American citizen. [volume] (Butler, Butler County, Pa.) 1863-1872, 1866-08-15

/
law, and which cannot be passed with
out comment Stated in few words it
amounts to this that, inasmuch as the
lately insurgent States had no legal right
to separate thems elves from the Union,
they still retain their positions as States
and consequently the people thereof have
right to immediate representation in
Congress, without the imposition of any
conditions whatever; and further, that
until such admission, Congress has no
right to tax them for the support of the
Government. 1t has even been conteu
ded that until such admission, all legis-
lation affecting their intereststs is, if not
unconstitutional, at least unjustifable and
oppressive.
1t is believed by your committee that
all these propositions are not only wholly
untenable, but, if admitted, would tend
to the destruction of tho Government.
1t must not be forgotten that the peo-
pie of these States, without jurisdiction
or excuse, rose IN insurrection against
the United States. They deliberately
abolished'their State governments, sa far
as the same connected them politically
with the Union as members thereof un-
der the Constitution. They deliberately
renounced their allegiance to the Federal
Government, and proceeded TO establish
an Independent government for them
selves. In the prosecution of this enter
prise they seized the national forts, arse
nails, dock-yards, and other public prop
erty within their borders, drove out from
among them those who remained true to
the Union, and heaped every imaginable
insult and injury upon the United States
and its. citizens. Finally they opened
hostilities and levied war against the Gov
ernment. They continued this war for
four years with the most determined and
malignant spirit, killing in battle and
otherwise, large numbers of loyal people,
destroying the property of loyal citizens
on the sea and on the land, and eHtailing
on the government an enormous debt in
Cured to sustain its rightful authofity.
Whether legally and constitutionally or
not they did in fact withdraw from the
Union, and made themselves subjects of
another government of their own crea-
ton; and they only yielded when, after
a long, bloody, aud wasting war, they
were compelled by utter exhaustation to
lay down their arms; and this they did
not willingly, but declaring that they
yielded because they could no longer re.
sist, affording no evidence whatever of
repentance for their crime, and expires.
sing no regret except that they had no
longer the power to continue the desper-
ate struggle.
1t cannot we think be denied by any
one having tolerable acquaintance with
a'public law, that the war thus waged was
civil war of the greatest magnitude
The people waging it were necessarily
subject to all the rules which by the laws
of nations control contest of that char
acter, and to all the legitimate consequen-
ees was that, within the limits prescribed
by humanity, the conquered rebels we're
at the mercy of the conquerors. That a
government thus outraged has most per.
feet right to exact indemnity for the in
juries done and security against the re-
currence of such outrages in the future
would seem too clear for dispute. What
the nature of that security should be,
what proof should be required as re.
turn to allegiance, what time should elapse
before people thus demoralized should
be restored in full to the enjoyment
Of political rights and privileges, are
questions for the law-making power to
decide, and that decision must depend on
grave considerations Of the public safety
aud the general welfare.
Il is, moreover conten6ed, and with
apparent gravity, that from the peculiar
nature and character of our Government
no such right on the part of the conqueror
can exist and from the moment when
rebellion lays down its arms, and actual
hostilities cease, all political rights of re.
bellious communities are at once restored
that because the people of State Of the
Union we're once an organized community
within the Union, they necessarily so re-
main, and their right to be represented
in Congress at any and all times, and 10
participate in the government Of the
country under all circumstances, admits
of neither question nor dispute. IF this
is indeed true, then is the government Of
the United States powerless for its own
{ protection, and fragrant rebellion carrie ed
to the extreme of civil war is pass time
| which anu Stafa NAV xlau ~ wot -. l.,