Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1867-01-10


mltted to vote. At present, there
fore the late slave States would b.
entitled to count the whole of thei
former slave population, as bash
tor representation, instead of three
tifths thereof That is to say, the,
would have i'll the existing ratiC
about twenty more members of Con
gress than they had before SLAYER,
was abolished, and the free State!
would lose the same number, making
a difference of about forty member,
OF Congress, or, say, one-sixth Of the
whole body In other words, the
trea on of the rebellious States, the
suppression of which has cost us Sc
many hundreds of thousands of pre-
cious lives, and so many thousands
OF millions of treasure, would be re
warded by giving them a vast in
crease of political power. This alb
surdity, the second clause of the pro
posed amendments, designs to pre-
vent, by the just, equal and moder
ate provision, that in future, the rep
resentative population of each State
shall be ascertained by making a
proportionate deduction from the
whole population thereof, if its laws
exclude from the privilege of voting,
any male citizens, not criminals, oI
the age of the age of twenty-one
years. have yet to learn that any
plausible objection can be offered to
such a provision.
The third clause of the proposed
amendments excludes from Congress,
and from the College of Electors,
and from all offices, civil and military,
OF the United States, or of any State
persons who, as functionaries of the
United States, or as Executive or Ju.
dicial officers of any State, have
heretofore sworn to support the Con-
stitution of the United States, and
afterwards violated their oath by en-
gaging in rebellion against the same,
unless Congress, by a vote of two
thirds, shall have removed the disa-
bility of any such persons.
The fourth clause affirms the valid
ity of the debt of the United States,
and prohibits the assumption or pay
ment of the rebel debt, or of any
claims for the loss or emancipation
of any slave.
The fifth clause provides that Con-
gress shall have power to enforce the
provisions of the other clauses by
appropriate Legislation.
That these wise and moderate pro-
visions will meet the hearty approba-
tion of the Legislature, | cannot
doubt. If proposed by two-thirds of
each House of Congress and ratified
by three-fourths of the Legislatures
Of the States, the Constitution pro-
vides that they should stand as adopt
ed amendments of that instrument.
A question has been raised wheth-
er the States lately in rebellion, and
not yet restored to their privileges
by Congress, are to be counted on
this vote-iR other words, whether
those who have rebelled and been
subdued shall be entitled to a poten-
tial voice in the question of the guar
antees to be required of them for fu-
ture obedience to the laws. So mon
strous proposition is, it appears to
ne, not supported by the words or
spirit of the Constitution. The pow
er TO suppress insurrection, includes
he power of making provision
against its breaking out afresh.-
These States have made an unjust
var upon our Common Government
md their Sister States, and the pow
r given by the Constitution to make
var on our part, inclndes the power
o dictate, after our success, the
erms Of peace and restoration.
The power of Congress to guaran
ee to every State a Republican form
# Government. would cover much
lore cogent action than has yet been
ad.
The duty imposed upon Congress,
o provide and maintain republican
,ovel nments for the States, is to be
ccepted in the broadest meaning of
be term. 1t is not a mere formal or
provision. The power
vas conferred, and the duty enjoined,
o preserve free institutions against
IL entertainments, or the more vio-
ant elements Of despotism and an
rchy. And now that treason has,
y rebellion, suUverted the govern.
nents of a number of States, for
citing fcg the people all the rights
guaranteed by the Constitution, il.
.uding even those Of property and
ite, the work OF restoration for these |
states rests with the National Gov
and it should be faithfully
nd fearlessly performed.
By their passage by Congress, and
he declaration OF the people at the
ate elections, the faith of the nation
S pledged to the amendments, and
hey will be fairly carried out, and
heir benefits given to the rebellious
states. But when the amendments
hall have passed into the organic
av, should the people lately in re-
'ellion persist in their rejection, and
4 continued disobedience, and tie
obstruction of the execution of the
laws, it will be an admoni-
ion 10 the nation that the aHinluS
md force of treason still exist among
people who enjoy none of the priv
leges of the government, save of
is generous tolerance With their
election, ali hope of reconstruction,
yith the cooperation of the rebell-
Gus States, on a basis that would
ecure to the Republic the logical
esults of the war, will have van
shed, and the duty must then devolve
pom the government, of adopting