North Branch democrat. [volume] (Tunkhannock, Pa.) 1854-1867, 1866-08-29

hroaght mCSt closely I'D CONTACT, anu "HCie
passions and resentment are always most
easily fed and famed into outbreak; and
even there they are quite as much the fruit
of nntimely and hurtful political agitation,
As of anv hostility on the part of the peo-
ple to the authority of the National Gov
eminent. But the concurrent testimony of
those best acquainted with the condition of
society and the state of public sentiment in
the south, including that of its representa-
tives in this Convention, establishes the fact
that the great mass of the Southern people
accept, with as full and sincere submission
as do the people of the other States, the
re-estabIished supremacy of the national
authority, and are prepared, in the most
loyal spirit, and with zeal qulckened alike
bv their interest and their pride, to coop
crate with other States and sections in what
ever NAV be necessary to defend the rights,
maintain the honor, and promote the well
fare of our common country.
History affords no instance where apeo-
pie so powerful in numbers, IN resources,
and in public spirit, after war so long in
its duration, so destructive in lis progress,
and so adverse in its issue, have accepted
defeat and its consequences with so much
of good faith as has marked the couduct OF
the people lately in inrurrection against
the United States. Beyond all question
this has been largely due to the wise gene
osity with which their enforced surrender
was accepted by the President Of the Uni
ted States, and the generals in Immediate
command of our armies, and to the liberal
measures which were afterward taken to
restore order, tranquility, and law to the
States where all had for the time been ov-
ertbrown. No steps could have been bet
ter calculated to command the respect, win
the confidence, revive the patriotism, and
secure the permanent and atfectionate allie
glance of the people Of the South to the
Constitution and laws of the Union than
those which have been so firmly taken and
so steadfastly pursued by the President OF
the United States.
And if that confidence aud loyalty has
been since impaired, the people South are
today less candid in their allegiance than
they were Immediately upon the close OF
the war, we believe ii IS due to the chang
ed tone of the Legislative Department of
the General Government towards them;
to the action by which Congress has endea-
vored to suppress and defeat the Presidents
wise and beneficial policy of restoration; to
their exclusion from all participation in our
common Government; to the Withdrawal
from them of the rights conferred and guar
anteedb the Constitution, and to the evil
dent purpose of Congress, in the exercise OF
ausurped and unlawful authority, to reduce
them from the ranks Of free and equal
members of a republic of States, with rights
and dignities unimpaired, to the condition
of conuqcred provinces and conquered
people, in all things subscrvicnt and sub
iect to the will of their conquerers free on
ly to obey laws in making which they are
not allowed to share. No people has ever
yet existed whose loyalty and faith such
treatment long continued would not alien
ate and impair. And the ten millions of
Americans who live in the South would be
unworthy citizens cf free country, degen-
crate SONS of an heroic ancestry, unfit evey
TO become guardians of the rights and lib
critics bequeathed to us by the fathers and
founders of this Republic, if they could ac :
cept with uncomplaining submssiveness
the humliatons thus sought to be imposed
upon them.
Resentment of injustice is always and
everywhere essential to freedom, and the
spirit which prompts the States and people
lately in insurrection, insurgents now no
longer, to protest against the imposition of
unjust and degrading conditions, makes
them all the more worthy to share in the
government of free commonwealth. and
gives still further assurance Of the future
power and freedom of the Republic; for
whatever responsibility the Southern peo-
pie may have incurred in resisting the au-
thority of the National Government and in
taking up arms forits overthrow, they may
he ED TO answer for as individuals before
the judicial tribunals of the land, and for
their conduct as societies and organized
communities they have already paid the
most fearful penalty that can fall on offend
mo States, in the losses, the sufferings, and
hnmi!iations of unsuccessful war But
whatever may be the guilt or the punish
ment of the conscious authors of the insur-
rection, ,candor and common justice demand
concession to the great mass of those who
became involved in its risks and acted up
on what they deemed to be their duty, and
in defence of what they have beentaught to
believe were their rights, or compulson,
physical or moral, which they were power
less to resist.
Nor can ii be amiSs to remember that.
terrible AS have been the bereavements and
the losses of this war, they have fallen ex-
clusively upon reither section and upon
neither party; that they have fallen, in
deed, with far greater weight upon those
with whom the war begun; that in the
death Of re latves and friends, the disper-
sion of families, the disruption of social
systems and social ties, the overthrow of
governments of law. and of order, the de-
struction of property and of forms and
l. {