The Conservative. (M'connelsville, Ohio) 1866-1871, 1867-12-12


be justified, If it be said that we are
not bound to keep faith with rebels.
Let it be remembered that this promise
was not made to rebels only. Thou
sands of true men in the South were
drawn to our standard by it, ana hun
dreds of thousands in the North gave
their lives IN belief that il would be
carried out. IL was made on the day
after the first great battle Of the war
had been fought and lost. All patriotic
and intelligent men then saw the ne
cessity Of giving such an assurance, and
believed that without it the war would
end in disaster TO our cause. Having
gwen that assurance in the extremity
OF our peril, the violation Of it now
would endangcr our power, and would
he rude bending Of that good faith
which holds u moral world togctheJ
our country would cease to have any
claim upon the confidence of men. 1t
would MAKE the war not only failure,
but a fraud.
Beng sncerely convinced that these
views are correct, | would he untaith
ful to my duty if | did not recommend
repeal Of the acts Of Congress which
place ten of the Southern States under
the domination Of military masters. II
calm reflection shall satisfy majority
of your honorable bodies tha: tho acts
referred to are not only violation OF
the National faith, but in direct conflict
with the Constitution, | dare not pcr.
NIT myself TO doubt that you will inn
mcdatcly strike them from the statute
! book. To demonstrate the uncOnsJtu-
! uOuOl character OF those acts, ! need
DO no moro than refer to their general
provisions. IL must be seen at once
that they are authorized to dictate
what alterations shall be made in the
! Constitutions of the several States, to
control the elections OF State Legislators
and State officers, members Of Congress
aud electors OF President and Vice
President hy arbitraiiIy iIy declaring who
shall vote and NhO shall be excluded
from that privilege; to dissolve State
Legislatures on prevent them from as
sembliug; 10 dismiss Judges and other
evil fuhctiCnarics Of State, and APP
point others without regard TO State
law; TO organize and operate all the
political machinery Of the States; TO
regulate tho whole Administration OF
their domestic and local affairs, accord.
ing TO thc>mcre will of strange nRd ir-
responsible agents sent among them for
that purpose. These are powers not
granted to the Federal Government, OF
to any one Of It's branches. Not being
granted, NC violate our trust 10y as
suming them ns paIpably as we would
by acting in the face Of positive IN
tcrdict; for the Constitution torbids us
to do whatever it docs not affirmative
~ authorize, either bv express words
or by clear implication. IL the au-
thOriy we desire to use does docs not
come through .hc Constitution, VIZ car
exercise 1t only by usurpation, anc
usurpatiah is tie most dangerous o
political crimes. BY that crime enc
mics Of free government IN all age!
have worked out their designs agalns
public liberty aud private right. |
leads directly and Immediately To th'
establishment OF absolute rule, iur un'
delegated power, and rs always un
limited ana unrcstraned. The acts o
, Congress in question arc not only OBJ
> iectonnble for their assumption of un
e granted power, but many OF their pro
visions are in conflict with the direC
, prohibitions of the Constitution.
, commands thar republican form G
! government shall be guaranteed TO a
Q the States; that no person shall be dc
4 priyed of life, liberty or property, with
o out due process oflaw, or arrestc
5 without judicial warrant, or punlshe
n without fair trial before an imparti;
q Jury; that the privilege Of hddeaS corPn
I shall not he denied IN time ol peace
II and that no bill OF attaindcr shalt b
r. passed oven agansta single individu"
i Yet the system of measures establshe
n by these acts OF Congress does total
g subvcrt and destroy the form ms we
% as the substance of republican govern
t mcnt in the ten States to which the
1t apply. 1t bInds them hand and TO,
V, IN absolute slavery and subjects the
to strange and hostile power mo
N unlimited and more likely tn be ADJUST
lo+thnn any other now known among ci'
to ilized meuL 1t tramplcs down all tho
IS rights in which the essence Of iiber
I'd consists. and which Tree govolnme
@ is always most careful 10 protect
denies habedS corpus and trial by jui
" and personal freedom, property, NJ
e, hio if assmlcd by the passion, pref
pa dice or cupidlty Of the ruler, havo
g, security whatever, 1t has the effect
F.. a bill Jt attaindcr or bill OF pains II
'ss penalties, not upon II few indlvidua
ITO butupo whole masses, including nj
be lions who iMhabIt the subjected Stat
Of and even their nnborn children. Th,
ug wrongs, being expressly forbidden, Ct
ii. not bo constitutionully inflicted up
flp any norton OF our paOple, no mat