Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1867-01-10

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raj States. It consists OF several
sections containing Professionalism,
in the wisdom Of the national legis
lature. are necessary to secure per-
manent peace throughout the coun-
try. and to correct the most palpa-
Bile evils remaining in those States
which were lately in rebellisn; evils.
which, without such correction would
endanger the national safety, and be
q lasting source of irritation and
strife. n
In examining the proposed amend
ment, its extreme moderation is, un-
der all the circumstances of the
country and the time, most remarka-
BILE. It contains four provisions, of
which three would become irrepesl-
able and unchangeable except by
new amendment OF the Constitution
but the other could be suspended or
annulled by act of Congress.
The three former consist, first, of
the grant of power to the National
Government to protect the citizens
of the whole country in their legal
privileges and immunities, should
any State attempt to cypress classes
or individuals, or deprive them of
the equal protection of the laws ;
second, of the equitable equalization
of representation, by forbidding any
State or district TO increase the num-
ber of its Representatives in Con.
gress by enumerating in the electoral
basis, classes of United States citi-
zens who are still denied the elective
franchise; and third, Of the aflrma-
ton of the inviolability Of the faith
pledged to the payment Of the ex-
listing public debt of the United
States, coupled with the denial of
power to the National or State Gov
ernments to assume or pay any debt
incurred in aid of the late rebellisn.
A simple statement of these prop
ositions is their complete justifica-
ton. The first was proven necessa-
ry long before the war, when it was
Notorious that any attempt to exer-
else freedom of discussion in regard
to the system which was then hur-
rying on the rebellion, was not tol-
Grated in the Southern States; and
the State laws gave no real protec-
ton to immunities of this kind, which
are Of the very essence of free gov
ernment. The necessity. also, OF
having somewhere a reserved ri ght to
protect the freedom of the slaves
whom the war enancipated is too
palpable fer argument. II these
rights are in good faith protected by
State laws and State authorities,
there will be no need of federal leg
islation on the subject, and the pow
CT will remain in allegiance; but if
they are Systematically violated,
those who violate them will be them
selves responsible for all the neces-
sary interference of the central gov
ernment.
The second proposition is so just
in itself that the only objection rails
ed to it is q change of one Of the
original so-calle2 compromises of
the Constitution. It is an all-suffi-
cient answer to say that the rebel,
lisus Ststes long enjoyed very dis
proportionate power in the Govern
ment, which they used for the de
struction of the Government itself,
and shat after such rebellion, q re-
admission Of the insurgents to true
republican equality of representation
is the NEST that the loyal citizens of
tse coiiatry can allow. in justice to
themselves. 1t is neither denied nor
concealed that this is diminution
of the present political pewer of the
Southern States, which is q penalty
for rebellion; but when the penalty
consists only in Topping off that which
was an excess Of power before, and
applying an equal rule to them and
ourselves, it may we'll be doubted
whether defeated insurgents were
ever before treated with equal mag
nanimity.
The third proposition relative to
the debt, has, l believe, found no
open opposition.
The third section of the amend
ment is that which provides for the
disqualification for holding office OF
a class regarded IS peculiarly respon
sible for the rebellion This disqual-
ifcation may be removed by Con
gresslenal action, and its acontinu
ance or discontinuance would be de-
termined by the evidence of a real
return of honest allegiance to the
National Government. 1t tmay fairly
be said,. therefore. to depend upon
the Southern people themselves
whether it shall leng continue to op-
crate; and they cannot reasonably
complain of the burden of a provis-
ION which their own loyalty could re-
move. 1t is as a necessary preris
ion for the public safety that this is
insisted upon, and am sure that
there is no disposition in the North
to centlnue any disability beyond the
period during which tie necessity
shall seem real.
Such is, in my opinion, the char
acter of the amendments proposed,
which it is my duty to lay before
you for your action. Several of the
States have already ratified it, but l
deeply regret to knew that it has
been rejected by several of those
whose ratification would do most to
make the measure the promise and
beginning of that full settlement of
our internal dissensions fer which we
alllong. l am not without hope that
maturer consideration and calmer
reflection will convince even those
who have rejected the proposal, that
Justice, right and wlse self interest
alike dictate reconsideration of the
matter and a differentdecision
J. d. Cox,
Governor.