The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-07-13
The Voice Of a southern Unionist.

The Voice of q Southern UniOnist.
AMONG the noble band of Southern Unionists
who kept the faith" in. the darkest hours of the
Rebellion, no one has a more shining record
than Governor BRowNLow, of Tennessee. He
suffered everyth except death from the
Rebels, yet remained firm and true to the cause
of his country. The opinions of such a man
upon the question of reconstruction are worthy
of the most careful consideration. He knows
the temper and characteristics of the late Rebels
perfectly. He knows Just the measures neoes.
sary for the safety of the country in readmltting
the Rebel States to power in the Union. We
therefore commend the following ANALYSIS and
defense of the Constitutional amendment lately
proposed by Congress to the States, which we
find In Governor BRowNLow's message to the
Legislature of Tennessee, now assembled in
extra session, as one of the bes. things in itself
that we have met WITH and peculiarly entitled
to consideration as the voice of the true friends
OF the Unlon men at the South. He says:-
II beg you to bear in mind, In your delibera-
tons, that while the most OF you have been at
all times, peraonally and individually, loyal to
the United States, as q whole you represent a
State tine most OF whose people went into rebel.
lion, raised one hundred and hfty-iour regiments
and sent them into the field to tight against the
National Government; levied war against the
conquered ana reduced to the condition of in.
habltants OF subjugated province, wholly at
the mercy of the cOnqueror. BY the laws of
nations and the laws OF war, the General Gov
ernment has an undoubted right to prescribe
erms of settlement to the State OF Tennessee
These terms have been prescribed, aud are now
presented for your acceptance or rejection I
nave every assurance that when they are ac-
cepted, your Senators and Representatives will
be admitted TO their seats in Congress, and the
State at once be clad with her long lost rights.
Are these terms reasonable? For my own part they
seem 10 me TO be but the decree ofpolical Justice
and equity, made necessary by the result of the
Rebellion. By the first section, equal protec.
uon IN The enjoyment OF life, liberty and pro.
perty is guaranteed TO all citizens. Practically.
MS affects mainly the negro; who, having been
emancipated by the Rebellion, and having lost
that protection which the interest of the master
gave him, became by the very laws of nature
entitled to the civil rights of the citizen and to
the means OF enforcing those rights. To deny
this to him, would be to place his life, property,
and lacor in the power OF every untriendly
local authority or evIl-dsposed person, and
would be an instance of barbarism unworthy OF
the age. IL Will also prevent unjust and op-
presslve discrimination by one State against the
citizens OF other States. By the second section,
classes who are distranchised, without crime are
not to be counted in ascertaining the basis of
federal representation. This, too, may be re.
Garded as one of the results of the Rebellion, a
change made necessary by our changed condi-
tion. We have now among us a class of freed
men, to whom we deny the ballot and all other
pohtlcal rights. Have we a right to count
them against the enranchised citizens of other
States? If so, then will three of our citizens
Rebels though they be) equal in the political
DaIapce four citizens of any Northern State
however patriotic; and one citizen of South
Carolina or Mississippi will balance two citizens
or Union soldiers who may reside north of
che Ohio. Certainly the South is not in a
to- claim. so great political ad-
vantage in the national adjustment now pro.
posed, unless, indeed, there be merit
IN rebellion. The third section is In.
tended to prevent that class of Rebel
leaders from holding Office who, by
their official oaths added one
great otfense to another. 1t is meant as safe.
guard against another rebellion, by keeping out
OF power those Who brought on and are mainly
responsible for thai through which we have just
passed. These men, in law and justice, for
teited their lives and property, but benign
and merclful Government inflicts no other pun
shment or disability upon them than such as is
necessary to prevent them from repeating their
crime. No loyal citizen will object to this
section. The fourth section declares the
validity OF our national debt, and that debts
incurred or losses sustained in aid of re-
bcllion are void. This is simply declaration of
the honorable intentions OF the nation, and will
be lndorsed by every American citizen who is
worthy OF the title. 1t also refuses compensa-
non Tor slaves lost or emancipated by the war;
AS our slaves were lost by the rebellious conduct
Of our own people, we should not expect to tax
he nation to pay for them. This brief ANALYSIS
OF the proposed amendment exhibits O magma
nimity on the part of the American people
through their Representatives in Congress,
which challenges our admiration. Viewed as
terms OF final adjustment between the conqueror
and the conquered, their mildness and freedom
rom all penalty is without parallel in the
history of nations"