Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1866-07-12

essary legslatlun, or bringing about legislation
which 1pnld be reasonable dishenorable, and
! thus accomplishing in the Government what they
failed 10 DO by force Of arms If IL should bg
deemed essential 10 the safety of the Governments
that Senators and Representatives from the States
lately in rebellion should not be admitted TO seats
in Congress, until the power ef those
States had been reduced that they could not by
uniting with reasonable faction in the North
control tho Government and perhaps destroy it.
Congress would have the right 10 exclude tho
members from such States until such time as tho
measure OF reduction had been accomplished, pro-
vided such measure of reduction is not in violation
/ of the general theory and scheme of the Govern
ment. and is within the essential powers Of Con.
gress. In this case the measure of reduction wo'd
/ be an amendment to the Constitution ea,iali,inr
/ the representation in Congress, and in the election
OF President and Vice President by tax ing from
the white people of the Southern States the RIGHT
to represent and act for four AMI half millions of
negroes whom they deprive of political rights
This measure, so far from violating the general
| theory or scheme or the Government, is in ae.
cordance with it, because il gives to the same mum.
Der OF people IN the North an equal power With Q
Ike number in the South. Ii deprives the people
of the South ofno just right, because il leaves 90
them the enjoyment of the same power that is
possessed by an equal number III the North, and
surely they ought not, by reason or justice 10 ask
for more. This measure would be accomplished
by an amendmentb the Constitution, which is al.
NhNt III Oruer anu proper mere Is nothing
iunonary IN amending the Constitution; on the
contrary il is the slfety valve. provided by itself
by which revolutions are avoided ny making the in
strument conform TO the changed conditions and
circumstances OF great nation. But If il be said
that as soon the rebellion was concluded, the
Senators and Representatives from the rebellious
States had immediate right, without condition,
/ TO resume their seats in Congress, how could any
amendment 10 the Constitution be adopted to
guard against future rebellions or the consequent
ces OF the one from which we hare just escaped1-
Twenty Senators from the rebel States, added 10
the present number of Democratic members, would
constitute considerably than one third Of that
body. and would etfectually prevent the adoption
OF any amendment, and would thus secure 10 the
Southern States perhaps for all time the gross and
wicked inequality Of representation which they
DOW possess. II it shall be said that upon the eon.
ciuSion OF reb, llion rebels shall have the right
to from the battle field or from the floor Of q
rebel Congress, back TO seats in the Congress Of
the United States in time 20 prevent the adoption
OF anv amendments TO the Constitution which have
been rendered necessary by the changed condition
OF the country, or the enactment Of such laws as
are required to preserve the future peace of the
country, il is but to repeat in another form ths,
rebellion is no Offensc, and that the Government
has no right to protect itself from destruction by
| legislation or arms.
| Ii when the Government was trying TO borrow
money to prosecute the war. it had been aunoun-
OF making appropriations 20 pay the interest on
| the money borrowed would be referred to the votes
Of rebel Congressmen. | ask how much money
could have been borrowed If when We were call
ing for volunteers to fill up the loyal armies IL had
been proclaimed that the first effect of putting the
rebellion down would be to fill up Congress with
rebel members who would have right to vote on
all questions growing out Of the war, all ques-
tons OF reconstruction, bOunties, pensions and mil
itary hOnors, ask how many volunteers we could
have obtained
And | submit as general proposition, that re-
SeliOn connot be discouraged. treason made odi-
Gus, loyalty encouraged and patriotism rewarded
if when rebellion has been suppressed, rebels are
permitted 10 make laws for the loyal and admins
ter the nfals of Government they have just fail
cd TO destroy.
The position am combating l. abhorrent to the
common sense of every man. aud vioatse OF ev
cry principle of justice, and yet il is that upon
which the Democratic leaders Of Indiana have
planted themselves. and from which they are CO.
ing forth TO do battle against the ountry. am
foa amending the Constitution SO to equalize the
representation for three reasons.
Frf-Becluse il is a measure Of absolute JUS
tice in itself, and removes all inequality which will
be oppressive and intolerabe
Second-Because il would 20 reduce the power
in the Government of those who have been in re-
bellion that they could not by uniting with dis
Ioya faction in the North work mischief and dishen
t. the nation.
Third--Because it would pre;cn, to the people
of the Southern States an inducement 10 confer
political rights in due time upon a large negro
population in their midst, which otherwise 'hey
might not concede for many generations.
DEMOCRATIC PURPOSES roIIcr
And now let us inquire what measures the Dem
ocratc party are for afhrmatively. Ii is and has
been opposed to whatever the Union party is in ia
vor of, but il has also positive and affirmative
polcy, which il ia important that the people should
and lool n
its policy is the immediate and unconditional ad-
mission Of full representation in both Houses OF
Congress from the rebel States; that the test oath
shall be repealed; that there shall be no punish
ments; that there shall be no political or civil dis
abilities imposed upon any man W no has been en-
gagged in the rebellion that there shalt be no
| amendment TO the Constitution to make il con-
form TO the changed circumstances OF the nation;
that there shall be legislation prevent the re.
currence Of future rebellion, but that Union men
and rebels, Union soldiers and rebel soldiers shall
be put upon perfect equality before the law. and
that no honors or rewards shall be extended TO the
one which are not equally bestowed upon the other.
In proof OF this last position let refer you 10
the notorious fact that in their speeches aud
papers they bestow brilliant and glowing panegyr-
les upon the genius and virtues OF General Lees
but are significantly silent about Grant. Sher-
man and Sheridan. They weep copiouslY over
the memory of Stonewall Jackson, but have not a
| tear 20 shed for the untimely deaths of Lyon,
! Kearney, Mcpherson and Hackleman. They
mourn from day to day over the fictitious suffer-
ings of Jeff Davis, but have never yet expressed
a regret for the murdered thousands at Anderson
vile and Salisbury.
These things point to their feelings and their
policy with the unerring certainty of the needle 20
the pole and leave the rational mind withouta
shadow of doubt as to what they would do should
! they ncain come into control of fhe Government.
They are opposed TO equalizng the repres tntation
North and South. because il would diminish the
power OF the rebels in the Government. They
opposed to prohibiting the assumption Of the rebel
war debt. for that would be to prevent them from
doing Just what they intend to do should they get
into power.
We are able to predict with absolute Ger
| tainty what would be their first measure should
the great calamity happen that they come into
power They would assume the rebel war debt,
and put the owners of il upon the same footing
with the holders Of the stocks OF the United States;
they would pension rebel soldiers and the families
of rebel soldiers, bestowing upon them equal hon.
ors and emolumen,s with those who belonged 70
the Ioyal armies OF the Nation; they would az
! nearly as possible reduce the freedmen OF the
South hack 10 the condition Of slavery by depriv-
ing them of all protection and civil rights They
would harass and oppress Union men both North
| and South BY subjecting them 20 vindietive Law
suits and 10 the brutal vengeance oil the rebels
! when they had defeated in arms.
\ 1d most important of all, they would