LL III
Congress with rebel members, who would have
ftght 10 vote on all questions growing out OF tn
war, on oil questions Of reconstructlon, bounties
pensions, and military honors, ! ask how man.
Volunteers we could have been obtained.
And submit as a general proposition that re
bellIon can not be discouraged, treason made od
ous, loyalty encouraged, and patriotism rewarded
II when o rebellion has been suppressed, rebels or
admitted to make laws for the loyal and admlniste
the affairs Of Government they have just failed I
destroy
The position am combating Is abhorrent I
the common sense Of every man. and vlolatlve
every principle of justice and yet II Is that npo
which the Democratic leaders of Indiana hav
planted themselves, and from which they arc sc
ing forth TO do battle against the country. nI
for amending the Constitution 80 as to equallze III
representation for three reasons.
Frst--Because II Is Ueasnre of absolute justlc
In itself, and removes on inequality which VIII
oppressive and ntolerabIc.
Seooad--Because II would 30 reduce the powe
In the Government of those who have been In re
belllon, that they could not by uniting with dl'
loyal faction in the North work mischief and di'
honor TO the Nation.
Third--Because 1t would present to the peopl
of the Southern States an inducement to COME
political rights 10 due time upon large negr
population In their midst, which otherwise the
might not concede for many generations.
DEMooRArfo PURPOSES AND POLICY.
And now let us inquire what measures the Den
ocratic party are for aflrmatvely. II Is and ha
been opposed to whatever the Union party is
favor OF but II has also positive and aftrmatly
policy, which II Is important that tho poop
should understand The great and leading mea
ure of lie policy Is the immediate aud uncond
tlonal admission Of full representation In bot
Houses OF Congress from the rebel statesi tht
the test oath shall be repealed; that there shall
no puniBhnents; that there shall be no political
clvi disabilities imposed upon any man who hl
been engaged 10 the rebellion; that there shall |
no amendment TO the Constitution 10 make II col
form TO the changed circumstances Of the nation
that there shall be no legislation to prevent the
currence of future rebellons; but that Union me
and rebels Union soldiers aud rebel soldiers sha
be put upon perfect equality before tho law, al
that no honors or rewards shall be extended TO d
one which are not equally bestowed upon the otl
cr In proof of this last position, let me refer yo
TO the notorious fact that In their speeches ar
newspapers they bestow brilliant and glowir
panegyrics upon the genius and virtues OF Gener
Lee but arc significantly silent about Gran
Sherman and Sheridan. They weep copious
over the memory Of stonewall jackson, but ha
not tear TO shed for tho untmely deaths of Lyo
Kearney, Mcpherson aud Haekeman, Th
mourn from day 10 day over tho fictitious SUITE
ingy OF JEFF. Davis, but have never yet express
regret for the murdered thousands at Anders0
VILE and Salisbury.
These things point to their feelings and thC
policy with the unerring certainty OF the need
TO the pole, and leave the rational mind without
shadow Of doubt As to what they would do Ah0u
they aguln come into control of the GovemmeI
They are opposed TO equallzlng the representatl
North and South, becauee II would diminish
power OF the rebeis 10 the Government They
opposed 10 prohibiting the assumption Of the rel
war debt, for that would be to prevent them ffC
doing just what they intend 10 do should they {
the power,