American citizen. [volume] (Butler, Butler County, Pa.) 1863-1872, 1866-08-15

stitutionaE 1t is only necessary to in
stance the election to the Senate of the
late Vice Presidehtof the COME deracy,
a man who, against his own declared con
victions, had lent all the weight OF his
knowledged ability and of his influence
as most prominent public maa to the
cause of tho Rebellion, and who, unpar-
| doned rebel as he is, with that oath star
ing him in the face, had the assurance to
Iay his credentials on the table of the
Senate other rebels of scarcoly less note
or Dotoriety were selected from other
quarters. Protesting no repentance, glo-
rying apparently in the crime they had
committed, avowing still, as the uncon-
tradicted testimony of Mr.. Stephens and
many other proves, an adherence to the
pernicious doctrine of secession, and de
claring that they only yielded to neces-
sity, they insist with unanimous voice
upon their rights as States, and proclaim
that they will submit 10 no conditions
whatever, preliminary to their resump-
ton of power under that Constitution
which they still claim the right to repu-
pudiate.
Examining the evidence taken by your
committee still farther, in connection with
facts too notorious to be disputed, it ap-
pears that the Southern press, with few
exceptions, and those mostly of newspa-
pers recently established by Northern
men, abounds with weekly and daily abuse
of the institutions and people of the 10y
al States; defends the men who led, and
the principles which melted the rebellion;
denounces and reviles Southern men who
adhered to the UniJn and strives con-
stantly and unserupuously, by every
means in its power, to keep alive the fire
of hate and dscord between the sections !;
calling upon the President to violate his
oath of office, overturn the Government
by force of arms, and drive the represen-
tatives of the people from their seats in
Congress. The national banner is openly
insulted, and the national airs scoffed at
not only by an ignorant populace, but at
public NEE etipgs; aud once, among other
notable instances, at dinner given in
honor of notorious rebel, who had vio-
lated his oath, and abandoned his flag.
! The same individual is elected to au i'm :
portant office in the leading city of his
State, although an uupardoned. rebel, and
so offensive that the President refuses to
allow him to enter upon his official duties
In another State a leading general in the
retel armies is openly nominated for Gov.
ernor by the Speaker of the House of
Delegates, and the nomination is hailed
by the people with shouts of satisfaction,
and openly endorsed by the press.
Looking still further at the evidence
taken by your committee, it is found to
be clearly shown by witnesses of the
highest character aud having TIE best
means of observation, that the Freedmen's
Bureau, instituted for the relief and pro.
lection of freedmen and refugees, is al
most universally opposed by the mass of
the population and exists in an efficient
condition only under military protection,
while the Union men of the South are
earnest in its defence, declaring with one
voice that without its protection the col
ored people would not be permitted to la
Dor at fair prices, and could hardly live
in snety. They also testify that without
the protection of United States troops,
Union men, whether of Northern or
Southern origin, would be obliged to aban-
don their homes,
The feeling in many portions of the
country towrad emancipated sla, es, espec.
tally among the uneducated and ignorant,
is one of vindictive and malicious hatred
Ttis deep-seated prejudice against color
is assduously cultivated by the public
gJournals, and leads TO acts of crualty, op
OPPRESSION and murGer, which the local au.
thorities are at no pains to prevent orpun
ish. There is no general disposition to
place the colored race, constituting at least
two-ffths of the population, upon terms
even of civil equality. While many in.
stances may be found where large plan
ters and men of the better class accept
the situation and honestly strive to bring
about better order of things by employ
ing the freedmen at fair wages and treat
ing them kindly, the general feeling and
disposition among all classes are yet to-.
tally averse to the toleration Of any claes
of people friendly to the Union, be they
white or black and the aversion is not
unfrequently manifested in an insulting
and offensive manner.
The witnesses examined as to the will
ingness of tho people of the South to con .
tribute under existing laws, to the pay
ment of the national debt, prove that the
taxes levied by the United States will be
paid only on compulsiont and with great
reluctance, while there prevailed to a great
extent an expectation that compensation
will be made for slaves e1nancipated and
property destroyed during the war. The
testimony on this point comes from off
GERS of the Union army, officers of. the
late rebel army. Union men of Southern
States, and avowed secessionists. almost
all of whom state that, in their opinion.
the people OF the rebellious States would
if they should see prospect of success,
repudiate the national debt
While there is scarcely any hope or
desire among leading men to renew the
attempt at secession at any future time,
there is still, according TO witnesses, in-
cluding A II. Stephens who may he re-
garded as good authority on that point a
generally prevailing opinion which de-
fends the legal right of secession, and
upholds the doctrine that the first allie.