The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1867-12-21

their civil rights, to whom there was no
| protection.
] say it then became necessary either to
provide loyal governments or surrender the
Southern country to the hands OF rebels and
rebel sympathizers. leaving loyal men I'M
protected by any law-leaving them to the
generosity of the rebels, who had been eX-
asperated against the negro and against the
| Southern loyaist by our action iii suppress
ing the rebellion and liberating slaves
Were we to turn our tricnds-lhose who had
been true to the Union-over to the tender
mercies of their eXasperated enemies, who
refused to sanction any law whereby they
were TO be protected in their civil rights p
What was done then? Congress passed re-
construction acts, whereby they conferred
the right of suffrage, not upon the blacks
alone, but upon the whites, excluding a very
small class, whereby they placed i'll the
hands of the oppressed and the prosecuted
| the power of selfprotection. You say that
this was usurpation. am sorry that the
President OF the United States has used that
argument in view OF his own conduct in
view of the fact that he undertook to set up
governments himself with restrictions which
| involved the exercise of the identical power
that Congress has exercised. There is no
party that can say it is free from the eNer-
else of this power.
on the theory that the rebel governments i'll
the South were not merely voidable, but alb
solutely void, and that new organizations
must be created and he created them. He
the Executive, undertook to exercise these
functions alone, and say that it comes with
an i'll grace from him to declare that Con.
gress, the legislative power of the Govern
ment, had not equal authority with him
alone as President. When you come to the
question Of power, it is a strange constitn-
ton that can always be invoked in aid Of
rebellion, in aid OF oppression, in aid OF
| wrong, but has no element i'll it whereby
Justice can be maintained, whereby the
Union can be preserved, whereby the loyal
men of the country have Alright to say who
shall control it. 1t is a strange instrument
that is always invoked in aid of wrong aud
oppression. The Constitution of the United
States, when fairly construed, it seems to
me, has i'll it those elements that will pro-
tcct the weak against the powerful who
would Cypress them, and that secure to ali
men their rights If it is not such an in
strument, il it is an instrument of wrong,
and oppression, and secession, and rebel
lion, aud only protects those engaged in
tearing down this Government, 1T is worth
very little to humanity, very little to civil
cation.
! repudiate altogether the charge that Con
gress has attempted TO set up negro govern
menis. | affirm that they, rs they were III
duty bound to do, have undertaken TO inau-
gurate loyal governments, governments that
will be friendly to our institutions. They
have undertaken to preserve our institutions
in the hands of their friends. That is all.
Who is to be alarmed by the cry that one
negro in ten of our populatod is to govern
this country. That is Il pretty watchword
L - al. L.,
needs to be stated 10 show how absurd it is
1t is an appeal to :; low prejudice for the
purpose Of placing the Government in the
hands OF rebels. And what purpose have
they i'll view? Have we ever thought OF
that? Is it certain that they will not avenge
their supposed wrongs on your loyal sol
dcrs ? Is it certain that they will not refuse
to pay the pensions due to your widows and
orphans? Is it certain that they will not
repudate your national debt? is it certain
that they will not claim pay for the slaves
we have cmancipated have heard the
Democratic theory stated by Il good many
Democrats. many of whom in private cou'
versation say that the mission of'thc Demo
cratic party is TO place everything back
where il was before the war, wipe out the
debt, ret nslave the negroes. and pay tor
what damages have occurred. Until they
get some of these theories out OF their
heads, it seems to me it is but right and
proper that We should entranchisc the men
who are friendly to the Government, who
will sustain our institutions who have been
tried and true. wish it distinctly under
stood that have no fear Of the American
people being frightened out of their wits on
account of few colored people being al
lowed TO vote. ! do not think the people
of the South will be much frightened about
it. 1t may be that the modern Democracy
will be alarmed, for its courage has been
shaken during the war. Ii never had much
faith in itself, and think it quite likely that
modern Democracy will be afraid of the ne,
groes. am not surprised n. that. 1t ought
to be afraid Of ITSELF it is afraid to trust
anybody, even itself. IL certainly is no, 60
ing to scare the American people and induce
them to drive the friends of the Union from
power because Il few loyal negroes are al
lowed TO vote for their own protection in the
South.