Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1866-11-01

measurably the most important half of the
Congressional plan of reconstruction, as we
have understood it is being apparently lost
sight of. and the further fact that some
neutrality-suspicious. have been using Ian
gllage which seems to commit them to an
abandonment oft We have aided in the
present canvass thus far, and expect to con
tinuc, with the distinct understanding that
Congress will not after being endorsed by
the people. abandon this the most import
ant feature of its plan. We do not believe
that it is either necessary or right to carry
on the canvass upon a misapprehensiono or
mvstificatiOn OF the issue, and feel csnfi-
| dent that such "A course would certainly
lead to embarrassment. and might lead to
disaster, for although the majority of the
| Union members of Congress will undoubt-
edlv remain true. some are always anxious
to obtain nOtOriety for being more con
l.SerEative' than their associates; and such
woald claim. il we keep silent, that the
canvass was fought with the implied pledge
that the enacting of the constitutional
amendment was all that Congress proposed
doing.
We have expressed ourselves strongly in
this paper, because we feel deeply. The
bones OF our dead are i'm Southern graves
Our homes are there. All the clustering
recOllectiOnS of our childhood are connect
ed with the soil from which we are called
upon to exile ourselves. Men Of Ar1erica! !
we cannot reconcile ourselves to the fate
in store for lis. should we be deserted by
Won. and we viii not believe that YOU are
capable of bptraying us. The ideas which
we wish to have crystalized in your minds
are:
Ist The usurpatiOns of the President
cannot he repudated bv legalizing them.
2d. That rebels cannot be kept cut OF
power by giving them absolute control of
the late rcbelliOus States. And,
I'd. That loyal men connot be secured in
any of their tights while all officers in the
States where they live, from Governor to
Constable. are rampant rebels.
We know that the views herein express
ed are endorsed BY all the Union men of
the South, of all races; and in order that
there shall he no misunderstanding as to
what we wish to have done. we repeat that
we ask Congress to pass a law providing
for the establishment of legal civil govern
mcnts in the nOn-recOnstructed States, and
that the said law shall embody the follow
ind ideas:
!. That no man who took part in the re
bellion shall be permitted to vote or hold
office. at least until he shall have complied
with such conditions as Congress may see
Fit 10 impose.
. That all loyal men. without respect 10
color or race. shall be permitted to vote.
3. That wherever it may be needed, a
local military force shall be organized sole
w of lOval men. and that the expense of
organizing or eQuipping. and a!ntaining
said force shall be def. ayedby that portion
of the community whose conduct renders
its presence necessary.
Appealing to all patriots to see to il that
the fruits of victory are not lost at the elev-
enth hour, and that those friends of the ma
ton who most need its protection shall not
first he abandoned, we respectfully submit
our cause to the American people.
Albert Griffin, Ma. 20
A. !. Hamilton. Tex.
j. =. Newman. ID. ID. La.
W. J. Smith, Tenn.
Jesse Stencil. Tex.
Weston Flint, No.
J. H. Bingham. Ala.
B. BOkum, Tenn.
c. F. Nose. No.
c. c. Branscomb, No.
George Tucker. Va.
l.. Sherwood, Tex.
+. j. Davis, Tex.
III. c. Yarmouth. La.
p. B. Randolph. La.