The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1867-04-02

Class
pears 10 the sane section. That is to say
'sthe male citizens of said State twenty one
years old and upward, Of whatever race, color,
or previous condition, who have been resident
in said State for one year previous to the day of
such election"
Without these provisions no Constitution
which Gao be framed in any one of the ten States
will be of any avail with Congress. This, then,
is the test of what the Constitution of State
of this Union must contain to make it republi-
can. Measured BY such a standard, how few
of the States now composing the Union have
republican, Constitutions! If, in the exercise
of the constitutional guaranty that Congress
shall secure to every State republican form of
government universal suffrage for blacks as we'll
as whites is sine qua non, the work Of recon
structiou may as well begin 10 Ohio as ia Vir-
GINA, 10 Pennsylvania as in North Carolina.
When [ contemplate the millions of our fel
low citizens of the South, with no alternative
lett but to impose upon themselves this fearful
and untried experiment of complete negro en-
reimbursement aud white disfranchisement, it
may be almost as complete, submit indefinite
ly to the rigor of martial law, without single
attribute of freemeo, deprived Of all the sacred
guarantees of our Federal Constitution, and
threatened with even worse wrongs, if any worse
are possible, it seems to me their condition is
the most deplorable to which any people can be
reduced. 1t is true they have been engaged 10
rebellion, and that their object being a separa.
ton of the States and dissolution of the Un-
ion, there was an obligation resting upon every
loyal citizen to treat them enemies, and to
wage war against their cause.
Infexibly opposed to any movement imperil-
ing the integrity of the government. L did not
hesitate to urge the adoption Of all measures
necessary for the suppression of the insurrec,ion
After long and terrible struggle the efforts of
the government we're triumpbantly successful,
aud the people of the South, submitting to the
strong arbtrament, yielded forever the issues
of the contest. Hostities terminated soon af-
ter it became by duty to assume the RESPONSE
hilites Of the Chief Executive officer of the
Republic and l at once endeavored to repress
and control the passions which our civil strife
had ebgendercd, and, no longer regarding these
erring millions enemies, again acknowledge
them as our friends and our countrymen. The
war had accomplished its objects. The nation
was saved, and that seminal principle of mis-
chief which, from the birth of the government
had gradually but inevitably brought on the re-
bellion, was totally eradicated. Then, it seemed
to me, was the suspicious time to commence the
! work of reconciliation; then, when the people
sought once more our friendship and protection,
I considered it our duty generously to meet
them in the spirit Of charity and forgiveness,
and to conquer them even more ettectuaily by
the magnanimity Of the nation than by the force
of its arms. I yet believe that if the policy of
reconciliation then inaugurated, and which con,
| templatcd an early restoration of these people
| to all their political rights, had received the
support of Congress-, every one Of these ten
States, and all their people, would at this mo
ment be fast anchored in the Union and the
great work which gave the war all its sanction,
and made it just and holy, would have been &C
complished. Then. over all the vast and fruit
full regions Of the South peace and it's blessings
would have prevailed, while now millions are
deprived of rights guaranteed by the Constitu-
ton to every citizen, and, after nearly two years
Of legislation, ind themselves placed uoder an
absolute military despotism. "A military Re.
pubc-a government formed on mock elections,
and supported only by the sword" was nearly
| a quarter of a century since pronounced by
Daniel Webster, when speaking of the South
American States. as ga movement indeed, but a
retrograde and disastrous movement from the
regular and old fashioned monarchical systems,
and he added:
eff men would enjoy the blessings OF repub-
lican government, they must govern themselves
by reason, by mutual counsel and consultation,
by sense and feeling of general interest, and
by the acquiescence of the minority 10 the will
of the majority, properly expressed; and, above
all, the military must be kept, according to the
language of our bill of rights, in strict subordi
nation to the civil authority. Wherever this
lesson Is not both learned and practiced, there
can be no political freedom. Absurd, prepos-
ferrous is it, a scott and satire on free forms OF
Constitutional liberty, for forms of government
to be prescribed by military leaders, and the
right Of suffrage to be exercised at the point OF
the sword
| confidently believe that time will come
when these States will again occupy their true
positions in the Union. The barriers which
now seem so obstinate must yield to the force
of an enlightened and just public opinion, and
sooner or later unconstitutional aud oppressive
legislation will be effaced from our statute books
When this shall have been consummated. l
pray God that the errors of the past may be for
gotten, and that once more we shall be happy,
united, and prosperous people, and that at last,
after the bitter and eventful experience through
which the nation has passed, we shall all come
to know that our only safety is in the preserya-
ton of our Federal Constitution, and in accord
ing to every American citizen and to every
State the tights which that Constitution secures.
| ANDREW JOHNSON.
Washington, March %, 1867.
| Notwithstanding the objections of the Presi
dent, both the Senate aud House passed the
Bill over the veto by over two-thirds
A MONSTER HOTEL The new hotel, to be
erected 10 New York city, opposite the Central
| Park by Mr. Cranston, Of "Nev York Hotel y