Delaware State journal and statesman., 1866-09-25

State shall choose, for no crime, to deny po-
litical rights to any race or caste, il must no
longer count that race or caste as basis of
political power in the Union.
III. He who has once held office on the
strength of his solemn oath to support the
Federal Constitution, and has nevertheless
torsworn himself and reasonably plotted to
subvert that Constitution, shall henceforth
hold no political office till Congress by a
two,thirds vote, shall remove or modify the
disability.
~. The national debt shall be nowise re-
pudiated nor invalidated; and no debt in
Cured in support OF the rebellion shall ever
be assumed or paid by any State; nor shall
payment be made for the loss or emancipa-
tion of any slave.
V. Congress shall have power to enforce
these guarantees by appropriate legislation.
Such, fellowcitizens, are the conditions of
reconstruction proposed by Congress, and
already accepted by the loyal Legislature of
Tennessee. Are they harsh or degrading?
Do you discern therein disposition to tram
pie on the PROSTATE OF push an advantage to
the uttermcstP Do they embody aught of
vengeance, or any confiscation but that of
slaveryg We solicit your candid, impartial
judgment.
What is intended by the third section is
simply to give loyalty fair start in the re-
constructed States. Under the johnson
policy the rebels monopolize power and
place, even in communities where they are
decidedly outnumbered. Their Generals are
Governors and members-elect of Congress;
their co'onels and majors fill the legislatures
and otiiciate as sheriffs. Not only are the
steadfastly loyal prescribed, but even stay
at-home rebels have little chance in compe-
tition with those who fought to subvert the
Union. When this rebel monopoly of office
shall have been broken up, and loyalty to
the Union shall have become general and
hearty, Congress may remove the disability,
and will doubtless make haste to do so.
We do not perceive that the Justice or
fitness Of the fourth section-prescribin
that the UAion public debt shall be promptly
met, but that of the rebel confederacy never
is seriously contested
There remains then, but the second Sec
tion, which prescribes in substance that po-
litical power in the Union shall henceforth
be based only on that portion of the people
of each State who are deemed by its consti-
tuition fit repositories of such power. In
other words: A State which chooses to hold
part Of its population in ignorance and vas
salage-powerless uneducated, unfranchised
shall not count that portion to balance the
educated, intelligent, enfranchised citizens of
other States.
We do not purpose 10 argue the justice Of
this provision. AS well argue the shape of
cube or the correctness of the multiplication
table. He who does not feel that this is sim
ply and mildly just, would not be persuaded
though one rose from the dead to convince
him. That there are those among us who
would not have it ratified, sadly demonstrates
that the good work of emancipation is not
yet complete.
But" say some, ''this section is designed
to c0erce the South into according suffrage to
her blacks" Not so, we reply; but only to
notify her ruling caste that we will no longer
bribe them TO keep their blacks in serfdom.
An aristocracy rarely surrenders its privi-
leges, no matter how oppressive, from abstract
devotion to justice and right 1t must have
cogent, palbable reasons for so doing. We
say, therefore, TO South Carolina, "If you
persistently restrict all power to your 300, 900
whites, we must insist that these no longer
balance, in Congress and the choice of Presi-
dent, 100000 Northern white freemen, but
only 3OO,O 900. lfyou keep your blacks ever
more IN serfdom, it must not be because we
tempted you so to do and rewarded you for
so doing"
FellOw-citizens of every State but especi-
ally of those soon to hold elections, we en-.
treat your earnest, constant heed to the grave
questions now at issue. If those who SO
wantOnly plunged the Union into civil war
shall be allowed by you to dictate the terms
of reconstruction, you will have heedlessly
Sown the bitter seeds of future rebellions and
bloody strife. Already you are threatened
with a recognition by the President of a sham
Congress made up Of the factions which re-
Gently coalesced at Philadelphia on plat
form Of Johnsonism-a Congress constituted
by nullifying and overriding plain law of
the land; Congress wholly inspired from
the White House, and appealing to the sword
Qlnnp So dlo IN off of
usurpation would be even more criminal
than absurd. Happily, the people, by elect
ing an owe. 6helming majority of thoroughly
loyal representatives are rendering its initia-
tion impossible.
We cannot close without a most deserved
tribute to the general fidelity wherewith, in
view of the Presidents detection, the great
body of the people, and even of the Federal
ofice-holders, stand fast by their convictions
and their principles. The boundless patron
age of the Executive, though most unscrupu-
lously welded against those TO whose votes
he owes it, has corrupted very few, either of
those who shared or of those who would
| gladly share in its enjoyment. Not one of
the twenty-five States which voted to re-elect
Abraham Lincoln, has given in its adhesion
to the Presidents policy, while New Jersey
the only free State that voted against him
has added herself to their number
| Our great war has taught impressively the
| peril of injustice; and the lesson has sunk
deep into millions of hearts. The American
people, chastened by suffering, are wiser and
nobler than tAey were, with quicker and
more opa cav for every generous sugges-
ton. The fearful lessons of Memphis and
New Orleans have not been lost on them, as
is proved by the result of the recent elections
in Vermont and Maine. We cherish no
shadow of doubt that Pennsylvania, Ohio,
Indiana and Iowa first, then New York,
New Jersey, Illinois, Michigan, Wisconsin,
Kansas and Minnesota will do likewise, and
that a true restoration, genuine, abiding
Peace, will thus be secured to our country
"a Peace that will endure, because based on
the everlasting foundations of Humanity
Justice and Freedom. Yours,
MARCUS l.. WARD, N. j.,
Chairman.