Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1867-07-09
tFrom the Baltimore Sun.l


The proceedings of the House of Repre-
ssentatives in regard to the Kentucky mem-
0ers indicate that the Union, if the domin-
ant party in Congress be potent enough, Is
70 De reconstructed upon a new principle.
instead of the prospect of the representa-
tlon of the Southern States being improved
oy their endeavors to carry out, in good
faith, the Reconstruction bill, that of the
border States is beginning to be assailed,
and the area of aggression upon civil lib
erty extended. Although Kentucky fur
nlsheu eighty-eight thousand troops to the
Union army, and not half that number to
the Confederate army, yet it was boldly as
serted by Mr.. Logan that Kentucky had
shown herself disloyal during and since
the rebellion, and that therefore the Ken
lucky delegation must go before the COM
mittee on Elections and let their loyalty be
tested. One of these delegates was major
In the Federal army, and another had been
member OF Congress for four years, and
no suspicion of his sounGness was ever ut
tered. Mr.. Marshall, one of the colleagues
OF Mr.. Logan, the most conspicuous in
quisitor of the loyalty of the Kentuckians
expressed his belief that at the commence
ment of the struggle MIR. Logan was hos
tile to the prosecution of the war; but.
Whilst Mr.. Logan made no denial OF 1t, tn,
disclosure caused no abatement of the zeal
with which he followed up the Kentucky
opponents of that measure. There is not
one of the Kentucky members against,
whom there are more serious charges of
disloyalty than there have been against
Mr.. Logan. Mr.. Logan can deny these
charges on the floor of the House, but the
kentuckians have no such chance to vindi-
cate that loyalty which is the burthen Of
Mr.. Logan's song.
Loyalty, like liberty, is much abused
word. As Mr.. Brooks said, there is no
question on which men differ so much as
on the question of loyalty and disloyalty.
Loyalty to the Constitution may be good
for Impeachment, while loyalty to party, in
utter disre gard of the Constitution, will
cover a multitude of sins. When a menu
ber from Tennessee can be admitted who
has been enrolled in the Confederate arm
les, but is loyal to party, and members from
Kentucky are kept out, who, if not loyal to
party, have always been loyal to the coun-
try; when partisan majority assumes To
admit or exclude the representatives of tha
people according as they agree or disagreed
with the opinions of the majority,
precedent is established whicis
the Union, and ought to array
the outraged public sentiment of every
community, which values its independence
and freedom, against an aggression upon
republican institutions which is almos ;
without parallel even in these days G.
revolutionary innovation. They will Sc Z
in this act distinct announcement thu
loyalty to radical domination is the onl,
tenure by which their constitutional righ
are to be held and exercised. The publ
opinion of the country will never, it =
hoped, consent TO the establishment of It
new sovereignty in the shape of a congres'
sional majority, demanding of the ciTize
upon penalty of disfranchisemeut, that
legiance which is due only to the Constitu :
ton. If this principle of action can be al.
piled to one State it may be applied to al +,
other, and so it must come home to the ci, ,
iZens of all.