American citizen. [volume] (Butler, Butler County, Pa.) 1863-1872, 1866-07-25
sanctuary of both military and civil pow

onait ANtVbAtct OC oudbtS W ASH~~s
their treason against our institutions,
while all others are restored to full fei-
lowship, is a policy whose generosity
could emanate only from government
as free and as strong as ours. To put all
the States upon an equality as to the ba-
sis of representation is not only reasona-
BILE, but necessary. Before the rebellion.
three-fifths of the slaves were counted in
estimating representative population.-
Slavery having been abolished, the slave
States, unless the Constitution be amend.
ed as proposed, will be entitled to add
two-ffths of their late slaves in estima-
ting their representative population
Surely we have not carried on bloody
war for four years merely to give the re-
bellious States an increase of political
power. That these States shall have no
more representation, in proportion to their
voting population, thau the old free
States have, is proposition SO just that
it would seem to be impossible for any
freeman of Pennsylvania to object to an
amendment to preventsuch result.
1t just and equitable in every sense,
and, while it leaves the question of suff-
rage wholly with the States, where it
properly belongs, it makes every appeal
to the interests and pride of the States to
literalize their policy, and give to all
classes the benefit of American civiliza-
tion.
That all persons, of whatsoever class,
condition or color, should be equal in
civil rights before the law, is demanded
by the very form of our government;
and it is blistcring stain upon our ma
tionality that slavery has been enabled
even until the noontide of the nineteenth
century, to deform our civil policy, and
in many States to deny equal justice to
large class of voters. To maintain our
national credit, our faith with our woun-
ded and brave soldiers, and to forbid the
assumption of any part of the debt con-
tracted for the rebellion, are propositions
too clearly in harmony with the purposes
of the people and the solemn duty of the
government, to require elucidation.
These are the issues involved in the
proposed amendments. They are intend
ed as guarantees in the future against the
renewal of wrongs already long suffered.
But they are, in fact, elements which
shouldIhave entered into our organtic law,
when the government was framed, in ex-
press terms, as they did in its true spirit.
To effect their adoption, and the restora-
tion ofthe States lately in rebellion upon
the terms proposed, at the earliest possi-
BILE period, is my earnest desire and to
that end my humble efforts will be Civ
en- with untiring zeal to the advocacy of
the proposed amendments, and the sup
port of the candidates who are identified
with them. am glad to know that the
great Union party, that has guided the
government so faithfully, even in the
darkest hour of the war, and through
whose instrumentality the measures were
devised to preserve our beloved Union, is
cordially united in the support Of these
amendments, as also is our distinguished
candidate for Governor-General Geary.
Yielding to no one in veneration for
the great charter of our liberties, i should
not favor changes in its text for light or
trivial causes, but the late rebellion
against the government has made it our
duty TO incorporate into the organic law,
such provisions for the future safety and
prosperity of the republic as have been
indicated py the light of recent expert
ences. The issue is fairly before the
PEI pie
Other issues which in past struggles
divided us have passed away. Slavery
is dead. After a career of mingled pow
er end arrogance it died amidst the throcs
of the cruel war which it originated, and
our Constitution has already been. so
amended as to prohibit forever in the
United States.
The last great struggle to gather the
liberal and just fruition of tho sacrifices
of the late war will be decided by the
verdict Of the people of the several States
in the coming elections, and | cannot
doupt the issue after the fidelity they
have shown in the past. Since the fall
ure of the States to act in concert and at
once on the amendments, | do not regret
that the question of reconstruction goes
to the highest tribunal known to our in
stitutions-th the people. And when they
shall have declared, million tonged, in
favor of the amendments, as l must be-
lieve they will, their admonitions to the
States still struggling to make the war
fruitless will be too potential to be disre-
garded, and the results will be accepted
promtly by friends and foes in the late
war.
Should the loyal, States, or, indeed,
any considerable number of them, unite
in calling extra sessions of their legisla.
tive bodies to ratify the amendments,
shall very heartily unite with them, re.
garding, as do, the speedy adoption of
the amendments as the greatest blessing
that can be bestowed upon our whole
country.
Very respectfully your obcdient SER
want, A. G.. CURTIN.
Col. FIR. Jordan,
Chairman Union State Central Com
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