The Greene County Republican. [volume] (Waynesburg, Pa.) 185?-1867, 1866-08-22
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ton referred to, as follows;
"rhe rights and immunities of
citizen OF the United States are to enjoy
civil rights and to go into any and all
the States, and there acquire that citi
zenshp, and enjoy such political rights,
in addition to civil, AZ the State may
confer on its citizens. and the proposed
Constitutional Amendment meets these
two oblgalons.'
II the first sec,lon of tho amendment
conters the right OF suffrage upon ne-
groes, it wholly defeats the operation Of
the second section, winch is intended to
oqnalza the representation, and proceeds
directly upon the hypothesis that suf-
lrago is regulated hy the several States,
and makes the basis of representation
depend uponthe action had by the States
on that subject.
The third section reads as follows:
"That no person shall be Senator or
Representative III congress, or elector OF
President and Vice,P President, or hold
any office, civil or military, under the
United States, or under any State, who,
having previously taken an oath as a
member Of Congress, or as an officer Of
the United States, or as a member of the
State Legislature, to support the Consti-
tuition Of the United States, shall have
engaged in insurrection and rebellion
against the same, or given aid or comfort
to the enemies thereof But Congress
may, by a vote of two-thrds of each
House, remove such disability"
The justice Of this section appeals to
the heart ofeyery loyal man as self,cvi.
dent proposition.
Ii renders Ineligible to any Office un>
der the States, or any State, those pro-
minent and leading rebels, who, having
held important offices, in which they
took an oath to support the Constitution
Of the Unlte LStates, atterward commits
ted perjury by engaging in the rebell>
ION.
II provides that the Offices shall not
hereafter be held by perjured rebels. and
proceeds doubtless, upon the opinion
that tits bad enough to permit rebels to
hoid Office, but that when they have ad-
drd tu their treason the violation of their
oaths it would be more than the country
could endure. Having taken the oath
and broken it, having involved the
country in the horrors Of civil war, truth,
| justice and common sense alike demand
that they should not again be trusted.
The Fourth section of the amendment
Is in these words:
"The validity of the public debt Of the
United States authorized by law, inclu-
ding debts incurred for payment of pens
sions and bounies for services in SupS
pressing insurrcction or rebellion, shall
not be questioned But neither the
United States, nor any State, shall as.
sumc Or pay any debt or obligation in
Cured in aid Of instruction or rebellion
against the United States, or any claim
for the loss or emancipation OF any slave,
but all such debts, obligations and claims
shall be held Illegal and void"
The first clause declares, "that the
validity or binding obligation of the
pubic dobt, inculIng debts incurred
for payment Of pensions and bounties
iorscryiao3 in suppresslns the rebellion
shall not be questioned.
The second clause prohibits the as>
sumption or. payment, by the United
States, or any State, ofany part of the
rebel war debt, or any claim for the loss
or emancipation Of slaves. Is there any
man crelulous eaough to be eeve that
the party which is to be formed in
Philadelphia on the lith OF August, BY
confederate o.iiaers and soldiers, rebel
politicians, Northern Democrats, and
"Sons OF Liberty" will ever vote to tax
I themselves to pay the interest on the
National debt, unless the Government
will first assume the payment OF the
rebel war debt, and agree to indemnify
them for the loss of their slaves?
To prosecute the war, the Govern
ment hal to borrow large sums ofmoney
by tae sale of stocks. The Damocra-
tic leaders OF the North, being hostile
ID tho stocks, and did everything in
their power to destroy thor credit and
prevcat the people from investing their.
money in them, well knowing that #
they succeeded in this, the war must
fail, and the rebellion triumph. The
debt having been created for the purpose of
conqucriug the rebels they are naturally
| hostile to it, and 1t can not be expected that
when restored to political power, they will
vote to tax themselves for lis payment, nor
can 1t be expected that they viii act with anv
! Northern party who VIII tux them for that
purpose. The new party to be formed nj
Phladelphla inevitably be, from the nature
ofthc elements ofwhicl It will be composed. n
repudiaiing party, except upon the condition
of assuming and paying the rebels for thc,.
slaves.
| need not extend my remarks on this
subject, and will only further observe, that