The Weekly Perrysburg journal. [volume] (Perrysburg, O. [Ohio]) 1861-1???, 1866-10-26
THE SOUTHERN LoYAL1sTs.
Their Address TO the Loyal People
OF the United states.
srRINeFIELp. IL, Oct. II.


tee appointed by the Convention Of South
ern Loyalists lately assembled in Phila-
delpbia, to visit the tomb Of our mariyred
President, Abraham Lincoln, as a testimony
Of the admiration and affection with which
the Union men Of the South remember his
single hearted patriotism, have discharged
that duty. The enthusiastic greetings we
received all along our route are sufficient
evidence that the Union party is still intact.
We return oar sincere and hearty thanks
for the uniform courtesy and kindness
everywhere shown us, but before we sepa.
rate wo desire to warn our countrymen of
new danger which appears to be looming
mp. Everywhere that we have been the
loyal people who are sustaining Congress
seem to be united in demanding
First-That Andrew johnson shall not
DO permitted to usurp and exercise the
powers of Congress in addition to those of
President
Secoud-That disloyal men shall not bo
permitted to rule either the whole country
or any part thereof and,
Third-That the loyal men Of the South,
black as well as white, shall be projected
in all their rights as American citizens.
Unfortunately, however, some Republican
speakers, and writer's. by tho loose lam
guage they make use Of and their frequent
declarations that if the n.reconstructed
States ratly the pending constitutional
amendment such of their applicants as eau
or will take the test oath will be admitted
to membership in that body, are creating
tho impression that the ratification of that
amendment will render any further logisla
tion by Congress in relation to the non-re-
constructed States unnecessary. IL this
convention is allowed to fas.en itself upon
the minds of the people it can only be re-
moved 10y a long, acrimonious discussion,
pending which the nation will continue to
be affected with the evils which now rem
der life in third OF the States almost in.
tolerable.
1t now requires but few moments re-
Election to see that such a settlement of the
reconstruction problem would convert the
victory now being won at tho polls into a
defeat. Tho Constitution Of the United
States declares that "all legislative power
shall be vested in Congress" and legis
ldtive power means simply the power to
make laws. The usurpation of the Presi.
dent consists iii tho tact that when at the
close Of tho war he found ten States dc.
privcd of all civil government there be.
ing no law upon the statute book provid-
ing how, under such circumstances, gov.
ernmcnt might be instituted-instead of
calling the legislative department together
in extra session to pass the necessary laws
he assumed the prerOgative Ot Congress, and
prescribed the rules and regulations (claim
ing for them all the force and validity of
regularly enacted hws) necessary for es.
hblishing civil Governments in the ten
States which he declared had none. II
was in accordance with these illegal edicts
that the tyrannical organizations claim NJ to
he the State Governments OF North Carolina,
South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Alabama,
Mississippi and Texas were formed and to
recognize their adoption of the constitu.
tiona amendment as valid, is simply to in
dorso and legalize tho Presidents usurpa-
tons. Are the people willing thus to in
dorse the action of President johnson? II
not, thoy must firmly declare that the lille
gally organized tools of an usurper cannot
by their action affect the Constitution Of the
country, and before the non.reconstucted
States can ratify the amendment, legal Gov.
ernments must be instituted in them.
Again, every one OF tho so.called Gov
ernments in the ten hon-reconstructc States
ere in the hands of and controlled by the
men who attempted to destroy the nation,
and are o3tcntatiously used to make treason
honorable and loyalty odious-(a land in the
Southern States impossible) II Congress
iegalizes them it perpetuates these ex.rebels
in power indefinitely. They will continue
to have absolute control of the Govern.
ments of all or nearly all of the late slave.
holding States, and will send up solid del
egations to Congress of men whose sym
pathies were aud are with the Confederate
cause. Once admit that they are loyal
State Governments, aud Congress cannot
thereafter interfere in those States any
more than it can now in Illinois and Now
York, In short, legalize those bogus
Governments, and ex.Iebols will thereafter
have absolute political control of nearly
one.half the Union. Il the loyal people do
not wish such state of affairs, they must
never consent to the Endorsement Of Andrew
Johnson's usurpation. Again, it is these
State Governments which now tyrannizc
over the Union men Of the South, and which
are being welded so as to render our living
there mtolcrable, or impossible. Protec
ton, either of life or property, with the
State Governments controlled by those now
in power there, is impossible. While loyal
State Governments can afford us protection
we solemuly warn the people that the rati.
hcation of these bogus Governments is
sentence of death, or exile to every Union
man in the South, whose position of ability
renders him at all obnoxious TO the late
rebels. To those who arc willing to tul.
crate for moment tho idea of abandoning
their friends to destruction of handing
them over, bound hand and foot, into the
power of their and tho nations enemies.
we have not one word TO say but to such
IA call themselves Union men, and have
some spark of manhood or womanhood in
their natures, we appeal for protection-for
that protection which can alone ho afforded
by State Governments imbued with the prin
ciples of impartial justice for all men. Shall
We appeal in vainI The action of Congress
the coming winter must answer this ques,
tion.
| The late rebels are of course desirous OF
retaining as much power in Congress as
possible, but they would surrender all rep,
resentalion in that body rather than lose
cot troll of the State Governments, for by the
help of these State Governments alone can
thoy keep their people united against the
General Government. Representation il
Congress is side and comparatively un
important matter, but tho control of the
State Governments, whether or not they
shall remain in the hands of those who have
once used them To wage war upon th,
Union, is tho vital question. We do no
wish 10 have it understood that we are
finding tault with the present Congress-
that noble body of mon, whose hrmness ha,
afforded us our only projection thus ia
since the war closod. 1t has been, and is
our expectation that most, if not all, of tn,
Union members intend to adopt the meas
ures necessary TO give us protection. Tn,