, 1866-12-05

Governor Pierpolnt's Message to the l.egls-
futurc-Uc Advises the Adoption Of the
Constitutional Amendment - His ArRb.
kucnt In the Premises.
Especial Despatch to the Chicago Tribuuc.J
WASHINGTON, Decemhcr4.
The message Of Governor Pierpoint, Of Wiz
gsnla. laid before the Legislature Of tat State On
Monday, urges the adoption OF the Constitutional
Amendment. and wa1ns the people Of the South
10 beware Of the Presidents party in the North.
He uses the following language:
The practical question for yonr consideration
now is whether. By the rejection Of the proposed
amendment, you ART likely to place the people Of
our State in better condition, II my views are
hs,e Is hcRs Of bssr terms + 5
terms o.lcscd in the amendment. think this oh.
jcctlon il mol substantial. There was no political
asaoraa se y s s es Ts 81 to o
The eo,dies..the surrender Of his arms-gtylng
his .patsolc that he would 20 to bis home aud re-
foner of af o. re1eased dg lo lis psfolo oieFs
had more liberal teznas granted them. but these
Terms were only snch in 2 mlHazy point Of view:
af1cr one Of The Federal Commanders had At
tempted to give political siatas 70 q 1arce divs-
sion OF insuIeent arnr, tho political treaty was
at Washington. The people Of lhcs: States, as
eoD1nc1ed nstion. or as individuals who have for
fcited ,helr rights BY rebellion. are at the mercy
9nero1s. In the csse Ut nations at war. conquer
ora dictate terms of peace; In the of subjects
engaged IN rebellion, when the rebels are subju-
terms OF conqrerors. In this case, the penalty i'm
posed by the Government is embodied ID this
proposed amendment 1n either view % q the case
ancc Of The terms proposed. because they
Sd"s os5sa " powesf
proposed practcslly do not 60 10 Tie army that
surrendered; neither Is Il supposed thu; FIVE per
cent Of The individuals who composed that army
viii be affected oy the proposed Constitutional
Amendment: There were perhaps more able
bodied men in the State who we're detailed Or cx-
emrtea in one way or another from military ser
ideattons vii faii Chiefly On l ths class. fhcy
not expose their PERSONS in the strife 10 secure
to tnaueufate There we're few ii AppomatoI
var. lhe pardone issued y tne, President as
Incurred by the idistduas feee!sing them @ nd nad
he had committed an offence. Congress also dc:
:sd p.oa: of hsq1sssan were ssss1 sssesy
il cannot be eontcnded that no dissrseo n attaches
to the acknowledgment Of Il wrong where for
civcnces is promiseo: and that It would he dis
Se eenseqaesses Of ad%lssioo % % to dsquaiiscs Is
tion from holding office. But arc conditions In
gosed bs ceng5ess h4fd, Congress indlcsted
POI I r repsa s are ss os
ns saf r. hard sasn a they msh BE- The pssssp
is not threatened With cocascafon. ii Is moi pro-
posed 10 administer on. laws BY strangers; the
poucr over questions Of suffrage Is left with the
States. For the cake Of securing peace and its
blessings, may II not lie act Of exalted patriot
ism for portion Of The old and mddlc-aged ciu-
zsas to y;ed gracefully 70 necessity taey csnn9t
earlier into public life, and Will tend 10 the earlier
development Of their energies. Dy the accept
cured 10 the south: the ySan: men aud Oil
men will enter upon a new field ol prosperity.
INSTRUMENTATION will be- opened between ill
parts Of tho country. and. by the exercise Of
ton will be ctcctcd.
But II + proposed to reject the amendment and
IN douM. Tie condi,ion Of the country IS unset
tied, aud tle.e will be 10 tranquility until the
no mcanse ef knowing wha1 the achon Of Con-
grcss will lc IN The event Of the rejection
q The Amendment- y seems to me most prob
Gal interference by The President, IN tie nnrcpre-
sentcd States the political powcr Of those States
has hcen placed In the hands Of thoee who were
lslcly In rebellion against the Government, and
who Withhold potiuca! power from those who
were and arc loyal to the Government OF the Uni
Ted f % easy ssse to sSp wn ,4e
presentation. and arc therefore still practically
In rebellion against The Government, and
that the loyal people Of these States arc Tins
deprived Of a representation In the councils Of
tAc nation. Congress will be asked TO set aside
the Stafe Organizations created By the President,
Nnd place those States under the control Ut The
loyal men who will accept snch conditions as
adopt this eonrec. The Prs dent has no power to
resist II. because. II adopted By two:thirds Of
each house. 1t will be q law OF the land Virginia
hut 1 have treated the tnb'ecl as though
the were on the came condition with the States
know that your action will have an important in
1ucnce over these Stalcs; and secondly. bccauec,
q. we Arc now untepresentcd. we will have in ef.
on those Ssatcs, which will In all probability be
much more Objectionable to our people than the
amendment noM ptpnnscd.