Delaware Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1843-1874, 1866-03-12
For the Delaware Republican.
THE REBEL STATES.

Whether these States are in or out of the
Union, is q question of no moment 1t is SUM-
| cient for us to know that the citisens (thai
were) OF these States threw of all allegiance
to the General Government, and set up
defacto, one of their own. They staked the
existence of the Confederate Government on
the arbitrament of arms, which after fouI
years OF bloody strife they failed to maintain
All the rights inherent in them previous to
their revolt they forfeited by turning traitors.
IL Is sheer nonsense tor any man to talk OF the
civil or political rights OF the citizens of the
late contederacy. They have none. Not even
the right to life, which they forfeited to the
laws of their country when they became trail
| tors TO 1t.
What then shall be done with those revolt.
ed States This is the question we are called
upon to decide. And on its decision may de-
pend the future welfare, not only of the
loyal States, but of countless millions of down
trodden Europe, who are looking with fear
ful anxiety TO our experiment of free govern
ment. 1t 10 d question not for the decision OF
the President, be be loyal or traitor. BE has
no power over the issue further than his veto
extends.
Congress, and Congress alone, has the pow
er to determine what under the exigency is best
to be done. This power is clearly given to them
in the eighth section Of the Constitution
which declares that "ths Congress shall have
power to provide for the common defence and
general welfare Of the United States" How
that power shall be exeic icised they alone can
determine. If the Congress shall determine
that to hold these conquered rsbellious States
as conquered Provinces, and deny them any
representation, they have clearly the right to
do SO, should they deem' that essential to the
general welfare Taxation without repre-
sentation inficts no evil upon them-disturbs
no natural right, for having forfeited all right
there is none left to be infringed.
Who can complsin? None but the rebels
themselves, or their aidera and abettors, whose
complaint is Rroundless, as by their own acts
they have nothing to complain Of.
The rebellion was too serious matter to be
easily overlooked. 1t cost the country too
much to be soon forgotten. Ask the father
whose son now sleeps in q soldiers grave II
be Is willing to take his murderers to his
bosom without repentaucea See yon lone
widow pining in poverty, whose husband was
a victim to this hellish rebellion. Does she
ask you to confer upon the parties who mur-
dered the father OF her helpless children, all
the immunities of citizsnship2 Count the ave
hundred thousand hiilocks where sleep the
HGwer Of our manhood, who died, willing
sacrifices, that freedom might triumph, and
say il you dare, that rebellion 10 light mat
ter. No it must be punished that all COM
ing time may know the cost Of an attempt
even to destroy liberty. Ask the escaped
prisoner from the iofernsl pens at Anderson
vile, Salisbury or Libby, if the wretohes who
starved him aud his comrades are fit subjects
TO have the control of our country.
The loyal men who resided in rebellious
States, mrst be provided tor, mus, be reward
ed. The freedmen must be protected, must
have conferred upon him the right of fran
ob;sa- hu ia reheI-if ha Ia n Dermittpd In live
and walk Gods earth 1t is more than be has
any just claim to. Let the ring-leaders be
brought to speedy and condigu punishment.
Let their names go down to posterity, brand
ed with eternal infamy, as the men who at
tempted to destroy the best Government ever
established upon earth. A. P. o5M0ND.
Canterbury, March 8, 1866.