American citizen. [volume] (Butler, Butler County, Pa.) 1863-1872, 1866-09-26


tiou, which prescrlbes inssubssauce that
loiitical power in the Union shall hence
forth be based only on that. portion OF
the people of each Stale who are deemed
by its constitution as depositaries OF such
power. In, other words, State which
chooses to hold part oi its population in
ignorance and vassafage, powerless, un-
educated, untranchIsed, shall not count
that portion to balance the educated, in
telligeht, franchises; citizens of other
States.
We do not propose to argue the justice
Of this provision. We might as well ar
cue the shape Of a, cube, or the correct
uess of the multiplication table. He
who does not Ieet3hasthis is simply and
mildly just would not be persuaded,
though one rose from the dead to con
yfte hini. fhat there are those among
us who would not have ratified, sadly de-
nlonstrates that the good work of enlan-
cipation is not yet complete. But, say
some, this section is-deSigped to coerce
the South into according suffrage to her
blacks. Not So, we reply, but only 10
notify her ruling caste That we will no
longer bribe them to keep rheir blacks in
freedom. Mankind III history rarely sur.
render its privileges, no matter how op-
pressive, from abstract devotl u to justice
and right, it must have cogent, palpab'e
isasons for so doing Wesay, therefore,
to South Carolina, if you persstently re-
strict all power to your three hundred
thousand whites, we must insist that
these no longer balance In Congress and
the choice OF President, seven hundred
thousand Northern white freemen, but
only three hundred thousand, Ii you
keep your blacks evermore in seridom, 1T
must not be because we tempted you 50 to
do, and rewarded you for So doing.
Fellow citizens Of every State, but es-
peeially Of those soon to hold elections,
we entreat your earnest and constant
heed to the grave questions now at issue.
If those who so wautonly plunged the
Union into civil wal shall be allowed by
you to dictate the terms Of reconstruc-
tion, you will have heedlessly sown the
bitter seeds OF future rebelli0ns and bloody
strife. Already you are threatened with
recognition by the President of sham
Congress, made up Of the faction which
recently coalesced at Philadelphia on a
platform Of Johnsonism Congress con
stituted by multiplying and overriding
plain law OF the land Congress wholly
inspired from the White House, and APP
pealing to the sword alone for support
So glaring an attempt atusurpation would
be even more criminal than absurd
Happily, the people, by electing an over
whelming majority Of thoroughly loyal
representatives., are rendering its initia-
tion impossible.
We cannot close without a most de-
served tribute to the general fidelity
whelewith, in view of the Presidents de.
lection, the great body of the people and
even of the Federal office holders stand
fast by their convictions and their prir-
ciples, The boundless patronage of the
Executive, though most unscrupulously
welded against those to whose votes he
owes it, has corrupted very few, either Of
those who shared, or Of those who would
gladly share in its enjoyment. Not one
Of the twenty-five States which voted to
re-elect Abraham Lincoln, has given its
adhesion to the Presidents policy, while
New Jersey, the only tree State that vo-
ted against him, has added herself to the
number. Our great war has taught i'm
pressively the perl of injustice, and the
lesson has sunk deep into million, of
hearts. The American people, chasteu-
ed by suffering, are wiser and nuber
than they were, with quicker and more
open car Tor every generous suggestion.
The fearful lessons of Memphis aud New
Orleans have not been lost on them, as 1t
proved by the result or the recent elec.
tions in Vermont aud Maine. We cher
ish no shadow OF doubt that Pennsylva
MIA, Ohio, Indiana and Iowa first, then
New York, New Jersey, Illinois, Michi-
gan, Wisconsin, Kansas and Minnesota
will do likewise, and that 4 true rcstora-
tion, a genuine and abiding peace will
thus be secured to our country peace
that viii endure, because based on the
everlasting foundation of humanity, jus.
tics and freedom. Yours, (Signed,)
NJ. L. WARD, Of New Jersey, Oh n.
]. s. DEFREEs, of Indiana, Sec'y
Horace Greeley, New York Samuel
A, Purviance, Pennsylvania William
Clafiin, Massachusetts, n. b. Smithers,
Delaware Ii. w. Hoffman, Maryland; /;
II. Ii. Starkweother, Connecticut r.
B. Cowen, Ohio; John b. Clarke, New
Hampshire; S. T. Hussey, Maine A.
Gardner, Vermont; j. S. Fowler Ten
nessee; Benton Cook, Illinois; Mark
Giddings, Michigan; D. Stubs, Iowa
w. Campbell, West Virginia; S. Judd,
Wisconsin ID. Il. Goodloe, North Caro-
lima; S. Ii. Boyd, Missouri; W. j. Cor.
ming, Virginia; Thomas Simpson, Min.
nesota; G.. Il. Robinson, Florida N. Ed.
munds, Dakotah.