The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1866-08-25
National Union Address.
LCotinued.l

We do not hesitate to affirm that there is
no section of the country where the constitu.
ton and laws of the United States find more
prompt and entire obedience than in those
states, and among those psople who were
lately in arms against them or where there
is less purpose or less danger of any future
attempt to overthrow their authority. 1t
would seen to be but natural and inevitable
that in states and sections so recently swept
by the whirlwind of war, where all the Or
binary modes and methods of organized in
dustry have been broken up, and the bonds
and influences that guarantee social order
have been destroyed-where thousands and
tens of thousands of turbulent spirits have
been suddenly loosed from the discipline of
war, and thrown withous resource or re-
straint upon a disorganIzed and chaotic soei
ETY.. and where the keen sense of defeat is
added to the overthrow of am bitiou and hope,
scenes ofvIolenoe should defy for q time the
imperfect discipline of law, and excite anew
tina fears and forebodngs of the patriotic
and well.disposed. 1t is unquestonably
true that local disturbances of this kind, &C
companied By more or less of violence do
still occur. But they are confined entirely
10 the cities and larger towns of tie southern
states, where different races and Interests are
brought more closely IN contact, and where
passions and resentments are always most
even there they are quite as much the fruit
of untimely and hurttul political agitation as
of any hostility on the part of the people to
the authority OF the national government.
But the concurrent testimony of those best
acquainted with the condition of society and
the state of public sentiment in the south
including that CT its representatives in this
convention Establishes the fact that the
great mass of the southern people accept with
as full and sincere gu omission as do the peo-
pie of the other states, the re-esta blished SUI
premaey of the national authority, are pre-
pared, in the most loyal spirit, and with q
zeal quickened alike By their interest and
their pride, to cooperate with other states
and sections in whatever may be necessary
TO defend the rights, maintain the honor and
promote the welfare IF our common country
History affords no instance where people, so
powerful in numbers, in resources and in
public spirit, after war so long In it's dura-
ton, so destructive in its progress, and so ad-
verse in its issue, have accepted defeat and
it's consequences with so much of good faith
has marked the conduct of the people late
l. IN Instruction against the United States
Beyond all question this has been largely
due to the wise generosity with which their
enforced surrender was accepted By the pres
ideDt of the United States and the general in
immediate command of their armies, aud to
the liberal measures which were afterwards
taken TO restore order, tranquility and law
to the states where all had for the time been
OVerthrown. No steps could have been bet.
ter calculated to command the respect win
the confidence revive the patriotism and Sc
cure the permanent and affectionate allegi-
ance Of the people of the south to the constl-
tuition and the laws of the Union than those
which have been so firmly taken aud so stead.
lily pursued by the president of the U. S.
Aud if that confidence and loyalty have been
since impaired if the people of the south are
to-day less cordial in their allegiance than
they were immediately upon the close of the
war, we believe it Is due to the changed tone
of the legislative department of the general
government towards them; to the action by
which congress has endeavored to suppIant
aud defeat the presidents wise and benif-
cent policy of restoration; to their exclusion
from ali participation in our common govern
ment; to the withdrawal from them of rights
conferred and guaranteed by the constitu.
ton, and to the evident purpose of congress,
in the exercise OF q usurped and unlawful au-
thority, to reduce them from the rank of free
and equal members of q republic of states,
with rights and dignity unimpaired, to the
condition of conquered provinces and con-
quered people, in all things subordinate and
subject to the will of their conque1ors free
only to OBEY laws in making which they are
not allowed to share.
No people has ever yet existed whose 10y
atty and faith such treatment long contin.
ued would not ALLEVIATE and impair And the
100000 of Americans who live in the
south would be unworthy citizens of free
country, degenerate sons of an heroic ances-
try, unfit ever to become guardians of the
rights and liberties bequeathed to US bv the
fat nd nd nt ,nI.
could accept, with accomplishing submissive
ness, the humlliations thus sought to be i'm.
posed upon them. Resentment OF inius.ics
is always and everywhere essential to free
dom; and the spirit which prompts toe states
and people lately In instruction, but insur.
gent no longer, to protest against the imposi.
ton of unjust and degrading conditions.
makes them all the more worthy to share in
the government of a free commonwealth and
gives still frmer assurance to the future pow
er and freedom of the republic. For what
ever responsibility the southern people may
have incurred in resisting the authority of
the national government and in taking up
arms tor Its overthrow, they may be held to
answer, as individuals before the judicial tri-
bunais OF the land and for that conduct, as
societies and organized communities. they
have already paid the most fearful nsnalties
that can fall on offending states in the Iossay
the sufsrings and humiliations of unsnccass,
full war. But, whatever may be the guilt or
the punishment of the conscious authors Of
the instruction, candor and common Justice
demand the concession that the great mass of
those who became involved in its responsible
ity acted upon what they believed to be their
duty, in defence of what they had been
taught to believe their rights, or under CON.
pulsion, physical and moral, which they
were powerless to resist. Nor can it be emiss
TO remember that, terrible as have been the
oereavements and the losses of this war, they
nave fallen exclusively upon neither section
anu upon neither party-that they have fall
zen, indeed, with far grestsr weight upon
'n0se WIN whom the war began that in the