The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-09-24

the nation has passed was not alone to defeat an
aruled attempt to destroy the Union. 1t was
equally, and as Decessary corollary, 70 insure
the permanence of that Union.
II was not enough that the last ReOel laid
down his arms and submitted TO an authority
that he could no longer resist. The country de-
manded guarantees for the future. Regarding
slavery as an exciting cause OF the war, and
possible excitation to further assaults on the
Government, it required ITS abolition, and II
was abolished by Constitutional amendment,
, while all the Rebel States we're held, as they
now are, unreprese ented, and at the mercy OF the
Government The acceptance OF the amend
ment was made imperative on them. IL was
condition absolutelya and peremptorly required
OF them, and the army and navy of the United
States, its whole power in short. was held in
reserve 10 enforce the requirement.
Other conditions were thought requisite by
the Vanquishers, quite as requisite as the aboli-
ton of slavery; for, when an appeal is made to
the sword, all constitutions and chartered rights
are put ASIDE, and the right of might becomes
absolute.
President Johnson insisted that Treason
must be made odlOus, and TRAITORS must be pun
ished ana impoverished. The great plantations
must be seized and divided into small farms,
and sold to honest, industrious men,"
There were many men among those whom he
aide0 in putting down the Rebellion who did
not approve his radical agrarianism, while they
agreed with him that treason must be made
odlous and punished" But when he asked the
question, shall the traitors who brought this
misery on the State be permitted to control
its desinies Z" the whole loyal population OF the
country echoed hls emphatic answer "No"
President johnson, fairly representing the
sentiment OF the vanquishers, the men who
elected hlm Tor the purpose ot carrying out their
views and principles, insisted, as another conll-
ton logical to the result of the war, that the
Rebel States should, in the most formal manner,
repudiate the Rebel debt He had no right to
insist on this condition under any constitutional
clause or provision whatever. He assumed the
right as a conquerOr, or as one representing the
| conQuerors, in a struggle in which the van
| qmshed had utterly waived and repudiated all
| constitutional provisions, favorable TO them
| selves or otherwise.
In doing this he without doubt exceeded his
| constitutional powers as President. He should
have called together the coordinate branches of
| Government, and have submitted to them the
| lChOle question OF reconstruction He had no
| more right, directly or indirectly, through his
Secretary Of state, TO dictate terms to the Rebels,
| except IN his military capacity as Commander
| ln.Che3 of the forces, than the meanest citizen
| in the land. At this time he recognized the
fact, and told the Rebel States that the matter
| of their restoration must be subject to the de-
! Cislon Of Congress-"
Such being the case, Congress should have
| been convened. But it was not. 1t met in Ordl-
! nary course, and, after period which many
| deem TO have been unnecessarily long, but
| which history may not adiudge to have been too
| long, considering the gravity and difficulty OF
the question before ii, formally. and in the shape
| of Constitutional amendment, prescribed the
| conditions on which ii thought proper the ''re-
| storation,' which President johnson declared
they alone had right to grant, should be con-
| ceded.
| This amendment declares first, that all per-
| sons born or naturaiized IN the United States
| are citizens thereof, entitled to all the priy-
| leges and immunities OF citizens, which no State
| can abrdge without due p-ocess OF law. Second,
| that representation shall be apportoned accord
| ing to the number OF voters in the States. Third,
that no person having held an office of trust
| and honor under the Confederate States, and
| taken an oath of fealty to the same, shall be
| eligible as elector of President or Vice-Presi-
dent, OF again hold Federal Office, unless by
| authority OF two-thirds of each House of Con-
gress; and finally. that the public debt of the
United States, incurred i'll supprcssng the Re-
beltOn, shall not be repudlated or the obliga-
tlons OF the late insurgent States recognized
BY accepting these simple. Just, and moderate
condltlons-the first, necessary TO the protec-
ton of the emancipated slaves; the second re-
Quisite to "punish treason and make it odious;"
the third, to secure 10 loyal voters their rightful
Veice in the Government; and the fourth, to put
the national credit beyond cavil-by accepting
these, the lately Rebel States can come back
into the Union in full fellowship. Never did
conqueror concede conditions SO generous.
| Never was crime condOned so lightly. Never
was prodigal offered admission to the home he
had deserted and attempted to desolate on terms
so easy.
In proposing them. Congress did not Weld to
| the fierce, implacable, and almost malignant
spirit of the President, who would have made
| every Rebel a pauper, and turned him out in
| the world a beggar. Actuated by lofty and
humble spirit, they would simply debar the vio-
lator OF one oath from the opportunity of break
| ing another; the betrayer of one trust from the
| chance OF betraying another; the men who
sought to destroy The country from obtaining
additional power through their crime, to be
used, perhaps, in discredting the national faith.
The amendments came from Congress in due
and constitutional form, and are taking the
course prescribed by the Constitution. The
President, who had again and again, In forms
more violent far than those proposed by Con.
gress, insisted on precisely the same conditions,
now places himself IN open hostility to the
action OF Congress. He denies the right OF the
nation to reap the logical results of the war.
And Convention, called in his interest, meet
ing in Philadelphia, propounds the astounding
| doctrine that those engaging in rebellion LOST
| none of their rights IN consequence, aud that
| the sole punishment o traitors is the failure o
| their treason In other words, that the attempt
| to subveTt the Government, through blood anC
| slaughter, Is mere venal olense, entaillng ne
disabilities, and may be renewed with impunity
| until successful. According TO this doctrine,
member of a household may dsconnect himsel
| from 1t AT pleasure assail its members, and
| essay to burn down the common mansion but
falling, has perfect right to return demand
| all his former privileges, the protection of thC
| common root, and immunity from the conse
| quCnces Of his conduct until opportunity Offers
for another and perhaps more successful attemp
| at disruption and arson
| 1t will be remembered that an analogous doc
trine was advanced by the wretched Buchanan
| who could find no constitutional right to eco
| cree a State" nor any written warrant for
nation to preserve its life. The so-caled INA
| tional Union Convention meeting, as WE hav
said, IN the interest of the President, and mani
pulated by his supporters, declared:-
J 1.-THE Constitution of the United ie In