Smyrna times., 1866-06-20
The Amendment,

In another column we give the joint resolu-
tion proposed as an amendment to the Consti
tuition, which has passed both Houses of Con-
greSs by more than two-thirds maiorities. and
now awaits the endorsement of two-thirds of
the State Legislatures to be made an article
In the Constitution of the United States. 1t
does not require the President $ signature. 1t
passed the Senate by vote of 33 to IL. and
the House by vote of l20 33 Every men,
Der of the House elected as Republican or
Union man voted with the majority, including
Raymond, of New York, Green Clay Smith,
OF Kentucky, Phelps, of Maryland and Whal-
ley OF West Virginia, all of whom have hereto
fore been opposing the measures of the major
lty on reconstruction.
These conditions are considered as mild as it
was possible to make them consistent with the
future security ofthe Government; mider than
those who lately rebelled might have expected.
Ofthe necessity Of some such conditions there
can be no doubt in the mind of any loyal man.
The feeling Of the late rebellious States is that
OF intense regret that they could not succeed
IN their undertaking, and naturally have bit
ter hostility to those controlling the affairs of
the Government Says the Committee ON Re-
construction, 1.-The conciliatory measures of
the Government do not seem to have been met
even halfway. The bitterness and defiance
exhibited towards the United States under SUCH
circumstances is without parallel in the his
tory of the world" There is not only bitter
ness of feeling, but reaffirmation of the prin-
ciples of the rebellion. A. II. Stephens still
holds to the right of secession and the ex.
trene views ON State rights. He has conn.
selled obedience to the Government simply he
cause further resistance is useless. Tn tho
House Of Representatives few DAYS ago. we
find Harris, of Maryland, making the follow
ing remarks:
e lie declared himself an old line Democrat, beIev
ing IN the doctrine OF secession, Tho
eral States Of the UROn have right to DaraIe from
It, each acting iOI itself tie declared his beIief tbo
abuses and usurpations had been pracced and threat
ened TO so great IN extent by their associates and
partners IN this governmental compact that the ou,b
ern >atos were justified in going out and his further
belief that by their ordinances OF ssiOn they did
go out, and thereby became to this Union fOreien
sta'es. These convictions he could not change, nor
did he expect they would ever be removed What
Sir! SAID he that believe them right; that would
have joined them If the sovereign State of MARY
had said SO; TO desert them their utmost need
when can legtlmately give them suCh protection
as is IN nv power honestly 10 givel Never!"
From the expressed opinions of the ex-rebels
themselves it is made evident to Congress tn L
guarantees are necessary for the future peace
of the country. Says A. j. Hamilton, of Tex
as, in addressing the South, "You have made
it necessary for them the Union menl to make
certain requirements of you, and they will do
1t In such manner as they will never be dis
turbed again by rebellion | would do the
same, and so would you if placed in similar
position. You would not permit any State to
go back until you had assurance of the hearty
submission Of the people, in manner not vet
given by the people of Texas" Many men in
the South, unpardoned rebels, like Mr.. Ste
phens, are endeavoring to prevent the Gov
eminent from exacting any security for ;ts
safety, while they reafirm the doctrines that
brought on the rebellion, and demand the nriv.
ilege of a controlling influence in the Union thew
attempted to destroy. Having quit the strug.
gle from sheer exhaustion, is it not nresnma-
be that, holding the same opinions, believing