The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1866-11-01

jCDprcEe GSSefn Dleu, anu WhOh shO viz ioooo L
made againet Mr.. Lincoln ,iand decided by |
the people then, was revived against him.
If President johnson had in all other re-
speets pursued precisely the same course he |
has, but had insisted upon negro suffrage as
= condition precedent to restoration, does any |
candid man doubt that he would be high in |
favor with the party which now 80 bitterly |
denounces him Last spring Senator Stew
lrt offered in the senate a proportion foruni-
versal amnesty and universal suffrage as the
best adjustment of all existing dlfhcuitles.-
1t was eagerly accepted and advocated as the
grand panacea of all our poiltical woes Dy
Msssrs Sumner, Wilson, and the leading rad
ical senators There WAS no longer any wish
expressed to make treason odlous. Ii the
states could be coeroed to bsstow the right of
suffrage upon the negroes, all opposition to
the re-enfranohisement of traitors who had
fought to destroy the government, and"whose
hands are red with the blood of our sons and
brothers" was to be withdrawn, and they
were at once to be re-admitted to the full en-
joyment of all the rights they had ever pos
sessed. There were to be no more test oaths,
no more military commissions, no more In
dictments tor treason, no more horror OF the
Dissertation of the halls of congress by the
presence of "unwashed and unrepentant trsl-
tors" I do not complain of this. do not
say tQat the WbH WHO kuNVodtcO tnc
did not believe it to be the best and quickest
means of restoring peace, fraternity and pros
perity. I do not say they we're not thorough
ly honest, Conscientious, and patriotic in their
convictions. l am willing to believe they
were But mention it only TO show that ne
gro suffrage is the real and only substantial
cause of controversy between the executive
and legislative branches of the government,
and to ask in the most solemn terms, and to
implore my fellow citizens to give 1t the most
earnest and dispassionats consideration
whether upon such an issue We are plunged
into another fratricidal war, and lmperll all
there is of our country sacred In the past,
grand and valuable in the present, and hope
full and glorious in the future. Had the Pres
ident consented to join congress In forcing ne
gro suffrage on the south, all would have
been fair and smooth, and, instead of being
denounced as fend, he would now be wor-
shipped as an idol by those who 80 bltter y
aud unrelentingly assall him.
Those who are sincerely DESTROYS of seein G
q modification Of the country, and q restora-
tion Of the integrity Of the Union, ought to
feel assured of the purely patriotic and sin
cere Intentions of the President, when they
remember that he is, in good faith, carrying
forward the policy inaugurated by President
Lincoln, and that the only two men who went
the beginning of his first term, 1.-THE secreta-
ries of state and of the navy,l and the only
! two who were trusted and contided in by him
through his entire official career, and to the
end OF his lifs-who stood by, encouraged
and sustained him W hen the storm and temp
est of rebellion were beating most fercely
upon him and the ship of state was tossing
upon the waves of a turbulent sea. with bro
ken masts and shattered sails, and who knew
his most secret thoughts IS to the best meas.
ures to be adopted to bring her into port-are
standing by President johnson, with cour-
age and herosm equally sublime, and cheer
/ ing him on IN his heroic efforts to achieve the
| same ends. They were vilifed and denounc-
| ed then; and, by the same men, are yilifed
| and denounced now. They did not quail be-
/ fore the storm that beat upon them then
! they do not quail before the temp pest that ra e
I es around them now Mr.Lincoln was heroic
/ then. and Mr.. johnson is heroic now. [ am
sure no man can be slncerer In his purpose to
! preserve the constitution and save the coun-
try than be is. No man can be actuated by
a purer patriotism, or be more averse to usur-
| patton of power. He has not violated the
constitution In the past; heintends no infrac-
ftion of it in the future; but he does intend q
| firm and faithful performance Of all the
| trusts " hich that sacred instrument has de-
/ volved upon him, With every disposition
to be charitable towards those who differ from
me in opinion, it is difficult to believe them
! sincere in charging the President with inten-
| ton of violently forcing rebels into congress,
/ and giving them the control of the govern
ment What act has he ever done that gives
the slightest sanction to such a charge? Not
one can be specified He has neither trans
oended his own powers nor invaded those oil
the coordinate departments and the only
& A. ulo% - me
done, but what he has said, in declaring
again and again his conviction that it wa.
tbs duty of congress to obey plain consti
tutional provision, and each house for itsel
I to Judge Of the election, returns aud qualf
cations of each individual presenting himsel
as a member.
Our country is in peril-in very great peri
not from public enemy, but from the VIC
lenee of our own passions. Safety is to be fount
only in strict adherence to the constitution
and laws. AS long as they are oteyed n
evil can come upon ug. We ore In DANCE
only when attempt something they do no
sanction. / trust it will be the pride AM
glory of the friends of the administration, il
the threatening contests through which W
are passing, to keep their passions in subjec
ton TO reason, and to do no act not fully Wal
rsnted by the constitution and laws. Ours i
G. repu blican government, where the u J0rlt'
has II ght to rule. Minoritles cannot with
out subverting the government. And wher'
according to the forms prescribed, the will 0
the majority is expressed IN the constitution
or the law, it is the duty of all to submit t
it, until it can be fairly and constitutional,
changed. Such | know TO be the President
intentions, and such know he wishes to b
the rule of conduct for his friends and sup
porters. No man he's profounder reverence
for the constitution than he, and bis purpose
as the executive head of the nation, to main
tain and preserve it as it il, until it be chang
ed in the form prescribed by it. is firm an
immutable. 81 is not brave enough wilfull
to Violate It, He IS brave epoug b to uphol'
and defend it in all that bis duty requires.
In conclusion, les me beseech you, calml.
I'D dispassionRtely. but earnestly and firmly
to do your duty to your country in this try
ing hour, and to stand by our glorious con
, stltutlon as it is. There is no safety for u
putin this Do your duty faithfully, ant
trust to God for results; and reverently i'm
5 plore Him to save us from the madness ant
= lnfatuation which threaten us with self-de
s'ruction, aud with the loss of the last hop
d LOT the perpetnity of free governments
9 our friend and fellow citizen,
Q. I'll. BROWNING.