Daily union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1865-1866, 1866-10-17
White Men except ''Loyalists" neither
to Vote OF Hold Office.
NEGRO SUFFRAGE.
Military Organizations of Loyal
whites and BLACKS 90 hold the
Political Situation.
Disfraachised whites 20 be Taxed to
Pay for tiae Destruction Of
their Liberties.


affection with which the Union men Of the
South remember his single hearted patriot
ism, have discharged that duty. The en-
thusiastic greetings wereceiyed all along cur
route are sufficient evidence that the Union
party is still intact. We return our sincere
and hearty thanks for the uniform courtesy
and kindness everywhere shown as; but be-
fore We separate We desire to warn our coun-
trymen Of a new danger which appears to
be looming up. Everywhere that we have
been the loyal people who are sustaining
Congress seem % be united in demanding.
First-That ANDREW JOHNSON shall not
be permitted to usurp and exercise the pow-
ers Of Congress in addition to those Of Presi-
dent.
Second-That disloyal men shall not be
permitted 10 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 protected in
all their rights as American citizens.
Unfortunately, however some Republican
speakers and writers, By the loose language
they make use OF, and their frequent declare
tions that If the on-reconstructed States
ratify the pending constitutional amendment
such Of their applicants as can or viii take
the test oath viii be admitted to member
ship in that body, are Grating the impress
sion that the ratifcai = Of that amendment
will render any fB ii legislation by Con-
gress unnecessar If this conviction Is
allowed 10 fasten itself upon the minds Of
the people it can only be removed by a long,
acrimonious discussion, pending which the
nation will continue 20 be affected with the
evils which now render life in a third of
the States almost intolerabie.
IL now requires 5ut few minutes reiec-
tion 10 see thai such a settlement Of the re-
construction problem would convert the vic.
tory now being won at the polls into a defeat.
The Constitution Of the United States de-
clares that ''all legislative power shall be
vested in a Congress-" and 'legislative
power" means simply the power to make
laws The usurpation Of the President con-
sists 10 the fact that when al the close Of the
war he found ten States deprived Of all
civil goyernment'-iherebe being no law upon
the statute book providing how, under such
circumstances, government might be insti-
tuted-instead Of calling the legislative de
partment together in extra session TO pass
the necessary laws he assumed the preroga-
tive Of Congress, and prescribed the rules
and regulations claiming for them all the force
and validity Of regularly enacted laws) ne
oessary for establishing civil Government
in the ten States which he declared had none.
IL was in accordance with these illegal edicts
that the tyrannical organizations claiming
10 be the State Governments of North Caro-
lima, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Ala
bama, Mississippi and Texas were formed,
and 70 recognize their adoption Of the con-
stitutional amendment as valid is simply TO
indorse and legalize the Presidents usurpa-
tiOns. Are the people willing thus TO in
dorse the action Of President JOHNSON? III
not, they must firmly declare that the ille-
gally organized tools of an usurper cannot
by their action affect the Constitution of
the country, and that before the non-recon-
strucied States can ratify the amendment.
legal Governments must be instituted in
them.
Again, every one Of theso-ealled Govern
menis in the ten non-reconstructed States
are in the hands Of and controlled BY the
men who attempted 70 destroy the nation,
aud are oslentatiously used - make treason
honorable and loyalty odious-(and in the |
Southern States impossible) If Congress |
legalizes them il perpetuates these ex-rebeis /
in power indefinitely. They will continue /
20 have absolute control Of the Governments |
Of all or nearly all Of the late slayeholding |
States, aud will send us solid delegations 70 |
Congress Of men whose sympathies we're /
and are with the Confederate cause. Once /
admit that they are loyal State Governments, |
and Congress cannot thereafter interfere in |
those States any more than il can now in |
Illinois and New York. In short, legalize /
.hose bogus Governments, and ex-rebels will |
thereafter have absolute political control Of |
nearly one-half the Union. IL the loyal peo-
pie do not wish such state Of affairs. they |
must never consent to the Endorsement Of /
ANDREW JoHNsoN's usurpation. Again, il i
Is these State Governments which now ty- |
ranize over Union men at the South, and |
which are being welded so rs to render our |
living there intoleFable, or impossible. Pro- |
lection. either Of life or property, with the |
State Governments controlled hy those now /
In power there, Is impossible. While loyal |
State Governments can afford us protection,
we solemnly warn the people that the rati-
fcation Of these bogus Governments is a
aentence Of death, or exile 10 every Union /
man in the South, whose position or ability /
renders him at all obnoxious to the late |
rebels. To those who are willing TO tolerate /
for moment the idea Of abandoning their
friends TO desiruction-of handing them over
bound hand and ioot--into the power Of /
their and the nations enemies, we have not /
one word Go say but 10 such as call them
selves Union men, and have some spark Of i
manhood or wOmanho0d in their natures, /
we appeal for protection--ior that protec-
tion which can alone be afforded by State
Governments imbued with the principles Of 4
imnartiai Justice for all men, Shall We ap-
peal IN vain 2 The action Of Congress tie
coming winter must answer this question.
The late rebels are Of course deslrous Of
retaining as much power in Congress as
possible, but they wCsld surrender all re-
presentation in that body rather than lose /
control Of the State Governments, Tor by the 1
help Of these State Governments alone can
they keep their people united against the
General Government Representation IN
Congress Is a side and comparatively unipr /
poriant matter, bat the control Of the stale 1
Governmcnts whether or not they shall re-
main in the hands Of those who have once /
used them 10 wage war npon the Union, is
the vital question. We do not wish 90 have !
d understood that we are finding fault with |
the present Congress-that noble body Of /
men. whose frmnoss have afforded us cur /
only protection thus Gar since the war closed. /
Il has been, and is, our expectation, that /
NEST, Il not all, Of the Union members IN /
tend TO adopt the measures necessary 70 give /
rs protection. The Reconstruction Com /
mitiee. In addition 20 the constitutional /
amendment reported bill providing for the /
organization of loyal governments in the se- j
ceded States, and this bin has YET 70 be acted
upon. II Congress Immediately upon re-
assembling, takes il up perfecis and passes /
IL all will be well. We have been impolled /
20 issue this address 6y the fact that this bill,
which is immeasarably the most important |
half Of the Congressional plan Of recon- /
sirucsion, rs We have understood i, Is being /
apparently lost sight Of and She further fact /
that some prominent politicians have been /
using languam which seems 20 commit them /
10 an abandonment Of H. We have aided |
thus far in the present canvass, and expect /
10 continue with fhe distinct understanding 4
that Congress will not, after being indorsed /
bv the people, abandon this the most impor- /
tang feature Of its plan. We do not believe /
that it Is either necessary or right 10 carry /
on tie canvass upon a misrepresentation or 1
mvsiifcation OF the issue, aud feel conscious I
that such conrs9 would certainly lead 70 |
embarrassment, and might lead us 10 disas-
Ter; for although the great majority Of The /
Union members Of Congress vii undoubl-
edly remain true, some are always anxious I
10 obtain notorieiy for heingmore "oonserva- /
i've than their associates and such would /
claim, II We keep sileni, that the canvass