The Daily clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1866-1888, 1866-08-21

and degrading conditions, makes them all
the more worthy to share in the government
of free commonwealth, and gives still
firmer assusance of the future power and
freedom of the Republic For whatever re-
sponsibi1ity the Southern people may have
incurred in resisting the authority of the
National Government and in taking up
arms for its overthrow, they may be held to
answer as individuals before the judicial
tribunals of the land; and for that conduct,
as societies and organized communities,
they have already paid the most fearful
penalties that can fall ON offending States,
in the losses, the sufferings, and humilia-
tons of unsuccessful war.
But whatever may be the guilt or the pun
l>hment of the conscious authors of the insur-
rection. eandor and common justice demand
concession that the great mass of those who
became involved in its responsibility acted up
on what they believed to be their duty. in de-
tense OF what they had been taught to believe
theirrights or under compulson, physical and
moral. which they were powerless to resist.
For can 1t be amiss to remember that terri
BILE rs have been the bereavements and the los
ses of the war, they have fallen exclusively up
on neither section and upon neither party:
that they have fallen, indeed, with far greater
weight upon those with whom the war began.
That in the death of relatives and friends; the
dispersion of families; the disruption of social
systems and social ties: the overthrow of gov
| ernments OF law and order; the destruction
property, and offorms, and modes, and means
| of industry; the loss of political, commercial,
| and moral influence in every shape and form
which great ealamities can aSSume,-the
/ states and people which engaged in the war
| against the Government of the United States
/ have suffered tenfold more than those who re-
mained in allegiance to its Constitution ana
| laws.
| These considerations may not. as they GER
tainlv DO not, justify the action of the people
of the insurgeat States; but no just or gener-
Gus mind will refuse to them very considera-
| Bile weishtin determining the line of conduct
1 which the Government of the United States
should pursue towards them. They accept, II
not with alacrlty, certainly without sullen re-
sentiment, the defeat and overthrow they have
| sustained. They acknowledge and acqulesce
in the results, TO themselves and the country,
| which that defeat involves. They no longer
claisa for any State the right TO secede from the
u n. They no longer assert for any state an
! az SfasSce paramount to that which is due 10
the General Government. They have accepted
the destruction of slavery, abolished II by thelr
State constitutions, and concurred with the
States and people of the whole Union IN promo
iting its existence forever upon the SOIL or With
in the jurisdiction of the United States. They
indicate and eYincc their purpose, just as FAST
as may be possible and safe, to adapt their do
nestle laws to the changed condition of then
society," and to secure, by the law and its trl-
buuals, equal and impartial justice to all oil
their inhabitants. They admit the invalidity
of all acts of resistanceto the national auth0rl
", and of Gebts incurred III attempting IL
overthrow. They aYOW their Willingness tC
share the Lurdens and discharge all the duties
and obligations which rest upon them. in com
mon with other States and other sections OF th'
Union; and they renew, through their repre-
sentatiVeS i'll this convention, by all their pup
lie conduct in every way. and by the mos
solemn acts by which States and societies car
pledge their faith, their engagement to beal
true faith and allegiance, through all time K
come, to the Constitution of the United states
an1 ~ all laws that he made in pursuance
thereof
Fellow-countrymen, we call upon you, il
! full reliance upon your intelligence and YOU
, patriotism, to accept, with generous and un
, grudging confidence. this full surrender on tn
part of those lately in arms against your au
thority, and to share with them the honor an'
! renown that await those who bring back peac
and concord to Earring States.
The war Just closed, with all its SORROWS ant
= disasters has opened new career of glory 4
the nation it has saved. 1t has swept ava,
the hOstilities of sentiment and OF lntereS
{ which were standing menace to its peace.
has DESTROYED the institution of slavery, alway
, the cause of sectional agitation and strife, an
has opened for our country the way to unity c
interest. of principle. and of action, throug
> all time to come. 1t has developed, III bot
: sections, a military capacity, an aptitude 70
I achievements of war both by sea and land. b,
: fore unknown even TO ourselves, and de>1lne
e to exercise hereafter, under united councils, Il
= important influence upon the character an
+ destiny of the continent and the world. An
: while it has thus revealed, disciplined, an
cOmpacted our power, 1t has proved 10 us. D'
vond controversy or doubt, by the coul sc pun
: | sued toward both contendlng sections by lOl
, eion Powers. that we must be the guardians
our own independence, and that the princplt
4 of republican freedom we represent can I'm
[ among the nations of the earth no friends {
I defenders but ourselves. We call upon Nol
therefore by every consideration of your ow
= dignity and safety, and IN the name OF nbert
= ! throughout the world, to complete the work {
restoration and peace which the President {
L the United States has so well begun, an
4 which the policy adopted and the principles a
e serted by the present Congress alone obStruc
The time is close at hand when members Of
n new Congress are to be elected. II that Coz
!, | greSs shall perpetuate this policy, and, by eN
| Guiding LOYAL States and people from represeI
tation i'm its halls. shall continue the uSurp;
ton by which the legislative powers of IL
| Government are now exercised, common prl
/ DEUCE STltf&ff (fn ftit iii
e ties and obligations of the Federal Govern
ment; internal diSsensiOn, and a general cOlli
t ion of sentiments and pretensiOns which ma
/, renew, in a still more fearful shape, the civ
; war from which we have just emerged.
We call upon you to interpose your power
prevent the recurrence of so transcendent
| calamity. We call upon you, in every Cor
| gressional district of every State, to secure tn
g election of members who. whatever other dit
ferences may characterize their political action
I Will unite in recognizing the right of ever
} state of the Union to representation in Con
, gress, and who will admit to seats, in eithe
branch, every loyal representative from ever
: State in allegiance to the Government VIII
z may be found by each House, in the eXercs
of the power conferred upon it by the COnsti
+, tueion, to have been duly elected, returned
and qualified for Il seat therein. When thi
shall have been done, the Government vii
have been restored to its integrity; the COnsti
tuition of the United States will have been re
| established in its full supremacy, and tn
American Union will have again become wha
al f1h ol
sovereign nation, composed of separat
: states, each, like itself, moving in Il distinc
and independent sphere, exercising powers de
fined and received by common Constitution
and resting upon the assent, the confidence
and cooperation of all the States and all tn
people subject to its authority. Thus re-Organ
lied and restored to their constitutional rela
tons, the States and the general Government
can enter, in a fraternal spirit, with common
purpose and a common interest, upon what
ever reforms the security of personal rights
the enlargement of popular liberty. and the
perfection of our republican institutions may
demand