The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1866-11-03
THE ISSUE.

II We have said elsewhere that the issue upon
which the people must vote next Tuesday,
l. not whether this man or thai man shall be
elected to Office and We have proved that
II il not whether the constitutional amend
ment shall be adopted or rejected. No mat
Der what the vote of Illinois may be next
Tuesday, it can in no way affect that amend
ment.. But the issue il Shall the. late
" rebellious states have rep-esentatich in
Congress in accordance with the reqnire,
ments of the constitution
The people Of those states have ceased to
rebel-the y have laid down their arms and
formally submitted to the authority Of the
government Of tie United States. They
have reorganised theft state governments on
loyal basis. They have wiped from their
statute books every act passed-in supper,
of the rebellion-have re udiated every debt
/ incurred in its account, and have filed every
Office in s,ose states, from Governor down to
constable, with men who have sworn TO sup'
port the government and constitution Of the
United States. All the people of those states
who took up arms against the government,
or who supported or countenanced those who
did, and thus incurred the guilt Of treason.
have been washed and cleansed of the ofense
by the amnesty and pardon Of The President
Of the U, Shy Lincoln as COMMANDMENTS
chief, IN his approval ufthe captulation be-
between Grant and Lee, ard By President
johnson in his amnesty proclamation. Thus
the war is euded-peace restored, and unyer'
sal amnesty and pardon proclaimed.
The southern states have their own Gov>
ernors, legislatures, Judges, local magistrates
and police officers as usual, all swoI and
acting ~ both in ard loyal to the Union.
The state and local courts are open and
move along as usual; tn: 7. S. courts
are open there as usual the custom houses
are open and the excise tax collector moves
among them aud collects his taxes exactly as
in the northern states. In no conceivable
sense is . single southern stale any more ou,
of the Union to-day than massachusetts
is in consequence of having declared herself
out when Texas was annexed.
Then why are all the people of those states
deprived Of representation in Congress? That
traitors may be punished? You have par
doned all the traitors except JEFF Davis and
few others, and who objects 20 Furnishing
them? What has tina. to DO with representa-
tior? Then why are ;hose States deprived
Of representation Simp!y-and we defy
any honest radical to contradict this-si.nply
IN worry flor you cannot force those States
into admitting the negro 10 The right of srf
frage. And why 2 Because the negro is in
anysense fit in:elligen:ly to exercise the right?
No-but because, unless the negro is allowed
to vote and the ex>rehels are disfranchised,
the Republican party Will not only never gaiI
the aIcendency in those States, but may lose
its ascendency in Congress! The Union
mrst remain divided-the prosperity Of the
country checked-a threatened renewal Of
the civil! war hang over ne as pail. that the
Republican party may not lose is aqceadeuey
in the nation!
This is exactly the issue upon which the
people vote next Tuesday. Shall We have
ion-peace-prosperity or shall
we have n-strifs-disunion,
and renewal of the civil war that the corrupt
leaders of the Republican party may remain
in power?