The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1866-10-05
From the Boston Pilot.
From the Boston Pilot.
The True Policy
As opposed to the RADICAL Plan of
Treating the South as Subjugated
Province.

When, on she LIST of July. Congress, by
joint resolution, declared that the object OF
the war was not for any purpose of con-
quest or subjugation, nor for the purpose OF
overthrowing or interfering with the rights
or institutions of the states In rebellion, but
TO defend aud maintain the suprem
aoy of the constitution and of all the
laws made In pursuance thereof, and to pre-
serve the Union with all the dignity, equality
and rights of the several states unimpaired,
and that as soon as these objects were
com plished the war ought to CEASE" it I'M
dou btedly expressed the feelings of the great
body of the people. The supremacy of the
constitution has been restored the laws
made In pursuance of it are everywhere the
law of the land; armed opposition TO the gov
eminent has ceased in all our borders In ev
cry state the constitution rules, and is recog
nized as the supreme law all the objsct for
which we prosecuted the war are gained. and
it only remains for us to preserve the Union
with all the dignity, equality, and the rights
of the several states unimpaired." This is
what the President proposes to do what his
oath of office requires him to do !; but the con-
gress and the radical party interpose objsc-
tions, and propose, as we have shown in an.
other article, harsh, cruel, tyrannicsl, humil-
iating and slsvish conditions, similar in char
acter to those which England has imposed
upon Ireland.
In looking over the many earnest and pat
riotic pleas that have been made tor the res
tOration of the country, under the constitu-
ton, and according to the declared purpose
of congress, as expressed in the resolution we
have quoted at the commencement of this ar-
ticle, we have found nothing so compactly
reasoned az the speech delivered by John
Quincy Adams, in Faneuil, an the evening of
the 18th of September, and from that we
shall draw the illustrations which set forth
the true poiisY of pacifcation as opposed to
the radical plan of holding the southern
states as subject provinces. Such q plan,
says MIR. Adams, is perpetual alienation
Congress, In proposing conditional restora-
ton, and in its own way, does 80 In defiance
of the constitution, under which, alone, they
derive any powers, for that instrument ex-
pressIy declares that ''the powers not delega-
ted to the United States, nor prohibited by it
to the states, are reserved to the states, re-
spectivey, or the people," If. to secure per-
petuation of party power the congressional ma
iorlty will let the Union be restored only by
the imposition of guarantees, conditions and
amendments, such as they suggest, what will
be gained? We will have violated the con-
stitution, and established precedent by
which any succeeding majority may impose
as harsh or harsher conditions upon any 9TH
err states. And 80 it shall 90 on untl-the
constitution trampled under foot-we shall
be at the mercy of majorities as they may
happen to arise, and this well-ordered frame
of government-the best, as we all declared,
when rebellion triad to destroy it, the sun
ever shone upon-will become hopeless
wreck, a shapeless ruin.
Suppose, asks Mr.. Adams, who is review
ing the argument of congress that it has a
| right. by the war power, to impose extranr
binary conditions upon the southern states,
"suppose that the south, after they are ad
mItted to representation, with the great Mid
die and Western states, should unite to pro-
tect themselves against New England en-
croachments, what is to prevent them from
having their committee of fifteen, and voting
Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, and even
our own beloved state. to be in outrageous
practical relations to the Union, and require
conditions from them? 1t may be said that
this would be revolutionary. | can only say,
in my judgement, this action of congress 10
no less revolutionary"
Mr.. Adams concludes his grand argument
with the following forcible picture
s'Gentlemen, my solicituds in this matter is not
so much for the south but love and admire the
people of the north, and revere the frame OF gov
eminent handed down to us by the fathers OF the
republic; and when see that great charter of our
constitutional liberties assaulted by the same pas
siOns which have proved fatal to many similar
plans of regulated liberty-when see victorious
majority nflamed with all the enmities and demon
aired by all the license of long war, forgetting
It's veneraton for our last safeguard, cannot re-
Tram from urging, in such feeble words as / can
command, patience and constant recurrence to
tne constitution. Let never forget ourselves,
nor weary In reminding our fellow citizens that
.seh II this congressional scheme were best for
Ten OF even twenty years come yet the vision of
the pniiosophie statesman, stretching forward for
centuries, when almost the memory OF this episode
In the magnificent annals of the great republic