The Highland weekly news. [volume] (Hillsborough [Hillsboro], Highland County, Ohio) 1853-1886, 1866-03-08

completely paralyzed, was unknown,
and all that time new government
was set up and acknowledged by them,
hostile 70 the Union, making war upon
us with all the energy and power it
could employ, lacking only success to
impart to it the dignity and permanent
cy of n nation.
-dlAt the end Of the struggle, when
this rebel organization was overpower-
ed by the irresistible weight of the
military arm of the Union when
battles ceased because the foe was van
quished, then came peace, and states
manship is summoned to take the place
Of arms, and conduct victory to its
logical conclusions, the establishment
of permanent peace with all proper
guarantees against repeated violence
from the same source, and for the same
causes especially, and all other proper
measures of future security which the
lessons and experience of the past shall
supgest. .r-
Whether in the Union or out Of it
does not change, in any manner, our
high duty to make q wise and whole
some use of the victory, and see that
nothing is left undone that is necessary
for the future national peace. The in
terest of the nation is first to be con-
sulted--what it needs must be secured;
when that is done, then whatever of
tenderness and lenity may be safely
and prudently extended to the insur-
gent States, no just and liberal mind
will seek to withhold. Like the prodi-
!. gal son, they have abandoned the pa
rental mansion, have taken their por-
ton and spent it in riotous living; be-
| come poor, naked, famishcd, feeding
: upon husks, But unlike the prodigal
, son, they have none of his penitent
i spirit. lie would arise and go to his
g father, and say, "Fathcr, have sinned
; against heaven and before thee, and
: am no more worthy to be called thy
son." Not so with our rebel brethren,
No penitence, no acknowledgment Of
error, no manifestation of the return
of filial or patcrnal regard, but a sui
len, reluctant submission to the force
of circumstances they cannot control
They rebelled and made war upon
us we met thCm with the force of the
nation and subdued them and just
where the war left them, legislation
takes charge of them. The war was
Waged against them to prevent them
from overthrowing the Government
Our armies accomplished their great
duty; they did it we'll they prevented
the destruction of the Union by sub
DUNG and disarming its enemies and
now it is our duty, as statesmen, by
wise and well-cOnsidered measures, to
secure to the country the fruits Of VIC
tory achieved by ourarms, to certainly
prevent any further efforts, by war or
otherwise, on the part of the insur-
gents, to break down our rGovernment;
and we are not required to involve
ourselves in needless wrangle as to
their status, whether they are in or out
of the Union, whether they remain
States Or mere masses of disorganiZed
people. They were once States in the
Union, and are destined to he so again,
[ trust, and to enjoy as such all the
rights and privileges of the most IA
vored. But when that blessing shall
descend upon them it must be accom-
panied by such just and needful regu-
lations, applicable to all, as shall give
unmistakable guarantees against all
possible contingency whereby the
peace, the prosperity, the life of the
nation may again be put in peril.
The efforts of the President in re-
storing the civil government in those
States have been cminently successful,
i and no doubt contributed largely tC
re-establishment of law and order
among the people thereof. The more
complete that work the better for those
people and for the Union, and the
sooner will they be prepared to resume
their relations with the loyal States in
the Union. But in all that is said and
done in view of complete restoration
it mus. not be overlooked, that in NJ
| event can any of the delinquent Stnte
: be permitted to participate in the ma
tiopal councils until they will presen
f such men as their Representatives whC
> will take the oath all loyal Represcn
, tatives are required to take, and wht
! represent loyal constituency.
Ill 1t has heen repeatedly asserted upoI
this floor that these rebel States havei
5 right to immediate, unconditional rep
e rescltatiOn in Congress, and that moth
@ ing but the physical force OF superio
: numbers keeps them out. If that b
Z so, when did they not have the righ
:, to be here? Had South Carolina am
= Georgia right to haye their Represen
= taiivCs here during the war? Ha
@ they the right to levy war upon us, am
: also help complete our speedy run, b.
d taking part in our legislation? if the
e had no right to legislate here durin
g the war, when, and by what act {
: theirs, did they acquire that right?
e BY repeating the ordinances of seces
II sion? No; those acts were withOu
i constitutional sanction, mere nullitie'
+ and needed'no repeal to render 'ther
d void. Was it by ceasng to make wal
/, That brought peace, not reconciliation
/ Reconstruction is. not so tritling or,s
d cheap a thing that il was to be had b
}. a vanquished enemy upon his ow
s terms. "|
+ The leading rebels say they fougl
o for principle. If they had a right t
e make war, we wero wrong in opposin
l. them and the right to make war o