Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1866-12-14


ts1at If was not crime in asserting
that il is tyranny to punish it. This
Is just what the rebels claim, and they
spurn the imputation of guilt as hu-
initiating. This is just what they claim
ed IN 1860. and used 1t as an excuse
for secession. In short, iFthe Herald's
theory i correct that matorities are
'tyrannieal and wicked" 1t Is right to
resist them and rebellion Is not a crime
Il was not a crime IN 1861 aud Is not a
crime now. Every rebel is just as good
as loyal citizen aud entitled to the
same rights.
But our law. and the law of all
civilized nations adjudges that rebel
+ lion IS crime, working the forfeiture
of all rights, even the right to life.
/ The voice Of the majority has nit
/ igated this penalty and upon mild and
magnanimOus terms offered to restore
the rebels to every forfeited right. So
much for the tyranny Of the majority.
But by the advice Of the Democratic
party the rebels spurn the terms offer
ed and the Herald excuses them for
It. The President, who pretends to
( be the people S servant, refuses 20 con
cur in their decision and joins the
Herald and its party IN insisting that
the rebellion shall be treated as though
NOT crime. The case, therefore.
stands, the President, the rebels and
the Democratic party against tho peo-
4 pie. So far the latter have triumphed
anil the Herald sets down the result
as tyranny. We set it down as the tri-
umph of devoted loyalty and humane
justice
I But the Herald excuses the rebels
( for rejecting the Amendment on still
another ground. Not only Is the
measure a tyrannical one but, it ar
] gues, the Southern States have the
option Of rejecting It. This tyranny
of the Northern people Is very singu-
Tar indeed If the concessions it asks
may he granted or denied as the South
ern rebels please. But we join issue
with the Herald. We deny their r5ght
10 reject fhe Amendnse,l It is the
business Of che loyal people and not
the rebels TO reconstruct the country.
Things have come to a pretty pass In
deed IF traitors are to prescribe the pun
ishment OF treason and dictate the
terms upou which they shall be res
tored 70 the privileges OF law-abiding
citizens.
But. inquiries the Herald, in what
capacity do the States South reject this
proposed amendment? Is it in the ca
pacity of State. territory or subiuga-
ted province ?" We answer, neither,
but in the capacity Of criminals with
ont rights and without government
except such as are conferred upon them
BY a majority Of the loyal people of
/ the country acting through Congress.
The Herald wakes ridiculous IN talk
ing about the reserved rights of
rebels. They have but one reserved
right-the right TO he hung. If this
is not 50 how have they recovered their
rights? Certainly not by voluntarily
ceasiug the work of rebellion. Ger
tainly not by demonstrations of loyal
ty. Certainly not BY voluntary pro-
lection Of the freedmen. Certainly
not by acknowledging they were at
fault or giving any pledge of future
good conduct Certainly not by any
formal confession Of the paramount
authority of the Federal Government.
or of the essential heresy of secession.
But, viii say the Herald, the Presi-
dent has proclaimed peace and that
puts all things In statu quo. Not at
all Peace cannot be restored by proc
lamation. Rebels cannot be ehsDged
into loyal citizens or clothed with the
rights Of such by a Presidential mani
festo. Any such attemp upon the part
of the President is an usurpation, aud
is void Of legal effect.
Il Again, we win be told that the act
Offering the Constitutional Amend
1nent for the acceptance of the insur-
gent States presumes their right to
4 reject it. By no means. That would
/ give a remarkable discretion to whip
ped rebels. Their ratification of the
measure can confer no validity upon it
except in the form of law. 1t is asked
from them as proof of loyalty, renun-
citation of treason, and a pledge against
j repetition of rebellion, rather than as
a means Of making it a part of the
Constitution. The tyrannical MAORI
, ty the Herald speaks of has maguani-
mously extended this Amendment to
the insurgent- States that by laying
hold of it they may restore themselves
to the rights of loyalty. 1t is like a
rope thrown from ship to a drown
ing man, and by which, if he will take
hold of it, be may be drawn up and
resume his place on deck with his
comrades. But how could he expect
Il to be rescued unless he viii avail ilIiiUI=
self of the means kindly offered him !?
I So the Southern rebels must do some
thing upon their part to regain the
rights of loyalty. Neither the Presi-
dent, Congress, nor the army can by
proclamation, legislation OF force
change them into loyal citizens unless
they themselves will it.
/ But we are reminded that they have
already accepted the Amendment abol-
ishing slavery. True, but slavery was
IN fact as much abolished before they
accepted that amendment as afterward.
Besides, the loyal people have adjudg-
ed that acceptance not sufficient proof
or pledge Of loyalty With good rea-
son. they demand something more
They have also decided that the ac-
ceptanee of the amendment abolishing
slavery has not restored the insurgent
+ States to their full rights in the Union.
Hence, in the judgment of the people
the acepDtance of these States was Dot