Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1866-08-23
80 rUo CAMPAIGN PAPERS

rHE TWO CAMPAIGN PAPhhs
Tho Constitutional Amendment
- Aad,ess issued by the fh'iaae'-
anu N.s.;or. The former is text for
1Tn;or advocacy the latter is the AcknowI-
edged platform of those who propose TO
n endeavor to defeat the regular
TTrion organization, and as such affords
an unexpected power to the favorers OF the
Amendment. With these W documents.
the first being officially declared, in con-
v~ention, the embodiment, the conclusion
Of the Reconstruction plan Of the Union
party, the field for the Fall fight is clear
and the supporters OF the Government can
rally in harmony and with confidence OF
victory. Nothing but gross mismanaSe-
men,, nothing shor, Of an Endorsement oy
the State Convention of the Thad. Stevens
MANS. will prevent or endanger the sue
cess of the Union party Of Nevada at the
polls next November.
We have heretofore improved several
occasions to comment on the several sec
tons of the Constitutional Amendment :
and we now propose to briefly draw at
tention to the paper which is to constitute
the basis for political argument of opp Os-
ing direction:
Here is a specimen from the Philadel-
phia Address:
We deny the right Of Congress to make
these changes in the fundamental law
without the concurrence of three-fourths
of all the States, including especially those
TO be mos. seriously affected by them, or
10 impose them upon States or people as
conditions Of representation or OF admiS-
sion TO any of the rights, duties or obliga-
tons which belong under the Constitution
10 all the States alike; and with still
greater emphasis do we deny the right Of
any portion Of the States, excluding the
rest Of the States from any share in their
councils, 10 propose or sanction changes
in the Constitution which may affect per-
manently their political relations and con-
troll or coerce the legitimate action of the
ctNGEhI LuCu1OGEs VI ~ OAAAAO AAct
Such exercise of power is simply usurpa-
ton.
Il will be observed that a portion Of this
" denial is TO a Radical" plan of re-
construction, which Congress rejected, and
so is OF no force in a political discussion
where Radical" doctrines are not
affirmed. But it will be observed that the
address expressly denies the validity Of
the adoption and submission Of the Con-
ssitutional Amendment. 1t calls the pas
sage Of the Amendment by Congress a
"usurpation !" And, unless We are
greatly misinformed by the telegraph, this
name is pronounced BY Reverdy Johnson
and Henry J. Raymond, among others;
the latter having voted for the Amend
mens and advocated it, while both intro
duced measures, urged the passage of and
voted upon large appropriation bills-and
drew their regular stipend during the first
session of the present Congress. 1t seems
to US that this simple illustration OF per-
soual consistency should be recited at this
place. in way of exhibiting the heartless-
ness Of the attempt made by the Philadel-
phia Convention to produce anarchy IN
this country. Congress cannot do any
thing in legislation until the lately rebel
lious States are admitted into practical
relations" and what has been done
toward the submission to the States Of a
Constitutional Amendment is null and
voidl Then is every Act and resolution
OF the Thlrty-ninsh Congress null
and of no effect. And the ut
utterly destructive and infamous char
ac,er OF such a declaration is set forth in
the following paragraph from the Report
Of the Congressional Reconstruction
Committee:
1. is moreover contended, and with ap-
parent gravity. that, from the peculiar ma
ture and character Of our government, no
such right on the part Of the conqueror
can exist; that from the moment when
rebellion lays down its rms and actual
hostili,ies cease, all political rights Of re-
bellious communities are at once restored;
that, because the people OF a State of the
Uuion were once an organized community
within the Union, they necessarily so re-
main, and their right TO be represented in
Congress at any and all times, and to
participate in the government Of the coun-
try under all circumstances, admits Of
neither question nor dispute. II this is
indeed true, then is the government Of the
United States powerless for its own pro-
lection, and fragrant rebellion, carried to
the extreme Of civil war, is q pastime
which any State can play at, not only GER
tain that il can lose nothing in any event,
but may even be the gamer by defeat. II
rebellion succeeds. it accomplishes its
purpose and destroys the government. If
fails, the war has been barren of results,
and the battle may be still fought out in
the legislative halls of the country. Trea-
son, defeated IN the field, has only to take
possession Of Congress and the Cabinet.
Here is a quotation from the concluding
part Of the Address, to which we call par
ticular attention
II that Congress shall perpetuate this
policy, and by excluding loyal States and
people from representation in its halls
continue the usurpation by which the
legislative power Of the Government are
now exercised, common prudence compels
US to anticipate augmented discontent-a
sullen withdrawal from the duties and
obligations Of the Federal Government
internal discussions and general collision
OF sentiments and %pretensions which NAV
renew, IN a still more fearful shape, the
civil war from which we have Just emerged,
We call upon you to interpose your power
70 prevent the occurrence Of so transcend.
emit q calamity.
- Does not this alleged compelled antici.
patton read like 4 threat of the "ciyil
war;" virtually proclaiming that if rebels
are not forthwith admitted in Congress
the "transcendent calamity" will again
Whist speech is this, coming from
Orr, Of South Carolina, and late confed-
crates in the councils of treason' Rebels
threatening to again rebel, if they are not
admitted to q place Of power in the Union
where they can render second rebellion
unnecessary, by neutralizing every effort
to punish or stipmatize treason AZ IL de-