The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1866-11-27

cd had always opposed secession until the Uni
ted States could no longer. protect his person or
property. Up to this time, we thought the wise
and ma nanimous policy of the President was
about to produce at an early day, the benefcent
results be conten plated. A few days before
the meeting of Congress, after we had complied
with all these supposed preliminaries to national
reconciliation, speeches of distinguished partizan
leaders of the Congress soon to assemble, gave
US premonitions of the purposes of the dominant
party. / need not remind you of the chilling
shock we received when the action of the domi-
nant party in Congress announced that our
members irrespective of their qualifications,
would not be received-and that the Union, for
the preservation of which SO many lives bad
been lost, and so frightfui national debt had
been created, should be practically dissolved
until it should be the pleasure Of the dominant
party majority to restore it. Up to this time,
this fraction Of the Congress contemplated by
the Constitution of the United States, exercise
the legislative power, without declaring when,
if ever, or upon what conditions, the people Of
the other States they govern shall have repre-
sentaion, and the recent elections in the domi-
nant States sanction this action. 1t is proper
to refer to the actions Of the people and the
authorities of this State, in the interim of these
extraordinary national movements Not guer-
rilla party existed in the late rebellious States
LII this State not single instance has occurred
where Sheriff has had occasion, since the sur
render, to require posse other aid to execute
civil process. Our bench of Judges haze exc
cuted their duties 10 manner which would
have given lustre to the judiciary OF any period
in the history of the world. The steadiness
with which our j. judges have held the scale OF
justice has at last xorted praise even from those
= e 4 I. A. fnVn nf
the agents of the Freedmen's Bureau, and L
grieve to say, few of cur own people, who seek
to propitiate the favor of our conquerors by fur
nishing aliment to their unjust prejudices, have
sought to make the impression, at the North,
that freedmen and Union men could not have
justice at the hands Of our Courts. TO this end
emissares have been employed to traverse the
country and record &c parte statements to cast
odum on the administration of justice-petit.ons
have been covertly got up by some OF our own
citizens and sent to the President of the United
States, charging disloyalty to our people and
favoritism to our Courts, to embitter against US
the virtuous classes of the North. Amongst us
these Vaccinations are we'll understood. The
virtuous and intelligent men of the North who
have settled among US, and especially the SOL
diers who stood ir front of the fight, on both
Sides in the late conflict Of arms, despise these
SANDERS Through the agency of whole soued
men public opinion, it is hoped, will soon reach
healthy state. Our judges, unmoved by these
unworthy imputations and unawed by intima
tons that they would be suspended from the
exercise of their functions, if their adj Indications
did not accord with the dominant power, have
sienced SANDER itself No murmur is now
heard against the fairness with which justice is
administered in our Courts. The fearful in
crease of crime, the natural sequent Of civil
war in which disrespect for the rights of non
combatants authoritatively countenanced, if
not encouraged, is being rapidly repressed, and
reverence for justice is having its natural tri
umph. Our Legislative Department has been
anxiously endeavoring to alter our Code to suit
our novel situation, and to bring order out Of
the choas produced by the late convul~ion.-
This review of our national affairs brings US to
the present period.
Tile Constitutional Amendment.-InJ June last
| received from the Hon. VIM Fl Seward Sec
rotary of State of the United States, commu-
nication herewith transmitted to you, covering
an attested copy of joint resolution of Con-
gress, proposing fourteenth article as an amend
ment to the Constitution Of the United States.
1t proposes-First. That call persons born or
naturaiizcd in the United States and subject to
the jurisdiction thereof are citizens of the Uni
ted States and of the State wherein they reside
.Sscond That "no State shall make or enfol ce
any law which shall abridge the privileges or
immunities Of citizens of the United States. p
Third, That "no State shall deprive any per-
son of life, liberty or property, without due pro-
cess OF law, nor deny to any person within its
| jurisdiction the equal protection of its laws. ="
F"urfh, That Representatives shall be appor-
toned among the several States according to
UbO
number of persons in each State, excluding In
dams not taxed. But when the right to vote at
any election for the choice o. electors for Presi-
dent and Vice President of the United States,
representatives iu Congress, the Executive and
Judicial officers of State, or the members of
the Legislature thereof, is denied to any of the
male inhabitants of such State, being twenty
one years of age and citizens of the United
States, or in any way abridged, except for par
ticipation in rebellion other crime, the basis
of representation therein shall be reduced in the
proportion which the number of such male citi-
| Zens shall bear to the whole number Of male
citizens twenty-one years Of age in such State"
Fifh, That "no person shall be Senator, or
Representative in Congress, or elector of Presi-
dent and Vice President, or hold any office,
civil or military, under the United States, or
under any State, who having previously taken
an oath, as member of Congress, or as an Off
Ger OF the L nlted States, or as member of any
state Legislature, or as executive or judicial
ohcer OF any State, to support the Constitution
OF the United States, shall have engaged in in
surreetiou or rebellion against the same, or given
aid or comfort to the enemies thereof. But
Congress may, by vote of two thirds of each
House, remove such disability" Si.rM. THAT
the validity Of the public debt of the United