The Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Ohio) 1863-1886, 1866-08-23
synopsis Of Q the Address.

thousand words; and will make moi
far from four solid columns in the New
| York morning papers. 1t demand.
the universal acknowledgment of the
Legitimate consequences of the war
which are the perpetual maintenance
lof the Union, and the destruction ol
Eslavery. ss.t.
1t asserts next that the government
acquired no new rights or power by
the war, that 1t acted only on the do.
fensive Congress had passed reso-
luton that when the war closed all
the powers and dignity of the States
should remain unimpaired and intact
The power assumed by the govern.
ment in the States since the war closed
was in violation OF the Constitution.
The Constitution declares that no
State shall without its own consent be
deprived OF its equal representation
in the Senate The action of Congress
denying representation to the South
ern States appears as great an effort to
overthrow the Government as was
that by armed rebellion, lfone Congress
can exclude on one pretext, another
Congress may exclude other States on
another. There is no warrant for this
in the Constitution
Not only cannot Representatives be
excluded from Congress. but no State,
without its own consent, can be do
prived of its equal representation in the
Senate, even by an amendment of the
Constitution. The only pretext for
the action of Congress is, that the
States lately in rebellion have lost
their right of representation, which
the supreme government only can re-
store. But as principle that no right
can be forfeited, nor can the right or
duty of State, to be represented in
Congress, be impaired by rebellion,
only its enjoyment of that privilege
can be obstructed.
The address further asserts that the
position of Congress in the matter is
not warranted by the Constitution, and
is not compatible with the public safe
ty 1t says also that three.fourths OF
the loyal States cannot change the fun.
damental law affecting the hers, and
that we have no right to pass judg-
ment upon the motives of any citizen
Of the United States when his acts arc
loyal Nowhere are the laws now
obcycd better than in the States lately
in rebellion.
The obstructioEs that have occurred
were due as much to injudicious politi.
cal movements as any purpose OF hos
tility to the Government. If the peo-
pie of the South show less disposition
than formerly to acquiescc in the new
order of affairs. II is because Congress
has withheld their rights from them
If they felt otherwise they would be
denominated unworthy sons OF their
sires.
No people ever existed whose loyal
ty would not have been impaired by
such treatment. Tho people of the
South would not be worthy to be
trusted in the exercise of their rights
if they were willing to submit TO such
humiliation These men acted as they
did, either from conviction of right
or because they were under compulsion
For this they have suffered tenfold
more than those who have remained
in allegiance.
| The address pledges their future
obedience TO the laws II ADDS that
the war has swept away slavery, the
cause of sectional variance and hostil'
ities, and has revealed and disciplined
our power The address directs at
tention to the fact that new Con
gress is soon to be elected, and adds
that if the present policy be pursued
civil war may be renewed, and calls
upon every Congressional district tc
return only mombers who are favora
bic TO the Presidents policy Of restora
tion. t ,,-...