Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1866-09-27

Comnander-in-C Chief, compelled the insurgents,
after they had laid down their arms to abolish by
their local laws the institution of slavery, the agi-
tatlon of which had been the cause of this war
ana might be the cause of another to declare
null and VOID their acts of secession, which had
been part of their belligerent action, and until
sclnded embodied claim which threatened future
conflict, and finally to repudiate their debts,
the recognition of which would have been hos
tile act, vindicating the legitimacy of insurrection
and threatening its renewal. The institution of
slavery, the ordinance OF secession and the main
tenance OF an lnsurrectionary war debt were
strictly hostile positions, and threatened posi-
Die renewal OF the war until they should be sur
rendered. There could be no complete surrender
OF the belllgerent attitude of the insurgent COM
munites Of the South; therefore the Comman-
der-n Chief, clothed with the double functions of
Military Commander and of the civil execution of
the laws OF the Union, compelled this surrender,
and at this point the belligerent power of the ma
tonal government-the power to apply compul-
sion in any form to the political future of the late
ly reVolted States-was exhausted This legiti-
mate and restricted use of compulsion appeared
to accomplish the desired end. 1t is true that the
Subdued and impoverished people of the South
dld not and could not at once pass from hostility
to friendship. Their homes were darkened with
sorrow which no sense of error could mitigate,
their fields were cemeteries, their farms were the
burnt path Of our armies, and they could not love
us IN the midst of their desolation But they
knew that the issue of the appeal to arms had
been determined forever against them. They saw
that they had lost by war what they had attempt
ed by war to save. They had suffered too much
to dream OF renewing the strife, and, seeing no
future before them but that of citizens Of the
United States, they were ready to return to their
allegiance as defined to them anew by the event of
the struggle.
When Congress frat assembled thev had ac-
quired a temper toward the National government
as healthy it possible for any people to at
tain after such conflict and such Experiences
In this respect the result of the war was unexam-
pied in the history of nations. Their disposition
was evnced by their acts. They had upon the
requirement OF the commander-in- chief surren-
dered every position which could truthfully be
deemed hostile to the government, and by his ad-
vice, not under his compulsion, they went further
and III common with the loyal States ratified
constitutional amendment which forever abol-
lshed slavery, and gave to Congress the power by
appropriate legislation to prevent it's re-establish-
ment: They might have conceded still more but
month after month passed without action, and
meantime they were subjected to military govern
ment. No system ever better adapted than
our national government to the performance of
the duties for which it was designed no govern
ment could be less adapted to the regulation Of
affairs IN a subjected neighbOring territory. Mis-
takes injustice, even fraud, inevitably mingled
with and marred its operations through distant
agencies, and these have produced their natural
effect The prolonged exercise of such functions
can only lnJure 1t, has already injured ourselves.
We cannot afford to alter the spirit of our great
national system, and by centralizing render two
governments OF this Union, hateful to the people
of all the States, North and South alike: but the
evils OF present mistakes, committed in the
duties OF function for which the government was
never designed do not wait the slow development
OF time. Their effect upon the subjected South is
daily disaster. We training future citizens
by the worst possible instruction. and every
months persistence makes tie evil palmer to us.
1t is manifest that under the experiences of this
delay and OF unrepubican life under military con-
straint, the temper of the people has become much
less commendabe than it was at the conclusion of
active hostilities; that the work of true reunion
has grown more difficult that perils of our condi-
II 10 fnr @ho1.op u
ask whether the reasons for this delay are suffi-
clent, and whether the new conditions imposed by
Congress are likely to prove final remedy. The
manner in which these conditions. in the form of
an amendment to the national constitution have
been presented, not only to the people of the
South, but to the nation, is without PRECEDENT
For the first time in the history of this COVE
ment propositions without connection have been
united III one amendment, and the people have
been denied the opportunity of free choice con-
cerning each. The first section of this single ar
tcle defines citizenship of the United States The
second lays down the basis of representation
The third is in the following words
No person shall be a Senator or Representative
IN Congress, or electOr of President and Vice
President, or hold any Office civil or military
under the United States, or under any State who,
having previously taken oath, as a member of
Congress, or as an officer of the United States, or
as member OF any State Legislature, or as an
executive judicial officer of any State to sup-
port the Constitution of the United States, shall
have engaged in insurrectiOn rebellion against
the same, or given aid or comfort to the enemies
thereof. But Congress may, by vote of two
thirds OF each House, remove such disability,
The effect OF each of these utterly disconnected
is made to depend upon the accept
ance rejection of the whole. It seems incredi-
BILE that those who insisted upon thus connecting
them could have expected that they would be rati-
fed. The Southern people, after following their
political leaders into the late struggle and sharing
the risk of their fate through four years of terrible
war, are called upon to aid the prescription
Whatever punishment their leaders may deserve
at the hands of the government, it is uninteligi-
BILE that statesmen should have dreamed of ask
ing their associates and followers to infict that
punishment upon them, especially q punishment
of lasting disgrace more terrible than any which
the government itself is authorized to impose IT
the midst of their the people of the South
retain the ordinary fidelity of comrades in arms
to each Other-th common sentiment Of honor
which rules all companionship-th will not vol |
unfairly desert the men whom they have volunta- |
rily and steadily followed amid so MANY perils-I
They will not accept this third section of the
amendment. and they are forbidden to accept the
others without it. We believe that the only effect
of such proposition will be prolonged exclusion
Of the South from the practice of elf-gOvernment
and the warning OF patriotism; but if they could
be persuaded or constrained to accept it we are at
q loss to perceive the benefit to be derived from it.
because no act of Congress, anything contain
ed in the proposed amendment gives any pledge
or assurance that the adoption of those amend |
ments will secure the admission Of loyal represen-
tatives from the Southern States excluded, or
the recognition Of their constitutional relations to
the government OF the United States
The preanbe and resolution adopted in |
the case Of Tennessee do not commit Con-
gross to the restoration of the Union should |
their example be followed at once by every other
excluded state. 1t is evident from the course
pursued by the extreme men who urge these |
and from the sentiments enunciated
by them, that it is their fixed purpose even if the
amendments be adopted, to still insist upon the |
political equality Of the colored race as a condi
tion precedent to admitting loyal representatives
from the Southern States lately in rebellion, The
partisans OF these conditions attempt to exert the
Indignation and alarm of the country by declar |
ing the re-admissiOn of the South without them is |
an abandonment Of all the dear-bought fruits of |
the war; 1t is not for the soldiers and sailors of
that to shrink from being wise lest they should
be suspected of insulting the graves of their COM
rades, and forgetting the objects for which they
suffered so much. They know that there is a pro-
gress in the life of this nation and that there s
God who animates that life, and they hold that
fear to be as intidel as it is cowardly Nations
never die in their adolescence. The manhood
which this people has vindicated in war will not
sicken and perish IN peace. The South cannot if |
it would, Cast of the obligation of events and |
under the good that has been done it has shared |
already, aud by law irresistible as time must
continue to share the common development of
this season of quick growth. The North, with its |
sense of justice, its faith in true democracy it's Wig
Or and industry and vast wealth, must inevitably
rule this land; but it will secure and benefciay ex-
srcise that rule only by the same process which gov
srns ali true civilization but by force. Iffear is en-
ertained that the Southern people may be nsincere