Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1866-09-08

they have already paid tho most fearful pen
altics that can fall on offending States, in the
losses, the sufferings, and tho humiliations of
unsuccessful war.
But whatever may be the guilt or the pun
ishmcnt of the conscious authors of the insur-
rcction, candor and common Justice domand
the concession that tho great mass of those
who become involved in its responsibility acted
upon what they beloved to be their duty, in
defence of what they had been taught to be-
lieve their rights, or under couipulson,
physical and moral, which they were powerless
to resist.
Nor can it be an,iss to remember that, ter
riblc as havo been the bcreavements and tho
losses of this war, they have fallen exclusively
upon neither section, and upon neither party;
that they have fallen with far greater weight
upon those with whom the war began. That
in tho death Of relatives and friends, the dis.
pcrsion Of families the disruption of social sys-
TENS and social ties; overthrow Of Govern
mcnts, Of law, and of property, and of order;
the destruction of property, and of forms, and
modes, aud means of industry; the loss of pos
litcal, commercial and moral influence, in
every shape and form which great calamitics
can assume, the States and people which en-
gagged in tho war against tho Government of
the United States have suffered tcn-fold more
than those who remained in allegiance to the
Constitution and laws.
These considerations may not, as they Ger
talnly DO not, justify the action Of tho people
OF the insurgcnt States; but no just or gcn.
crous MUD will refuse to them very con.idcr-
able weight in determining the line of con-
duct which the Government of the United
States should pursue towards them. They
accept, if not with alacr;ty, certainly without
sOllrn rnecntmcnt Tho 3nc,,t ,od ~ 80 -,
they have sustained. They acknowledge and
acquesce in the result, to themselves and the
country, which that defeat involves. They no
niger claim for any State the right to sccedc
from the Union. They no longer assert for
any State an allegiance paramount to that
which is due to the General Governments
They have accepted the destruction Of slave
ry, abolished it by their State Constitution,
and concurred with the States and people Of
the whole Union in prohibiting its existence
forever upon the soil or within tie Jurisdiction
of the United States. They indicate and
evince their purpose just So fast as may be pos
siblo and safe to adapt their domestic laws to
the changed condition of their society. and to
secure by the law and it's tribunals equal and
impartial justice to all classes of their inhabi
tants. They admit the invaldity of all acts
of resistance to the national authority, and of
all debts incurred in attempting its overthrow.
They avow their willingness to share the bur-
dcns and discharge all tho duties and obliga-
tions which rest upon them in common with
other States and other sections of the Union,
and they renew. through their representatives
in this Convention, by all thoir public con-
duct in every way, and by the most solemn
acts by which States and societies cun pledge
their faith, their engagement to hear true
faith and allegiance, through all time to come,
to the Constitution Of the United States, and
to all laws that may be made in pursuance
thereof
Fellow 'countrymcn, we call upon you, in
full reliance upon your intelligence and patri-
otisn,, to accept with generous and ungrudg-
ing confidence this full surrender on the part
OF those lately in arms against your authority,
AND to share with them The honor and rcnown
th"t awaits those who bring back peace and
concord to jarring States.
The war just closed all its sorrows
and disastcrs-has opened new career of
glory to the nation it has saved. 1t has swept
away the hostilitics of sentiment and Of into
rest which were standing menace to its peace.
1t has destroyed the institution Of slavery
always cause of sectional agitation and strife
and has opened to our country the wny to
unity of interest," of principle and of action,
through all time to come. 1t has developed
in both sections military capacity and apt-
tude for achievements Of war, both by sen and
land, before unknown even to ourselves, and
destined to exercise hereafter, under united
councils, an important influence upon the char
actcr and destiny of the continent and the
world And whilo it has thus revealed, dis.
ciplined and compactcd our power, it has
proved to us, beyond controversy or doubt, by
the course pursued towards both oontcnding
scctions by foreign powers, that VIC must be
the guardians Of our own independence, and
that the principles of republican freedom We
represent can find among the nations of the
earth no friends or defenders but ourselves.
We call upon you, therefore, by every con-
sideratOn of your own dignity and safety. md