The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1866-06-06

view to prevent the masses of the people of
secesdsd states from elesting members of con-
gress or taking part in the nexs presiden
election, the ever infamous star-cham Der ca
bal prescribed. in effect, with that amazing
efrontery that Distinguishes Mr.. Stevens. that
the people OF the, seeded states should not
vote at oil for members of congress or presi-
dental electors until 1870. The country re-
voitcd at this in manner that might have
bsen anticipated upon ordinary ideas of a
tolerable confidence in human nature. The
common mind said that it was adding insult
70 INJURY to ask a people to accept q proposed
constitutional disability, which with it carri-
Cd the humiliating fact of self-degradation.-
Under these circumstances of popular anger
towards congress the managers in the senate
have cunnlngly sought to effect the same OBJ.
ject by that indirection, which Mr.. Stevens.
be it said to his credit, seorus and contemns.
The following is the senate lure:
sNo person shall be a senator or representa-
tive IN congress-, or elector of president or vice
president, or hold any office, civil or military un-
der the United States, who wing previously taken
an oath as member of congress or officer of the
United States, or as member of any state leeis-
iature, or as executive or judicial officer of any
| state, to support the constitution of the United
States, shall have engaged in instruction or re-
bellion against the same, given aid or comfort
| to the enemies thereof; but congress may, by a
vote OF two-thirds OF each house, remove such dis
| ability.''
The number that will be included In the
above list In state would be enormous We
could by possibility conceive of O high ton.
| ed people, under some circumstances of over
whelming public necessity, ADVOCATING for a
time indefeasible rights, though the mass OF
them would not expose others-their peers
or even men of greater years and houors-
| in for fhap,Sa tahl
cured bad eminence. But this is just what
the people of the rebel states are asked to dc
II. e., to prescribe large portion OF their
own citizens. They might say to the public
| executoners in congress, strike the blow as
you please and upon whom you please, but
save US from shooting down our neighbors u,
felons.
We are not sufficiently familiar with tn,
texture of southern governmental establish
ments to know what portion of the people O
the several states would be brought to degra
dation by tho imagined success of the sersato
rial rescript The case of Maryland woult
probably apply to all. So considered, how
many persons in the city of Bsltimor
would be prescribed? How many men ar
there in that city, for instance, aoho, before til
rebellion, had, an some sort of Office state o
national, stgorn to support the constitution o
the United States Some thousands we i'm
agne. Including former municipal officer
of all kinds, are there not thousands in tn
state of Maryland who would come under tn
proscriptive axe? What class would be in
cluded under tho ban ? Certainly all VIII
,, have been governors, state executive Official:
senators and assemblyme with their officers
T judges magistrates F.; sheriffs aud their der
, uties clerks OF courts constables distrlc
attorneys; commissions of all kinds asse.
sors !; collectors, and perhaps militia officer.
: Who supposes that the community at larg
: in Maryland would disgrace themselves b
e any act Of their own to prescribe such men
$ generally the older and more sedats porto
of the community? To do this would be ,
set father against son. relative against rel,
tive, neighbor against neig & Dor, TREAD again
{ friend. No. no! The exac,iUns of the col
;, gressional junto In the senate degrade an
y shame human nature itself.-National Int
I ligencer.