Des Arc weekly citizen., 1867-08-03

tention is this: These positions admit that the party Cor power if you please) which proposes the present wrong, has already THE WILL to inflict further wrong; and the Congress which re- quires you to consent to the destruc- ton of your franchise, has already THE WILL to rob you of your property.
 Thus, you are asked to place your property for safety in the keeping of that power which already has the will to take it. You are importuned to es- cape the power of the lion by rushing to his embrace; to avoid the fang of the serpent by placing your hand in his mouth! M
 This is precisely the point. Will every man in the South ponder it. repeat it--never forget it? Disfran- chisement, confiscation, and far worse evils will not come-through our Ex- rsrINe STATE GOVERNMENT. Never! But they can come, and they will come through 'tlie government which this plan of reconstruction proposes to es- tablish for our existing State govern ments. Who, in all these States, favor or agitate for confiscat1on except the Northerrehissary and Southern rene- gade, and the negro, when prompted and directed by these emissaries and renegades? Are we not warned i? Read the resolutions of negro conven- tions, and wherever you find one of these conventions in which these emis- saries and rehegades are the devilish prompters, you will find 'confiscation threatened, or apologised for, or justi- fled, or demanded. And these are the very men who are to form, organize, control and administer, and enjoy the offices under these new governments proposed by these new military bills. And when we admit the power co ab- rogate existing governments and or- ganize new governments to be compo- sed of men with such views and for such purposes, the abrogations and disfranchisements, and new organiza- tions, will continue until such men do effectually control, and such purposes and views do effcctually prevail. The whole psirpose of these military bills is to add these ten States to Radical par ty power: nothing less than the com plete Accomplishment of the purpose will be accepted. And this purpose can never be accomplished but by dis franchising, impoverishing, destroying and driving off all the true, and noble, and manly, and country-loving of the Southern people; and delivering over ohr bright and beautiful land to the triotous rule aid hliscegenating orgies of negroes, Yankees, and base apos- tates from their own kindred, color, country and blood. Iwould l not fear the docile negro, left to himself He would soon know his true friends, in his interest, ard be useful. But the Africahized white man Is an enemy to the peace and the interest of both races, and would be an admitted monster in any age or country of barbarians.
 I admit, then, that we are in danger of confiscation. Those who outlaw patriotism and intelligence, would not scrtple 10 rob. The representatives who violate the Constitution they are sworn to support, in order to abrogate State government, and reduce the peo- pie to military bondage, could not add to their iniquities by taking the little property we have left. As a people we have but littlc--scarce enough to prevent starvation. All the world seems to bc moving to send us bread to keep us alive. What curious people we arel fit objects of charity and fit subjects for 'confiscation The same train brings the bread to feed, the off, cer to oppress, and the emissary to breed strife and to rob! Alas, we have been robbed-robbed in war and in peace and by foes and friends. A few are rich. They prcspered while their victims were sacrificed. Showed a talent to make money while their dupes showed will to loose blood. These might naturally dread confiscation, and, in view of the sacrifices they made to get property, it may be reasonable they should make greater sacrifices to keep what they made, for what is hon. or worth to such? But even these should not altogether loose .,leir req son. May they not be nursing pow Ter that may consume? Thieves are not always to be trusted, even by their friends and colaborers. It is safer to avoid danger than trust to controll- ing it. ~
 l When we abandon the safeguards of the Constitution, and trust ourselves to the inagnanimity of it's violators, we shall embrace the surest means of pro- curing the loss of all things. But scorn to pursue such line of argu- Iment.
 l A people Who are willing to sacrifice honor to avarice, are beyond the pos sibility of redemption. If the very statement of the proposition does not awaken feeling of abhorrence, we are indeed in a sad condition. If anything can he baser than degradation it is such a motive for sinking to it Lost l property may be recovered; burned cities may be rebuilt; devastated fields win bloom again; even buried ehil- drcn, fallen for their country, will live anain in tha thickaned sniriis of new