The Weekly Perrysburg journal. [volume] (Perrysburg, O. [Ohio]) 1861-1???, 1866-09-28
ADDRESS
OF the National Union Committee to the
American People.

we arc impellcd TO ask your attention
thereto, and to suggest the duties TO your
country which they render imperative.
We shall avoid the use of hard words
OF these, there have already been too
many. And, that the matters in issue may
be brought within the narrowest compass,
let us FIRST eliminate from the controversy
all that has already been settled or has
never been IN dispute.
The Republic has been desperately as-
sailed from within aud it's very existence
seriously imperiled. Thirteen States were
claimed as having Withdrawn from the
Union, aud were represented for years in
in hostile Congress meeting at Richmond.
Teu OF these States were, for time,
wholly in the power Of a hostile oonfeder-
roy tho other three partially so. The un.
doubtedly loyal States were repeatedly
formidably invaded by Rebel armies,
which were only expelled after obstinate
and bloody battles. Through four years
of arduous. desperate civil strife, the hosts
Of the Rebel Confcderocy withstood those
Of the Union, Agents of that Conlederacy
traversed the civilized world, seeking
allies in their war against the Republic,
and iucitng the rapacious and unprincl-
pied to fit out armed corsalrs to prey upon
in the perverted names of patriotism and
loyalty, hundreds of thousands Of our coun
trymen were oonscripted into Rebel armies
and made TO fight desperately for our
national disruption and ruin. Aud though
by tho blessing of God aud the vnlor and
constanoy Of our loyal people, the Rebellion
was finally and utterly crushed, it did net
succumb until it had caused tho des.ruo
ton of more than Halfa Million of precious
human lives, not to speak of property to
the value of at least Five Billions OF Dollars
At length the Rebel armies surren lcrcd
aud the Rebel power utterly collapsed and
vanished. What thenP
The claim Of the insurgents that they
either now reacquired or had never for.
feited their constitutional rights in the
Union, including that of representation in
Congress-, stands in pointed antagOnism
alike to the requirements of Congress,
and to those of the acting President 1t
was tho Executive alone who, after the Re-
bcllon was no more, appointed Provision.
al Governors for the now submissive, I'M
armed Southern States, on the assumption
that the Rebellion had been revolutions
ry," and had deprived tho people under its
sway of all civil government and who
required the assembling of "a Convention,
composed of delegates to be chosen by
that portion OF the people of said States
who are loyal to the United States. and no
otlerS, for tho purpose of altering and
amending the Constitution of said State"
IL was President johnson who so late as
October last--whon all shadow Of overt
resistance to tho Union had long since
disappeared - insisted that il was not
enough that State which had revOlted
must recognize her Ordinance of Secession
as null and void from the beginning and
ratify the, Constitutional Amendment pro-
hibiting Slavery evcrmore, but she must
also rcpudiate "every dollar of indebted
ness created to all in carrying on the Re
bellon" Ii was he who ordered the dis
persion by military force of any legislature
chosen under the Rebellion which should
assume power to make laws after the Re.
beiion had fallen. 1t was he who referred
to Congress all inquiries as to the probabil-
ty of Representatives from the States lately
in revolt being adm tted to seats i'll either
House, and suggested that they should
present their credentials, not at the organ
ization of Congress, but afterward. And
finally, it was he, and not Congress, who
suggested to his Gov. Sharkey Of Mlssis
sippi, that
" III you could extend tho elective ilnnCllSc u
all persons of color who can read the Constitution
of the United Stltcs in English and write theil
| Names aud 10 all persons of color who own rea
estate valued at not less than $3.50 and pay take:
thereon, you would completely disOrm the adver
| sary, and set an example that ether States vii
| follow"
If, then, there be any controversy as to
the light of the loyal States to exact con,
ditions and require guarantees OF those
| which plunged ma1ly into Secession and
Rebellion, the supporters respectively OF
| Andrew Johnson an OF Congress caunot
| be antagonist parties to that contest, since
! their record places them oh the same side
1t being thus agreed that conditions OF
restoration and guarantees against future
rebellion may be exacted OF the States
lately in revolt, the right of Congress to a
voice in prescribing those conditions aud
in shaping those guarantees is plainly
incontestible. Whether it take til,
shape of law or of constitutions
amendment, the action OF Congress is vital
Even If they were to be settled 10y
treaty, the ratification of the Senate, 10y
two-thrds vote would be Indispensable
| There is nothing in tho Federal Uonstitu
ton nor in tho nature of the case, tina
countenancee an Executive monopoly oI
this power,
What, then is the ground of complain
against CongrcssY
1t is charged that tho action of tho two
Houses was tardy and hesitatingH Con-
slider how momentous were the questions
| involved, tho issues depending. Consid.
er how novel aud extraordinary was the
situation. Consider how utterly silent
and blank is the Federal Constitution
touching the treatment of iusurgent States
whether during their hlsrant hostility t
the Union or after their discontinue. Con
slider with how many embarrassments and
difficulties the problem is beset, and yo'
will not wonder that months were requret
to devise, perfect, and pass, by a two-:hlrd
vote in either House, just and safe plal
of reconstruction,
! Yet that plan has been matured. 1t ha
passed the Senate by 33 to IL, and tn
House by l3S to 20 1t is now fairly be
fore the country, having already been rati
fed by the legislatures of several State
aud rejected by none, Under it, the Stat
OF Tennessee has been formally restored {
all tho privileges she forfeited 10y Rebellion
including representation in either House %
Congress. And the door thus passe,
through stands invitingly open to all VIII,
still linger without.
Are the conditions thus prescribed in
tolerable, or even hunjlatingl They ar
in substance these;
|. All persons born or uaturalzcd in thi
country are henceforth citizens Of th
United States, and shall enjoy all the right
OF citizens ever more and no State sha
have power 90 c0ntraVeno this mos
righteous and necessary provision.
III. While the States claim aud eXercis
tho power of denying the elective tranchis