The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1867-02-08

l.
informed by northern men-republicans in
politics now residents of that state, that
Gov. Walker is entirely worthy of his pres
ent official position and his statements are
entitled to the fullest confidence and credit.
In relation to this subject, he says:
My first objection to this section is, that
it seeks to punish certain classes of citizens
not more guilty than others, by depriving
them of their right to hold Office under the
state and federal governments Most of the
persons thus to be punished have already
been pardoned by the president, under au-
thorIty expressly conferred by congress in
the act of July II, 1862 l hold that no
power on earth can justly go behind the
president pardon and punish these parties
again IN any way whatever. But, there Is
no reason why the classes prescribed should
be punished more than others. If man
twenty years ago was a justice Of the peace,
or member of the state legislature, or of
congress, and took an official oath to sup
port the constitution Of the United States,
and always kept it, and did all in his power
to prevent the rebellion, but after secession
became an accomplished TACT was compelled
by the force of circumstances to act with
his state, | cannot see therefore how he Is
more unfit to hold office under the state or
federal government than man who always
refused to take an oath to support the con-
stitution of the United States, but constant
ly urged and finally accom- plished secession,
and then took arms and fought against the
government for years, holding perhaps a
high military commission under the confed-
eracy. According to this section, those who
SO loved the constitution as to have been
willing at any time to ia Ike an oath to sup
port it are to be punished, while those who
always hated it, and never would swear to
support it, are to be rewarded by being
made the only people in the country capable
of holding office under it. | could cite nu-
mer0us instances, and to see them you
have only to look around you, in which this
amendment would punish men whose labors
have been devoted to the preservation of
the Union, and leave UNPUBLISHED those
whose lives have been devoted to its de-
structlOn.
The fact is patent to every man in the
south that the classes prescribed are not
more guilty than those who are not pro-
scribed. There is no justice or propriety
In the discrimination. Lift be said, that, in
cases Of hardship, congress may remove this
disability, l reply, that is no answer. 10
my mind II Is rather an aggravation of the
evil. This pardoning power vested in con-
gress viii operate as a corruption fund. A
man who is elected to an Office will be re-
celved or rejected, not because of his con-
stltutlonal right or merits, but from the IA
vor or disiavor Of the dominant party. This
OF course makes him the tool Of the domi-
nant party. Ii he can be relied upon to CO.
operate with them, he will be received; if
not, he will be rejected. The prescription
for this section upon the present officers Of
our state government would amount to
dissolution or the government itself. The
prescription applies, LIST, TO those who at
I'd, 10 those who at any time have held
any Office under the United States. Sd, To
those who have been at any time members
of state legislature 4th, To those who
have been at any time governor of states.-
9Th, To those who have been at any time
judges and solicitors Of the courts. 9th,
To those who have been at any time jus
tees OF the peace.
No matter what may have been the pre-
Vlous record of.any Of these officers or how
long time previously they had held office,
or how much they opposed secession, yet, if
alter the rebellion, they were by the force
OF circumstances drawn into 1t, even to a
most limited degree, they are prescribed.
Look around you and see how few persons
will be left In office after this amendment is
adopted, and you will see that to vote for it
Is to vote for the destruction Of your state
government. After taking out all the pro-
Scrlbed officers, there will not be enough
left to order elections to ell the vacancies,
and military government will become a
necessity. And who are those whom we are
asked thus to disgrace with official Cksfran,
chisement? Are they not those whose ex-
penence and abilities are most necessary to
the state in this her hour of trouble? Are
they net those whom we have always re-
garded as the very best men in our land
Are they not those whom we have loved and
trusted above all other men in the state
Are they not those, in thousands of instan-
ces, who witnessed the act of secession with
bleeding hearts, and engaged in the rebel
lion only out Of Difference to the will of
their state? Are they not those who sacri-
feed themselves to serve their state? And
will their state now turn round and repay
their devotion by putting mark OF infamy
upon them? Perish forever so base a
thought! If they are 20 be dlsfranchised,
letit be by no act of ours.
We are here told that the adoption Of this
amendment as an article of the constitution
would be the destruction Of the state govern
ments of the south, and no one at all famil-
lar with the disposition, character and stu
alton Of the different classes of the people
of the south, can well doubt that such would
be its effects, and from the spirit which has
characterized the action Of congress towards
the southern people, we are forced to be-
lieye that such was the design of majority
of the representatives who voted for it.
The power this article in our constitution
would invest in congress to enforce all its
provisions, would subordinate all states to
federal authority; would revolutionize our
present form of government by transferring
to, and consolidating in the legislative and
judicial departments of the federal govern
ment all those powers relating to citizen
ship and life, liberty and property of indi-
viduals, heretofore and now belonging to
and exercised by the states.
A majority of the members of the present
congress, would promote their schemes Of
parry and personal agrandisementa and graf
ify their vindictive spirit of revenge against
oil who oppose the execution of their revol-
utionary measures, by a base surrender to
congressional despotism of the most vital
lights of ealf. Government nnu vested un1nr