The southern enterprise. [volume] (Greenville, S.C.) 1854-1870, 1867-10-09

sentation in Congress" DC. what 10 the
especial provision Of Congress here q Is Il
not that certain States, declared out Of the
Union, must make an amendment proposed
by the Thirty.niuth Congress part Of the
Consultation, while these S;ates themselves
are still out OF the Union, before the, can
be even declared entitled 10 representation
In Congress2 Iknow that the common be.
lief Is, we've only to comply with the terms
OF Congress, and we will be at once admitted
into the Union again but such opinion is
delusive. Suppose that the ten excluded
States comply with all the terms laid down
In these Congressional Acts, and a sufficiency
oil the other States do not ratify this Amend,
ment to amouut to two.thirds of all the
States, what then Why, the proposed
| "Amendment" has not /" become part Of
the Constitution" aud consequently, the
ten States still stand shivering in the cold,
and cannot even "be declared entitled to
representation 10 Congresa" For instance.
South Carolina. upon her part, may comply
with oil the requirements Of these Acts, and
yet from the very Acts themselves never
De admitted into the Union again, for the
simple reason that number Of States nj
ready In the Union may deem IL uuwise to
MAKE this Amendment part Of the Con-
stitution Of the United States. Can any
man, then, who votes for such measures as
these. say that he 10 faithfully supporting
the Constitution, and .he Union OF the
Statss the: eunderf But again: To be
faithful to the Constitution, must oppose
everything that is Of doubtful constitu,ion-
ality; for faithfulness must cease, where
doubt begins If the provisions of the Mil.
itary Bill are not clearly constitutional
every man who has taken the above oath
to faithfully support and defend the Union
| of the States under tho Constitution, that
votes them, peijures himself, whether he
desires II or not What are the facts In the
ease. Why, the Executive officer of the ma.
tion has declared the whole thing uncon.
stitutional. and the Supreme Court has left
the question in doubt; we are, therefore,
as sworn ccnstitutionalisis, bound To oppose
tho provisions of this Bill We can't faith
f"ity support the Constitution, and the
Union of the States hereunder, unless we
adhere strictly, honestly and sincerely. to
this instrument, without the least shadow
OF defect. fraud, trick or ambiguity. We
hear it said, however, we have no rights"
1 answer. we do have rights; every man
who has taken the Amnesty Oath has
rights under the Constitution. The law of
nations. aud Of justic,, too, makes IL the
duty OF every sovereign to carry out in
good faith, all the promises, that he may
have made to his subjects, while they were
in state Of rebellion against his authority
Now, the sovereign powers of the United
States--that is, both Houses Of Congress by
n joint resolution and The President by
Observation-Disclosures peace to the States
In rebellion, and their places IN Congress,
with their internal rights unimpaired, upon
condition they would lay down their arms
aud return to the Union under the Consti
tuition. And il is folly and madness for us 10
seek sheltsr in Union Leagues, on any thing
else short OF the protecting msis Of the Con.
stitutional safeguards TO citizenship. The
Constitutioniembraces two items in reference
toevery individual citizen; it imposes certain
obligations. and, IN return, guarantees pro.
lection TO the enjoyment Of certain rights
and privileges. We must faithfully perform
the conditions Of these obligations, and then
as faithfully claim the enjoyment OF the
rights and liberties which It guarantees. 1t
makes no provision for demanding a per.
formAnce Of the dutiea. without granting
its libertiea II Is TACT, beyond doubt,
however. that rs soon as we depart from
the Constitution, we lose all right to claim
lis protective blessings. Every man, there.
fore, who has taken the oath 10 the Copsti.