The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1866-06-28
DAILY ARGUS.
ID. DAH1oArH, n, np1roR
thursday Evening. June 20.
|RECONsTRUCTION.
THE MINORITY REPORT.
Plea for the COnsti-
tuition.
b Right of Admission Fully Dem :
Onstrated.
AN ELOQUENT DOCUMENT.
THE MINORITY REPORT.
AN ELOQUENT DOCUMENT.
(continued)
PROTECTION TO CITIZENS.

kh the obligation which the government is
Der to each citizen of a state. Protection
bach is part Of that obligauon-prosection
only as against foreign but domestic
To hold that it is in the power of any part
he people of a state, whether they consti-
majority or a minority, by engaging in
4nrrection and adopting any measure in its
secution, to make citizens who are not en-
ed in it, but are opposed to 1t, enemies of
nited States, having no right to the pro-
Won which the constitution affords to citi-
EN who are true to their allegiance, is rs
EaIfal as it Is flagrantly unjust. During the
lflict, the exigency may justify denial OF
Hill protection, and subject the unofending
Hfan to inconvenience or loss !; but the con-
12Sover, the exigency ceases, and the obi
sSn to afford him ell the immunities and
ssntages of the constitution one OF which is
Eight to be represented In congress) be-
|Jses absolute and imperative. A different
|M would enable the government to escape
II Near duty and to commit gross violation
1S8e constitution. 1t has been said that
EIAupreme court have entertained differ
STaoctrine in the prize cases. This, In the
lion OF the undersigned, is clear misap.
Lime of the questions In those cases was
ssther in such contest as was being waged
bhe extingnishment of the instruction,
II gerent rights, as between the United
4Nes and other nations, belonged to the for
III The court properly held that they did
1.-THE parties engaged in the rebellion were
4gnated in their opinion as traitors, and
lie to be tried as traitors when the rebel
NH should terminate. IF the confederate
u ss, by force of instruction, became for
HM states, and lost their character as states
Me Union, then the contest was an inter
&onal one, and treason was no more COM
II led by citizens of the former against the
er than by those of the latter against
HI b of the former. Treason necessarily as
es allegiance to tbs government, Meth
4Fedicament was true, except upon the ny
A esis that the old state of things contin-
AE in other words, that the states, notwith-
ding the instruction. were continuously
are now states of the United States, and
4 % citizens responsible TO the constitution
aIt the laws.
#8sssHE PRESENT CONDITION OF THE STATES.
iAlacond. What is there then In the present
INSTRUMENTATION of such states that .lustifies
iii ..r exclusion from representation in con
Tia? Is it because they are without organ
VIII governments, or without government
d ktblican in point of form? In fact, WI
sss3fttw that they have governments completely
hl4nized with legislative, executive, and ia
nal functions. We know that they ar'
lFa, 10 successful operation no one within
dsaf limits questions their legality Or Is de
FsS: their protection. How they were form
u sandsr what auspices they were formed
III q, nquiries, with which congress has no con
The right of she people Of state 4
II Hi government for themselves has never
iii IN questioned. In the abssnse OF any re
II ietion, that right should be absolute; an,
III u could be adopted .by then. that they
NE hit determine upon. The constitution
b foses but single restriction upon suct
III, that the government adopted shall b
aRrepublican form" and this is done in tn
u cation to guarantee every state such
80 It gives no power to form q constItu
HSM Or q state Il operates alone upon On
!ssssldy formed by the state. In the word
NE FederolistN No AL sit supposes a pre-
a8Y4sing governments of the form which is t
A5nssuaranteed." 1t is not pretended that tn
Thing governments of the states in quet
NIL hare not of the required form. The ohjee
His that they were not legally established
|ss Fit is confidently submitted that that is
or with which congress has no concern
'3e III power to establish Or modify state gov
bent belongs exclusively 20 the people Q
IlA 4sstate When they shall exercise il, nov
A5H shall exercise it, what provisions it shall
f9ssss ain, it isstheir exclusive right to decide
Iasasn when decided their decision is obiigatc
4klRn every body, and independent of all con
III Esional control, if such government be Q
tblicGh form. To convert al ohllgatlo
8#saaarantee into an authority to interfere i
as1&tway in the formation of the government
;a1&e guaranteed ia to do violence to lar
LIE. If it be said that the president di
&&gallv interfere in the organization of sue
mi tarnment, the answers are obvious. FRS
MI twas, if the people Of such states not onl
llssaaM not, but do not complain of it, but o
contrary have pursued his advice, en-
6N1, Satlsfied with and are living under th
EAs4 srnment they have adoptedS and tho:
#43Arnmsnts are republican in form, VIII:
y &E has congress to interfere, or deny the
m existence? Second: eonoeding, for q
ssaj 5sns's sake, that the presidents aiiege
kferenee was unauthorized. does IL no
9zM for the same reason, follow that any liz
Indifference would be equally unauthorized
H1f zfsrent view is not to be maintained, b
#tkt e of the difference ia the nature of I'll
Asars conferred upon congress and tt
a5E Iident, the one being legislative and ii
#A * executive. For 1t 10 equally, and upo
|A Same grounds, beyond the scope OF eitht
nj srm a government for the people of
aRSsAD once in the Union, Or to expel such
H5ftiA from the Union, or to dsny temperate
31ssermanently the rights which belong to
il sYs, and her people under the eonstitutio
Ea3 THE POWERS OF CONGRESS-.
Aasngress may admit new states, but
Il s1sh once admitted ceases to be within i
\ n krol, and can never again be brought witt
n Nh What changes her people may at an
k,sI5is think proper to make In her constltutlo
Iaa matter with which neither congress M
M department OF the govt can lnterfer
q #sss such changes make the state govern
atis anti-repubiioan, and then 1t can onl
III hade under the obligation to guaranse
AL HI it be republican.
IL IND hatever may be the extent of the powe
's;faierred upon congress in the Sd SEQ. art
AfsR. of the constitutional admit new states
sss What manner, and to what extent they car
L lSsr that power, interfere IN the formatio
sF3I character of the constitution of snc
II ps preliminary to admission into me On
A mo one has ever pretended that when tia
u n Mission is had, the state can again \
! SSI aght within it's influence. The power
kusted, when once extended the suhle
HI awith raising out of it's reach. The stat
4 Raitted, like the original thirteen states, b
Ef88A at once and forever, independent !,