Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1866-08-29
What They Have in View.

1t will be remembered that, after the col
lapse of the Rebellion, President johnson
while the Rebel States were under Provis
lonal Governments, required those States t.
ratlfy the Amendment abolishing Slavery
to repudiate the rebel debt, to annul ordin-
ances of secession, and frame new State
constitutions. With the exception of Ten,
nessee, we believe none of the State Con.
stitutions were submitted to vote of the
the people for ratification. 1t was believed
by some of our far-seeing statesmen that,
at some future time, when it became their
interest to do SO, those States would take
the ground that these measures had been
forced upon them, that their adoption was
compulsary-'an act of usurpation and
hence that they were not bound by them.
The key note of such movement has al
ready been struck in North Carolina. by
Chief Justice Ruffin, who probably fore
shadows what will be the course of every
Rebel State as soon as they can act for them
selves on the questions involved in their
restoration the Union. Judge Ruff says:
- consider that this is no Constitution,
because your convention was not a legitimate
convention, aud had no power to make
constitution for us, or to alter that which we
had and have; and that it cannot be made
Constitution, even by popular sanction
IF these positions be correct, it ought to be
rejected u the people, as the easiest, sim
plest and most efficient method of setting
the point at rest, and avoiding many per-
picking and dangerous questions before The
Judiciary. | object to the organization of
your body as convention, because it was
called without the consent of the people of
North Carolina, by the President of the T.
nited States, or under his orders; an act Of
ctedr and despotic usurpdtton, chich could
not gire atis body any authority to bind the
State or its Inhabitants. If it be said the
President. or his satrap-his Governor of
Proyince-did not CALL or rather constitute
the convention, but the delegates were elect
ed by the people, and thereby the body was
duly constituted, | deny it directly and pos
itively. The delegates were not the choice
of the people; for in the proclamation call
ing it, the qualifications of the persons who
might be eligible and those of the persons
who might vote for them are strictly pre-
sented in a manner variant from our fun
damental law, and excluding from each class
a large portion-some would say the best
portions our qualified citizens In ma
ny cases our people were not represented,
but, IN fact, ,oere misrepresented The acts
the people of TIE State. Theyare not entt-
oaght not to be, .jtdicially recognized. The
olaote proceeding arose out Qf arbitrary as
sumption, orerthrO,oing alt notions of popa-
ar government, and Destructive Of the rcry
first PRINCIPLES Of Republican, .freeoom
Mr.. johnson required convention to
perform certain specific acts to annul the
ordinance of secession and tender return
to the Union, or claim its scontinual existence
lnder the Constitution of the United States
o emancipate the slaves and ordain that sla-
yery shall never hereafter exist in this State,
md to repudiate the State war debt All |
hese were done; the two first promptly, and
n satisfactory terms; and the third, at the
asst moment, ender subiectton and in confor-
,etty to orders, after haring once refused to
tdopt tie measure. All was done, | say,
hat was required, and Mr.. johnson pro-
laimed that he had got all he wanted; that
ve were back as a State and might choose
ur representatives in Congress in conform
ty to our rights as State, and to our law
egulating elections. Was there anything
nore for that convention to do F? Were they
hosen for any other purpose, even by those
vho were allowed to vote for members
low dare they, then, go on to frame con-
titution, law for all time, which is to be
inding on those who elected them for other
nds, and also on that large portion of the
atriots and heroes 'unpardoned rebels -
Tho were not allowed to vote at all As
ar as they safely can, and whenever they
an, the people ought to resist that preten-
ion. This they can peacefully do, when
allied on and allowed to vote and l trust
hey will do SO, on this occasion without COM
notion, in support of the great principle OF
uman liberty-that people have the right
D make their own constitution, and not be
,ade subject to one imposed on them, by
orce or fraud, Ly any ertrane0us pOaoer, or
q fraction of their .fellou citizens. y I