The Weekly Perrysburg journal. [volume] (Perrysburg, O. [Ohio]) 1861-1???, 1866-10-12


they might be admitted into the Union, as
President Johuson said then, however, I'll
Congress agreed to it. Since that he has
changed his mind.
Lot us see what were these things they
were to do. First, They were to agree that
slavery is'abolished, and adopt the cousti-
tutional amendment. Why agree to that
Slavery had been abolished amid the roar
of cannon and tho clash OF arms, when 200,-
900 slaves shouldered their muskots in de.
fence OF tho Union, aud by the war procla.
nation of PresidoW Lincoln, by the action
of ninc-teuths of all the loyal States, aud it
was abolished forever. Whether these men
accepted the fact or not, under the law OF
war and by the Constitution of the United
States, and the law of God, thero never
could be another slave. Applause. What
ucxtG They were to repeal their ordinances
of secession. But the soldiers o! the Union
had repealed their ordinances of secession
with their bayonets cheorsl, never again
to be re- enacted. Another vain thing for
them to be required to do. Next, they were
to agree never to pay the Confederate debt
But as before the war they generally repu
dated their honest debts there was not
much need of this condition. Laughter.
In some form or other, after repeated tcle-
grams aud orders these conditions were
agreed to.
Next these States were found knocking
at the doors of Congress- for admission.
Mark you, they had done nothing up to
that which they were not compelled TO do.
Congress said Stop moment let us un.
derstand this; are these iuen really and truly
loyal Are they desirous OF coming back,
and honestly taking part with US We
. ~ \
and they appointed a committee OF fifteen
to do this; but almost AZ soon as 1t was
appointed, the Secretary of State denounced
it as an Obstruction Committee directly
afterward Mr.. Johnson denounced it in that
most remarkable 22d of February speech,
over which every man aud true lover OF his
country would throw veil, as did the
hllal son of Noah over the shame OF his
| father.
THE MAGNANMous TERMS REQUIRED by con-
GREss.
Now then, Congress, after making full
inquiry, and beiug moved by spirit ol
magnanimity, such as never before was ex
hibited to rebels, offered these rebel States
! the paroled prisoners, terms by which they
might be reinstated i'll he Government, aud
get back their property; they were re,
| quired to agree to few important provis
ions in constitutional amendment.
The first was that every citizen in the
United States shall have equal rights will
sary? Because the President, vetong the
Civil Rights Bill, said it was unconstitu
tional to pass a law saying every citizen il
the United States should have equal rights
with citizens in every other State. SO, tc
render that certain which we supposed Ger
tain before, we said we will put it in the
Constitution, where it shall remain forever.
The next thing was on the subject of rep.
resentaton. Under the old agreement in the
Constitution, the master was allowed tC
couut three .fitths of his slaves in represen
tation, as one of his obligations was that he
should pay taxes TO the Government on
three.iifths of them. When emancipation
took effect and there were no more slaves
the negroes stood to be counted like Other
citizens, aud if there was no change made
in the Constitution, not only three lifths
of the negroes, but tive-fifths of them
would be represented. Nay, more. The
negro having become citizen, and
being counted as such, taxes must be paid
by himself and the former master thus be
relieved of three-ffths of his taxes. The
practical effect would he to give to the
white man i'll South Carolina from two ano
oue.iourth to two and onehalf more power
than the white man in Ohio 80 that the
South Carolnian, by going out of the Union
under the Johnson policy will have gained
by the rebellion great political power over
the loyal man who whipped him back. Now
put it to any man of fair judgment to say
whether it was not right that there should
be some guaranty that these paroled priso
ners, when received back, should not be the
gamers by the rebellion? The next thing
we asked was, that hereafter no man who haC
perjured himself by swearing to suppor
the Constitution of the United States, anC
then abjuring it, should ever have a chanc,
to perjure himself again. Most, if not al
OF u.s. think this is too lenient. The Soutl
insists that these men who have committee
perjury shall be allowed to hold office but
il you will search your histories you will
find no terms 80 lenient as those we offer
ever were given to conquered rebels. w,
are told that all monarchs and emperors
when their subjects have revolted and bee,
put down, allow them to come back anC
forgive them; but we are not told of thu
distinctions between their case and ours
The subjects of the emperors have no par
in the management Of the Government, am
when he takes them back he don't Civ
them any power in the Government. Whel
we take ours back, they become equal
with us in legislation, and in the admins
tration of affairs. If you will show me
anywhere i'll history, where Kings forgiv,
rebel Kings aud restore them, then tber,
will be some analogy aud some reason, per
haps, for our doing so.
The last condition is, that the nationa
debt shall forever remain inviolabe. VIII,
did it become necessary to put that proVis
ion in the Constitution? 1t was becaus,
the South had said, in various ways, tina
they were not bound by our debt. Thei
most able statesman, the Vice President o
their Confederacy, Stephens, in testiyinl
before a Committee of Congress, that he fo
one, and lie was understood to mean tha
he represented the sentiments of the South
did not hold that they were bound 10y any
thing done by Congress in the absence o.
South. lie adopted the doctrine Of
President Johnson, that Congress, while the
South was ont of the Union, was an uncon
sttutional body, and all our national deb
was incurred in the absence of the South
and therefore Congress said to those rebe
States, as you say you are not bound by
what was done in your absence, We won
let you back until you agree to be bounC
by what was done in your absence. As
protection to every man and woman who
has a little means laid by for a rainy day
this is a provision of great importance. Il
is true the Convention at Philadelphia
passed a resolution TO this same effect bu
il the measure is good enough TO have in Q
resolution which nobody is bound by, why
is il not good enough to have in the COnsti