Ashtabula weekly telegraph. [volume] (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1853-1873, 1866-02-24

and property shall be GUARANTEED ~ fsne
citizen In reality as they now are tn the
words OF the Constitution, aad no longer
lelt 10 the caprice Of mobs or the contln
eencies OF local legislation. II our Con
siitution does not now afford all the
puvers necessary 10 that end, We must ask
the people to add them. We must give
full foice and effect TO the provision that
no citizen shall be deprived Of life, liberty,
or property without due process Of law
We must make II as true In fact as It IN
law. that the citizens OF each Stale shall
be entitled 10 oil the privileges and i'm.
muni,ies OF citizens 10 the several States.
We must make American citizenship che
shield that protects every citizen, on every
fpoi Of our soil. The bill nov before the |
House is one Of the means for reaching this |
desirable result.
What shall bo done with the States late.
" 10 rebellion3 How shall we discharge
our duty toward them shall hail with
joy the day when they shall all be again in
their places, loyalty obedient aud fully rep
resented by loyal men. Are they now
entitled 10 admission Are they worthy
of 80 great confidence 7 TO my mind, Mr.
Speaker, the prima faeis evidence is against
them the burden Of proof rests on each
OF them to show whether they are fit ogain
to enter the Federal circle in full comma
piou OF privileges. We are sitting as o
general court of the nation. They are TO
sppear at the bar of the Republic and
show cause why they should be brought
10. say the burden Of pro oof is upon their
shoulders When we knew them last they
were hurling the ligblnings of war against
us they were starving our prisoners Of
war in their dungeons they were burning
our towns they were hating the Union
above ell things, and wee bound by bloody
oatbs to destroy it. Thus stood the case
when Congress adjourned ten months ago.
Thy NUT give us p'oof, sro~g
H,.y VII, thai they have washe thel
hand and are worthy again to pc trusted.
No runors of chang, viii SATISFY me.
No DeIphic oracle, telling b.autitul tales
of peace and restoration 20 gentle dec
lsraticns lie those We hear from the other
size Of the Chsmb r, that the poope oil
the South have accepted the results Ct the
war, will suffice. know tn y have accep
ted the results OF war-as Buckner accep
ted them at Fort DoLeson as Penn erton
accepted them at Vicksburg rs Lee accep
ted them last April in Virginia.
Ihastea TO sss", Mr.. Speaker, that do
not expect seyen million men to change
their hearts-:o love what they hated and
hate what they loved-on the issue Of a
battle. Nor are we set up as q judge
over their beliefs, ir loves, or their hat
reds. Oar duty is to demand that before
We admit them they shall give US sufficient
assurance that whatever they may think,
believe, or wish, their actions in The future
shall be such ss loyal men can approve.
What have they done to give US that
assurance7
hold in my hand. Mr.. Speaker, pro
clamation issued few days since by Ben
jaman G. Humphreys, late general in the
rebel army, now the military governor OF
Mississippi, which will illustrate the spirit
10 which it is desired to administer the
affairs Of recognized Mississippi. He
says:
Whereas section six Of an act Of the Legis
iature of the State Of Mississippi, entitled An
act authorizing the issuance OF treasury notes
as advance upon cotton, approved Dec. 18th,
1861, provides that whenever the present
blockade Of the ports Of the Confederate States
shall be removed, &c, &C.
Now, therefore. j, Benjamin g. Humphreys
Governor of the State Of Mississippi. by virtue
of the authority vested in me by the coostitu
tion and laws OF said State, do hereby proclaim
that the blockade of the ports of the Confed
crate States has been removed and / do re
uuire all persons to whom advances have beer
made to deliver the number Of bales of cotton
upon which they have received an advance. ia
accordance with their respective receipts on file
IN the auditors Office, witk:n ninety days frJm
the date Of this proclamation.
Now, what does that meant That he
recognizes as valid the acts OF tue Legis
laturs of the late rebel State Of Mssssip.-
cad of the confederate States. and bases
bis proclama ion thereon. This proca
nation Only reached Us few days ago.
And yet there are members Of this House
who ash us to admit the Representatives
Of Mississippi at once.
Now, Mr.. Speaker. In the neighboeine
State of Virginia law has ! tcly beer
passed which declares certain negroes
vsgrants, and provides that as penalty
they may be sold iuto slavery. Msjo
General Terry, o, the Gath of January
issued his military order mulIifying ,ha
law. Is that civil government in wbicl
tnc military uutnOrlIIts auToSatc tuc ia"s
Are the men who make such laws worth,
of our confdencei / say again, the case /
against them, the burden Of proofs OF
their shoulders. They must purge them
selves before / can consent TO let them in
How stands the case 10 Tennessee. th'
least treasouable of alli 10 a letter I'D
dressed to yourself. Mr.. Speaker, under
date Of January Is, 1866, after pleading
for the admission Of the delegation from
that State, Governor Brownlo says:
Not man south OF Tennessee should be ad
mitted until those States manifest less Of the
spirit of rebellion, and elect more loyal set
Of mes aDd men who can take the con
gressiOnal test oath, which bat Few OF ,host
elected can do.
II the removal OF the Federal troops frou
Tennessee must necessarily follow upon tn
admission OF our congressional delegation l.
their seats, why, then, and in that case, th
loyal men of Tennessee, beg to Le withou
Representatives In Congress. But our mem
bers can be admitted, q military force Tetaine
sufficient TO govern and control the rebellion
Il tell you, and through you, all whom it ma
concern, that without law to dsiranchi'
rebels, and force TO carry out the proVisihI