The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1866-08-07

laws are faithfully executed, it is the official
duty of the President to know whether rebel
lion has been suppressed, and whether the au-
tbority of the Constitution and laws of the u nj
ted States has been comp letely restored and
firmly established.
The mere organization of republican gov
ernmeut, in harmony with the Union, by the
people of one of the existing States OF the United
States, requires 20 enabling act OF Congress,
and can find nc authority in the Constitution
for any interference by Congress to prohibit or
regulate the organization of such "a government
by the people of an existing State OF the Union.
On the other hand, it is clearly necessary that
the President should act, SO far, at least, as to
remove out of the way military restrictions on
the power of the people to assemble and do those
acts which are necessary to reorganize their
government This, | think, he was bound to
do as soon as be became satisfied that the right
time had come.
After much reflection, and with no such par
tiaty for Executive power would be likely
to lead me astray, 1 have formed the opinion
that the Southern States now as ri ghtfully,
and should be as effectually, in the Union as
they were before the madness of their people
attempted to carry them out OF 1t; and In this
opinion / believe majority of the people OF
the Northern States agree.
The work the people are waiting to have done
this Convention may greatly help. LII 1t VIII
elevate itself above sectional passions, ignore all
party schemes, despise the sordid and party
scramble for Offices, and fairly represent the ma
tona! instinct that the time now is when com
plete Union of all the States is fact which it
is crime not to accomplish, its action cannot
fail to be beneficial to our country.
The passions generated in great and divl-
ded people by long and bloody civil are
deep and Formidable They are not cohfined
to section; the victors as we'll the van
qhished, are swayed by them. They connect
themselves with the purest aud tenderest sensl-
billlies of our nature; with our love of country;
with our love of those who have. laid down their
lives in the contest; with the sutferings witch
war, in multiplied forms, always brings to the
homes of men, and still more to the homes of
women, and which civil war, most of all, brings
to the homes Of all; and these passions are The
sharp and ready tools of party spirit, of self In
terest, of perversity, and, most Of all, of that
fierce intatuation which finds its best satisiac
ton in hatred, and its only enjoyment in re-
venge.
No statesman who is acquainted with the ma
ture of man and the necessities of civil govern
ment can contemplate such passions without the
deepest concern, or fail to do what he fifty nay
prove to be, at the best. But scrupuous re-
gard tor the rights Of all, and magnanimcus
clemency are twice blessed; they both elevate
and soften the powerful, aud they reach and
subdue what laws aud bayonets cannot control.
believe there is now general conviction
among the people that this great and difficult
work is practicable. That it will long remain
SO, if the present state Of things continues, [
have not the hardihood to trust l look to this
Convention with hope that it will do much to
help onward this instructive desire of the people
of the United States for union and harmony aud
peace. That it will assert, strongly aud clearly,
those principles which are the foundations of
our Government; that it will exhibit the
nection between their violation and the present
distracted condition Of our country; that it will
rebuke the violence of party spirit, and espe-
cially of that spirit of hatred which is as incon-
sistent with the true love of our country it is
with the true love Of our brethren; and that it
will do much to convince the people of the
United States that they must act soon, in the
wisest way, suffer evils which they and their
posterity will long deplore.
With great respect, l am your obedent SER
want, 3. r. CURTIS.