The weekly North-Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 186?-1869, 1867-01-16

States have made an un]uSI wal uPon ou
- government and their sister States, and the
! Sower given by the Constitution to make war
on our part, includes the power to dlctate,
after our success, the terms OF peace and re-
storation. -.
The power of Congress to guarantee to
every State a republican form OF govern
ment. would cover much more cogent action
than has yet been had
The duty imposed upon Congress, to pro-
vide and maintain republican governments
for the States. is to be accepted in the broad
est meaning of the term. 1t is not a mere
formal or unnecessary provision. The power
WAS conferred, and the duty enjoined, to pre-
serve free institutions against all encroach-
ments or the more violent elements OF des-
potism and anarchy. And now that treason
has bv rebellion, subverted the governpents
of n number of States, FORGETTING for the
peoplc all the rights guaranteed by the Con-
stitutlon, including even those OF properly
and life the work of restoration tor these
States rest with the National government,
and If should be faithfully and fearlessly per.
formed.
By their passage by Congress, and the
declaration of the people at the late elections,
the faith of the nation IS pledged 10 the
amendments, and they will be fairly carried
out and their benefits given to the rebeilious
States. But when the amendments snail
have passed into the organic law, should the
people lately In rebellion persist IN their re-
b lection, and in continued disobedience and
the obstruction of the execution OF the ma
tional laws, it will be an admonition to the
nation that the animus and force OF treason
still exist among people who enjoy none OF
the privileges of the government save OF Its
generous tolerance. With their rejection all
hope of reconstruction, with the co-opera-
ton of the rebellious States, on basis that
would secure to the Republic the logical re-
suits of the war, will have vanished, and the
duty must then devolve upon the govern
ment of adopting the most effectual method
to secure for those States the character OF
governments demanded by the Constitution
They are without lawful governments;
thev are without municipal law, and with
out any claim to participate in the govern
ment.
On what principle of law or justice can the
rebelious States complain, if after they have
rejected the fair and magnanlmous terms
upon which they are offered brotherhood
with US. and participation in all the bless
ings of our freedom and they have refused,
if the government, in the exercise of its pow
ers, should enter anew upon the work Of re-
construction at the very foundation, and then
the necessity will be forced upon us to dis
criminate in favor of the enemies OF our
nationality, to give us and them enduring
freedom and impartial justice.
The Constitution has defined treason, and
has given express power to suppress insur-
rection, by war, if necessary. 1t has not
provided, in detail, the terms to be granted
after such war. How could II do so ! 1t
would probably not be contended by the
widest partisan that these States had
right to be represented in Congress at time
when they were carrying on open war against
the government, or that Congress was not
then lawful body, Notwithstanding their
e, clusion. How then have they regained
the right of representation Surely not by
simply laying down their arms when they
could no longer hold them. The United
States have the right, and it is their duty to
exact such securities for future good conduct
as they may deem sufficient; and the often
ders, from whom they are to be exacted, can
have no right to participate in our councils
in the decision of the question of what their
punishment shall be.
Practically, common sense determined the
question of their rights so to participate,
when Congress proceeded in the enactment
of laws, after the surrender of the last Rebel
military force. 1t was determined again,
when the now pending amendments were
proposed by Congress. If two-thirds of
Congress, as now constituted, could lawfully
propose those amendments, then three-fourths
of the States, not excluded from representa-
ton in Congress, form a sufficient majority
to effect their lawful adoption. 1t was de-
termined again by the formal sanction of
both the great political parties, when Con-
gress, by an almost unanimous vote, declar-
ed the rebellious States without the right of
representation in the Electoral College in
1854 .r ..
We ought to go on resolutely and rapidly
with all measures deemed necessary to the
future safety of the country, so that all parts
of it may, at the earliest day, be restored to
just and equal political privileges.