Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1867-05-31
TO THE PEOPLE OF THE
SOUTH.
Address of the Onion Congression
al Republican Committee-The
rr Policy of Congress in Reference
to the Restoration of the Union.

NOiiitilittCC u0Nt IL
sued an address TO the Southern people en-
titled ''The Policy of Congress in Reference
TO the restoration OF the Union of whicI
Gov. Boutwell, is said to be the author
With the address is printed the two Re
construction acts of Congress. Severn
hundred thousand of these documents hav,
been printed for circulation through the
Southern States, and are important al
Indication OF the policy to be pursued by
the Republican party in Congress. The
following is the address:
The preceding acts of Congress mean
ing two Reconstruction acts] were design
ed as measures of beneficencc and restora-
ton, and not of revenge or punishment
They are measures looking TO the restora-
ton of the Union in the spirit of justice,
and upon the basis of equality. Slavery
has passed away. and il only remains to-
destroy its spirit and to crush institutions
which it established and nurtured. The
Republican party expects and desires the
/ restoration of the Union, but upon such
terms and conditions only as shall render
il impossible for its enemies To renew the
civil war or to involve the country in sec
tiOnal strife. Ii will be true To its friends
in the South, without regard to color or
previous condition. The Republican party
is the party OF freedom and progress; il is
4 its purpose TO aid in securing for the SOutll
freedom of speech, free press. and sys-
TEN OF free schools. These desirable re-
suits will be sought through the action OF
Congress as far is possible, but our main
reliance must bc upon the wisdom and viz
tue of he people OF The respective States.
BY the acts of the ID of March and the
sd of March, S67. provision IS made for
I the enjoyment OF the right of voting by all
Male citizens Of II years OF age. except
/ those who'd shave been convicted of felony
and a small class of rebels who are cXclud-
eel from Office by the proposed amendment
To the Constitution OF the United States. -
The negroes of the South, by the measures
of the Republican party, as expressed in
these acts of Congress are elevated TO the
full and equal rights of the citizens of the
States 10 which they belong. and of the
country which hereafter viii recognize no
/ distinction on account OF race or color
/ The nation i indebted To the negro race
for services rendered during the late war
\ The negro race Is indebted 10 the country
controlled in its policy hy the Republican
party. for the emancipation of the race
/ from Slavery. and now by these acts of
1 Congress for is elevation To 4 position 0f
1
arise mutual obligations and thc nation
can no longer hesitate 1t will at once.
and freely. cOncetlc to Tile cO,ored race cv-
I cry political end public right that is enjoy
cd by any class oi citizens The negroes.
oa their side cannot hesitate To- support the
party and principles by whose laburs and
influence their redemption has been ac-
compliShed. Thus, by this natural and
necessary union of forces in the South, and
, throughout the whole cUuatry, peace. pro-
gress and prosperity are secured. Nor Is
there in these suggestions any room for
hostility between the races. The wants of
a black man and the wants of white man
arc precisely the same. Their Interests are
the same. Especially is this true of the
lIboring classes. The labor:ng man wheth
cr white or black, needs the protection OF
the law; he needs the ballot rs the means
by which he secures equal laws and the
just admi nisirati0n of them. By The ballot
he TciuSeS or rejects u3faiihful servants;
by the ballot he arTaigns and condemns
corrUp; oT iyranical judges; By the ballot
organizes and Maintains schools for the
education OF his children. and inspires the
police and ma riS;ratcs with the due respect
for his personal and family rights. While
the measures Of Congress extend this great
/ right to a new and numerous class of men,
Z there is 10 invasion of the rights of others.
/ The white people Of the South, with few
exceptions comparatively. are to enjoy the
same just and equal political rights and
privileges. Freedom has given to the
North wealth and power; freedom and free
institutions will secure for :he South the
same results. But there must be cO-opera-
ton of the races, and there must be coop
Grafton upon the principles which prevail
in the North, and to which the Republican
party Is fully committed. For more than
200 years the slavcholding aristOcracy OF
the South originated It's policy and con
irOlled lis destinies. The result is seen in
It's exhausted and barren fields: in the con
dition of its laboring people, white ana
black; in the relative poverty of the inhab-
itantS of all classes; in the absence oil pub
lie schools, of commerce, of manufactures
and of an enlightened system of agriculture
We then earnestly invite and implore The
: people of the South, of all classes--first. tC
accept the plan OF Universal Suffrage as
the basis of political, educational. and in
dustrial prosperity and power. The blacl
man will soon prove that he is more to th'
State as a citizen than he was as slave
The laborer, whether black or white, witt
3 rich the community which in his ignorance
2 he dishonored and burdened. Secondly
upon the basis of universal suffrage, W,
: urge the people of the South 10 direct the.
efforts to the establishment and maintenance
of system of public schools for education
of the children ofall classes. Finally, pub
lie policy should stimulate the laborin:
people to become landowners. The own
: ers of large estates should divide and sub
! divide their lands, and sell them at rea
sonable rates to those who need them ant
can improve them. In the South there is
land enough for all and all who desire
should be permitted to obtain homes.-
This Is "a common human right, which can
T. not be denied with safety to society. Ii
n these measures of justice we expect an(
shall welcome the aid of many who form
J. erly were shareholders. and participated
- in the Rebellion. BY the acts herewith
presented it will be seen that Congress re
serves TO itself the full and unrestricted
right of judgment whenever State pre-
sents itself for admission into the Union.-
, That right will be exercised fairly ant
generously. But vet, in the interest o
peace and loyalty, certain conditions anC
precedents are laid down in laws. Thes'
!, must be met. But beyond these condi
tions Congress must be satisfied also tha
tthe people OF the proposed States respect
fully are likely TO be loyal to the Union, by
decisive and trustworthy majorities; tina
the institutions are framed upon the basis
of equality, and that they will from yea
to year, and from age TO age, contribute t.
the peace, progress, and prosperity of the
States lately in rebellion shall cheerfully
and in good faith recognize their govern
ments upon the principles ofthe laws pass
ed by Congress, there will then remain NJ
causes of difference between various sec
tions of the country. The Republican par
ty is hostile to slavery and opposed to it