American citizen. [volume] (Butler, Butler County, Pa.) 1863-1872, 1866-03-21
ional election in Febrnarr following.

ciple that the political power OF the state
aud the control of the Government be-
long rightfully to the loyal people and to
hem alone. A reperusal of his several
proclamations would be Instructive
From his repeated uttera ices of this sem
inal principle of political growth, we may
select almost at random. an calling a
Convention to restore the State, who shall
restore and establish it? Shall the man
who gave his means and influence to de
stroy tie Government? Is he to partie
ipate in the great work OF reorganization!
Shall he who brought this misery upon
the State be permitted to control its des-
TIMES p Again, he asks, "Why all this
blood and carnage 2" 1t was that treason
might be put down and traitors punished;
therefore, | say that traitors should take
a back seat in the work of restoration.--
II there should be but five thousand nian
lpyal to the Constitution, loyal to freed
ON, loya TO justice, these true and faith
ful men shall control the wok Of reQr-
gan zltiOn aud reformation absolutely.
Still more emphatic if possible, are his
declarations made this very day to Com
uittee from the Legislature of Virginia
- he representatives Of the States and OF
the people should have the qualifications
prescribed by the Constitution of the
TINTED States. aud ihuse qualifications
must ur4uestionably imply loyalty. lie
who comes as a representative, having the
qualifications prescribed by the Cpnstltu
tion. to ft ham to take seat in either
of the deliberative bodies which cunsti-
tute the National Legislature, must nee
essarily, according to the intendimeut of
the Constitution, be a loyal man; willin-
to abide and be devoted to the Union and
the Constitution of the States" s"
"In going into the recent rebellion or
insurrection against the Government of
the.Siates, we erred and in returning
and resuming our relations with the Fed
eral Government, I am free to say, that
all the responsible po tions and places
ou tat 40 e coufided distinctly and clear
ly to men who are loyal ii there were
only five thousand loyal men in State, or
a less number, but sufficient to take charge
of the political machinery of Il State,
those fve thousand men, or a less mum
ber, are entitled to it, if all the rest should
be otherwise inclined l look upon it as
being fundamental, hat the exercise oJ
political poper shouhl6e coafned to ioyat
men" After this, there can be no dis
pute as to what the Presidents policy
really is
His language is neither ambiguous nor
obscure. 1t is in fact the same policy
adopted BY the North Carolina fathers al
the close of the revolutionary wm =
While they we're enacting "that all man
ner of treason, misprisou of treason fel
ony or misdemeanor committed or done
since the fourth day OF July, in the year
of our Lord, seventeen hundred aud sew
eDty-six, by any person or persons what
soever, be pardoned, released and put ia
total oblivion )" they at the same time
provided, also, that nothing herein con
tained shall entitle any person by this
law to be received, 10 elect or be elected to
any Office or trust in the State, or 10 holi
any office, civil or mlit ry."* Maryland
and perhaps sone others of the old thir
teen, dealt out similar restricted gensros
iJy 10 thcir rories.
The policy has been fairly tested in
Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, Ken
tacky, tennessee, Missouri aud Arkan
sas 1T has worked well. Where it has
been abandoned or even relaxed, ani
raitors re enfrauchsed, as in Virginia
Kentucky aud Louisiana, there, trouble
and disorder prevail.
1ae condition of the loyal Union peu
DIE is little bet ter than under the despJt.
Ism oi the Southern Coniederacy. Wh,t
that was 60 ask our friends IN East Ten
nessee-East Tennessee illustrious in her
sorrow and the blood OF her martyrs
Go to the the prison cells where hundred
pined in wretchedness, rather than pol
Lutte their souls by swearing allegiance to
power they condemned Go to the
gibbets where the patriots Haun and Har-
mon, the father and the son, and Hensie
aad Fry, passed upward along the shin
ing pathway to glory. There see what
treason did in the plentitude of its pos.
er; aud what it wants but the opportuni
ty do sgain. Yes, oy all means, lei
Us heartily and with ut question, indorse
the Presidents policy, and repeat his
fundamental axiom that the exercise Of
political power should be confined to loyal
men until the sounding words shall be
echaed from everv IInton mana hearth